When I started off with Trainspotting, it was the way the characters came to me. That's how they sounded to me. It seemed pretentious to sound any other way. I wasn't making any kind of political statement.

Quote by Irvine Welsh

Topics: Irvine Welsh Quotes

Writing is about culture and should be about everything. That's what makes it what it...

Writing is about culture and should be about everything. That's what makes it what it...

I'd always liked to read, but when I picked up books I wasn't getting the...

I'd always liked to read, but when I picked up books I wasn't getting the...

When I'm not writing, I read loads of fiction, but I've been writing quite constantly...

When I'm not writing, I read loads of fiction, but I've been writing quite constantly...

I tend to read more nonfiction, really, because when I'm writing I don't like to...

I tend to read more nonfiction, really, because when I'm writing I don't like to...

It was around the summer of 1982 when the drug problem really impacted. It became...

It was around the summer of 1982 when the drug problem really impacted. It became...

What worries me is the professionalism of everything.

What worries me is the professionalism of everything.

There is a kind of mysticism to writing.

There is a kind of mysticism to writing.

The first job of a writer is to be honest.

The first job of a writer is to be honest.

I grew up in a place where everybody was a storyteller, but nobody wrote. It...

I grew up in a place where everybody was a storyteller, but nobody wrote. It...

It's different in Scotland. People who come to readings are more interested in literature as...

It's different in Scotland. People who come to readings are more interested in literature as...

I feel like I've exhausted guys and male friendships.

I feel like I've exhausted guys and male friendships.

Basically, particularly in Britain, it's a hegemonic thing that people who write tend to come...

Basically, particularly in Britain, it's a hegemonic thing that people who write tend to come...

I spend so much time on the screen when I am writing, the last thing...

I spend so much time on the screen when I am writing, the last thing...

Id always done a lot of (sniffing) glue as a kid. I was very interested...

Id always done a lot of (sniffing) glue as a kid. I was very interested...

I'm always watching people over a short time frame, putting them in an extreme position....

I'm always watching people over a short time frame, putting them in an extreme position....

I'm working on a screenplay right now for the BBC, but I hope to have...

I'm working on a screenplay right now for the BBC, but I hope to have...

I wanted to capture the excitement of house music, almost like a four-four beat, and...

I wanted to capture the excitement of house music, almost like a four-four beat, and...

I think young writers should get other degrees first, social sciences, arts degrees or even...

I think young writers should get other degrees first, social sciences, arts degrees or even...

There's all this stuff that is happening in Edinburgh now, it's a sad attempt to...

There's all this stuff that is happening in Edinburgh now, it's a sad attempt to...

The establishment, the newspapers, they try to create something called Scottish literature, but when people...

The establishment, the newspapers, they try to create something called Scottish literature, but when people...