Write because you love it and not because it is something that you think you should do. Always write about something or somebody you know about - something that you feel deeply and passionately about. Never try and force it. Michael Morpurgo deeplyfeelforce share on social
With all editing, no matter how sensitive - and I've been very lucky here - I react sulkily at first, but then I settle down and get on with it, and a year later I have my book in my hand. Michael Morpurgo bookedithand Change image and share on social
Remember to write for yourself, not for a market and give yourself time to develop your own style, your own voice. It takes a lifetime. Enjoy it! Michael Morpurgo developenjoygive Change image and share on social
Read a lot - poems, prose, stories, newspapers, anything. Read books and poems that you think you will like and some that you think might not be for you. You might be surprised. Michael Morpurgo booklotnewspaper Change image and share on social
When I was very little my mother would read to me in bed. She gave me a fascination for stories, and for the music in words. Michael Morpurgo bedfascinationgive Change image and share on social
Books that kids read should be about what is going on in the world. Michael Morpurgo bookkidread Change image and share on social
I'm still not sure I want to be a writer. I think of myself as a storyteller more. Michael Morpurgo storytellerwriter Change image and share on social
A lot of children, like I did, move away from words because of the fear - which is something you have to take out of education: the fear of worrying about what marks you'll get, detention, worrying about letting people down, your parents, teachers. Michael Morpurgo childdetentioneducation share on social
To write something you have to feel it and know it, and that's not comfortable. Michael Morpurgo comfortablefeelwrite Change image and share on social
Much that is great in literature is an acquired taste, and you have to acquire it in the first place. Our job as parents is essentially to pass on the enthusiasm we had for the things we loved. That's how we'll get them to fall in love with reading in the first place and, hopefully, to stay in love with it. Michael Morpurgo acquireenthusiasmessentially share on social