Well Alasdair Reynolds, certainly is. But it’s his popular and well realised science fiction novels that have netted him a 1 million pound deal with Gollancz. For this wodge of cash the writer is expected to produce one book a year over a period of ten years, but Reynolds thinks he copes well under pressure. I wonder how many writers can say the same?

True, a little warm necessity breathing down the back of the neck can do wonders, but on the other hand I totally crumbled when I had to write creatively on demand for the MSc I took. When it comes to copy though, I write best to deadline. Why? No bloody idea – but I wish I knew. Because then I’d maybe be able to harness it and create the fantasy that I might end up in a position like Reynolds!