Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin
Ian James Rankin, OBE, DL, FRSEis a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth28 April 1960
technology opportunity thinking
I think writers have to be proactive: they've got to use new technology and social media. Yes, it's hard to get noticed by traditional publishers, but there's a great deal of opportunity out there if you've got the right story.
lying book thinking
Was it all inevitable, John?" Reeve was pushing his fingers across the floor of the cell, seated on his haunches. I was lying on the mattress. Yes," I said. "I think it was. Certainly, it's written that way. The end of the book is there before the beginning's hardly started.
book writing thinking
I'm often asked how I write books, but I don't think my approach is suitable for everyone. If I walked into a creative writing class, all I could say to them was 'I tend to make it up as I go along.' I'm not sure that's brilliant advice.
thinking past scotland
I'm interested in Scotland now and then, how it's changed. I want to get the reader to think about that by thinking about something from the past. How has society changed, how has policing changed, have we changed philosophically, psychologically, culturally, spiritually?
ocean thinking one-day
You wouldn't think you could kill an ocean, would you? But we'll do it one day. That's how negligent we are.
thinking ruth sparks
I don't think I have one particular favourite writer. I have many whose works I will always buy or reread - Muriel Spark, Anthony Powell, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ruth Rendell, James Ellroy, William McIlvanney, Kate Atkinson, John Burnside, Louise Welsh, Iain Banks.
book dark thinking
A lot of writers, especially crime writers, have an image that we think we're trying to keep up with. You've got to be seen as dark and slightly dangerous. But I'm not like that and I've realised that I don't need to put that on. People will buy the books whether they see a photo of you dressed in black or not.
growing-up kids thinking
I still think most writers are just kids who refuse to grow up. We're still playing imaginary games, with our imaginary friends.
thinking ideas way
At all times, think like a writer, and keep those antennae twitching - that way, you pick up new ideas.
lighting months nine pub
I have him going into a pub and lighting up, and then being told by a barman that he has got only nine months to go before he has to stop.
character good gregarious music musical reader shorthand small taste whether
Music is a good shorthand way to delineate character. If you want to tell the reader a lot about a character in a small space, just tell them what their musical taste is. You'll get their age, their background, whether they're gregarious or a loner.
good music shorthand
Music is a good shorthand way to delineate character,
auction books early failings feeling miserable sign strange
It's a strange feeling to see one's books come up at auction and also, to some extent, a sign of my miserable early failings as an author.
growing perils pitfalls
It's a young man's book, all about the perils and pitfalls of growing up.