goNORTH 2014

Little Nuggets From Same Old Story: Characters & Storytelling

It's not narcissism but it's all about me.
RM Hubbert

Art as a means of social change?" [in answer to a question from the audience] "It is a means for dissemination of information.
Denise Mina

Audience member to Billy Boyd: Does music feed your acting?
Billy: Yes. And you've more control as a musician."

You have to have fortitude to survive as a creative person.
Donald-Iain Brown, chair of Same Old Story session

My dream was to write a book which somebody else would write.
Denise Mina

Any advice for budding writers?
"Do as much as you possibly can."
Michael Redmond
"Don't give up the day job."
Chris Dolan

For mental health issues, make sure you don't just do writing.
Billy Boyd

I look to every comma of a writer's work when it comes to making a character work.
Billy Boyd

The difference between writing for TV and film? For TV, forty committees have to oversee it first...
Denise Mina

There's more value on storytelling in Ireland.
Denise Mina

Donald-Iain Brown: Is there a formula to writing a novel
Chris Dolan: There are patterns but you get to know yourself as a writer.

The music always comes first. I only add words when I want to do a very definite thing.
RM Hubbert

Writing for theatre is collaborative. You can't be too prescriptive about the character. In a novel, there are three prescriptive points per character.
Denise Mina

I don't consider myself an actor, but a comedian first and foremost.
Michael Redmond

It's all about humanity.
Billy Boyd on what it's like to bring a character alive

If you're watching a play or a drama, it's about action. But in a book you write around that.
Chris Dolan