Desert Island Discs Marian Keyes on writing
Oct 17, 2025
Marian Keyes reflects on the exhaustion she feels after finishing a book, highlighting the need for personal time before inspiration strikes again. She describes how a single sentence can spark the creation of a character. Keyes also critiques the label of 'popular fiction,' suggesting it stems from gender bias. Additionally, she shares her views on marketing, accepting eye-catching covers to reach readers, while addressing the patronization she faces despite her commercial success.
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Exhaustion After Finishing A Book
- Marian Keyes describes feeling utterly spent after finishing a book, like 'nuclear winter'.
- She waits until life returns and a new sentence or observation sparks the next character or story.
Characters Born From Tiny Observations
- Marian Keyes often notices a small detail about someone and a sentence begins playing in her head.
- Most of her characters originate from that tiny observation which grows into a story.
Genre Labels Can Police Women's Taste
- Kirsty Young and Marian Keyes discuss how labels like 'popular fiction' or 'comedy romance' dismiss women's writing.
- Keyes argues such dismissal polices women's tastes and pushes back against anything that empowers women.
