What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

All is stillness. I wake early, normally with an idea or notion I must tap urgently into my scrapbook. Today it was an entry about an audiobook I’ve just finished. It features a serial killer whose victims are just about anyone who gets on her nerves. It features severed heads and penises in scenes that normally culminate in a desire to have sex with a corpse.

Then I look at my calendar and lie quietly, thoughtfully, storyboarding the coming day in my head. That done, I make a cup of tea for myself and a cup of coffee for my wife. Then back to bed to read the daily news and try to forget about serial killers. It’s not always that easy.