What Does It Feel Like?

by Sophie Kinsella

Write the book you would like to read yourself. Write the truth about life, whatever genre you’re in. Write what you know and do it convincingly.

“Maybe I don’t want a bucket list at all. I think what I want is just to live like we do anyway—you know, do our work and go for walks and watch Come Dine with Me—but have a slightly nicer version of it. Normal but better. Call it ‘Normal plus.’ ” “ ‘Normal plus,’ ” says Nick. “I like that.

She knows this cancer is not her fault—it’s just bad luck. But what she has learned is that you can feel guilty for having had bad luck.