Margaret Drabble: “At parties, after a few drinks, I start asking people to supper, which I always regret.”

NaNoWriMo is upon us. Here are some inspirational quotes to help you get on with it.

“I do not remember all the details, but I do remember the plot.” Borges as teacher.

A nanny to London’s 1980s literary set (part of it, anyway) publishes a book of letters.

“The great thing about Bertie is that he is a very generous-spirited, nice chap, with a sunny outlook on life. Forcing myself to think like that was good for me. It didn’t affect the way I speak—I didn’t start saying ‘What ho, old fruit!’—but it did affect the way I think. It made me look on the bright side.” Sebastian Faulks on taking on Jeeves and Wooster.