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Extensive and comprehensive interview with the Scottish novelist and poet Jim Murdoch wherein he discusses his inspirations, his writing process, his books, their characters and the fact that, despite being a Scot, he never tasted haggis until he was a grown man.

"Writers don't have lives. They have ongoing research. Every day is a work in progress. Nothing's sacrosanct. No one's exempt. You can't hand them a note from your mother to leave you alone. It doesn't work like that." - Scottish novelist, Jim Murdoch, talks about writing his first two novels, now available as a single ebook, and explains why his target audience is himself.

Some people like to write with music in the background, others need complete silence. There is no right way but if you do find music helps you focus then you might find this list of lesser known modern classics by Scottish writer Jim Murdoch worth investigating further. Some of the composers featured are Elena Kats-Chernin, Edward Gregson, Mason Bates, Doreen Carwithen, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Peter Sculthorpe, Wojciech Kilar, Douglas Lilburn and Nino Rota.

There has been a lot written over the years about the danger of artificial sweeteners and the Internet is awash with articles some more believable than others. Scottish author Jim Murdoch talks about his own personal experience using aspartame in his coffee and the crippling brain fog that followed.

Many writers get their inspiration from places but what exactly is 'place'? According to one writer: "Place refers to the conceptual fusion of space and experience that gives areas an individuality, an identity of place." But what if you're not into places what if your inspiration comes from inner spaces? Scottish poet Jim Murdoch discusses his difficult relationship with places both inner and outer.

A comedian told a joke in a forest but there was no one there to hear it. So was it funny? Humour is something we all have but when was the last time you stopped and thought about what's funny and why it's funny? Scottish novelist Jim Murdoch takes a step back and looks at his own use of humour in his first novel and takes a moment to analyse the famous light bulb joke.

So many writers have been inspired by places from RS Thomas' Wales to Woody Allen's New York but what if place just doesn't get your juices flowing? Where does that leave you? Scottish writer Jim Murdoch talks about why places leave him cold and how this has affected his writing.