What are your writing routines – do you have anything you do to overcome writer’s block or do you write a set amount of words per day?

When I am writing a book I work from ten till six every day in a small office near my house. I never write less than a thousand words a day. Writers Block is God’s way of telling you to shut up. More people should have it…

A lot of our readers want to be writers. What are your top tips for writing a great novel and getting it published?

Top tip is: Write about what you DON’T know. Research, invent. Write about people of other ages, sexes, nationalities and periods in history. Then find a book you think is similar to yours. Write to the author care of the publisher and find out who their agent is. Good luck.

What’s the difference between real and contrived or artificial emotion in fiction? How do go about creating emotion in the reader?

Real emotion comes from inside the reader. You are unaware that the author has been trying to make you feel something; in fact, you wonder whether the author is really aware of how sad, funny or inspiring this passage is. Artificial is when you feel your arm being twisted. Too many adverbs is a bad sign.

Have you started work on your next book yet and if so, what themes will it explore?

I will start in January, I think. I don’t yet know what it will be about, though I have some character thoughts. While my first books were about Who we are, my last few have been about What we are. I think there is more to say on this fascinating subject!

Visit apossiblelife.com to find about more about Sebastian Faulks' Twitter emotion infographic and to take part in the project

A Possible Life published by Hutchinson is out now

Author photo: Rex Features

Interview: Sebastian Faulks