Under the fingernails

The book is already seated at the desk when I enter my office. Papers and books are strewn over every surface. … More

Talking about cutting

‘I’m going away for a bit.’ ‘Can I come?’ says the book. ‘I was hoping to leave you at home,’ … More

I wrote a book with my coat I wrote with the coat of my childhood and I wrote with … More

I am minding my own business, gazing out of the window, when the book appears. It looks as though it … More

‘I think we’re done,’ the book says. ‘Are you leaving?’ ‘I think so, yes.’ ‘So you’re going then?’ ‘Yes. I … More

‘Have you thought about acting?’ ‘I’m sorry?’ ‘Acting. You’re good enough. Bit of training and you’d be away.’ ‘What?’ ‘Or … More

I am watching a particularly bleak episode of Wallander when the book pops its head round the door. It stands … More

I have not left the house in days. I can hear the book pacing around upstairs, but neither of us … More

It has been a long day. Arriving home late and wanting nothing more than a bath and an early night, … More

The book has vanished. I don’t mean left the house, or popped out to see a friend. I mean vanished. … More

I have made the book a peace offering. I snuck out while it was sleeping, found my way back to … More

It is my turn to go out for a walk. The book has slept late, and, not for the first … More

We are at the flat. Everything has worked out fine: the journey, our connections and now amazing sense of space. We … More

‘Passport?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Flight info?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Euros?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Underpants?’ The book glares at me. ‘What do you take me for?’ ‘It … More

The book has had a fall, and now we are sitting in a waiting room, waiting to be seen. This … More

Recently I have been reading the exquisite prose of Janna Malamud Smith, in her book-length meditation on creativity: An Absorbing Errand: … More

We have left the house. At first our walking is clumsy, comical, even. The book is three yards ahead of … More

Yesterday I listened to a dialogue between Debbie Millman and Seth Godin on art-making, resistance, anxiety, how the internet has changed … More