" When you’re a mass-market writer, people think that you can just decide ‘this happens, this happens, this happens’, whereas with literary writers it’s coming from their soul and their core. But with me it does come from my soul and my core, and my soul and my core often go AWOL, and then I’ve nothing to write. "
- Marian Keyes

In this quote, Marian Keyes discusses the perception that mass-market writers are seen as having a formulaic approach to their work, where they can simply decide what happens next without much thought or emotion. However, she emphasizes that her writing process is deeply personal and comes from within her own soul and core.

Keyes delves deeper into the idea of creative inspiration being elusive at times. She points out that while some might believe mass-market writers can churn out stories effortlessly, this isn't true for her because her creativity is intrinsically tied to her emotional state and inner world. When she feels disconnected from these sources of inspiration, her ability to write diminishes significantly. This underscores the vulnerability and unpredictability inherent in the creative process, especially when it stems from deeply personal experiences.

Marian Keyes is an Irish author known for her humorous and insightful novels that often address themes like addiction recovery and relationships. Her candid reflection on the challenges of sustaining a creative flow highlights both the public's misunderstanding of writing processes and the intimate relationship between a writer’s internal life and their work.