Page Fright: Tools, Tricks, and Fetishes of Famous WritersA witty round-up of writers' habits that includes all the big names, such as Dickens, Flaubert, Tolstoy, Hemingway At public events readers always ask writers how they write. The process fascinates them. Now they have a very witty book that ranges around the world and throughout history to answer their questions. All the great writers are here — Dickens, dashing off his work; Henry James dictating it; Flaubert shouting each word aloud in the garden; Hemingway at work in cafés with his pencil. But pencil or pen, trusty typewriter or computer, they all have their advocates. Not to mention the writers who can only keep the words flowing by writing naked, or while walking or listening to music — and generally obeying the most bizarre superstitions. On Shakespeare’s works: “Fantastic. And it was all done with a feather!” — Sam Goldwyn “I write nude, seated on a thick towel, and perhaps with a second towel around me.” — Paul West “I’ve never heard of anyone getting plumber’s block, or traffic cop’s block.” — Allan Gurganus “I’m a drinker with a writing problem.” — Brendan Behan |
Contents
Speaking to the Eyes Beginnings | 3 |
The Feather Is Mightier Than the Sword | 17 |
Inkwells Steel Nibs Billions of Ballpoints | 30 |
The Properly Pointed Perfectly Portable Pencil | 43 |
The Long Reign of Longhand | 51 |
First I Write by Hand | 60 |
The Almighty Typewriter Can You Hear the Rhythm? | 69 |
Hail the Conquering Word Processor | 84 |
Horror Rolls in Like Some Poisonous Fogbank | 175 |
Blocked | 187 |
Im a Drinker with a Writing Problem | 203 |
The Wrong Stuff | 214 |
Walking the Walk and Other Steps to Creation | 231 |
Burning Kisses Animal Magnetism | 246 |
The Daily and Nightly Grind | 257 |
And How I Get There Is Gods Grace | 270 |
Pins Paste Scissors Recorders The Right Paper Please | 95 |
Out of Their Mouths Popped Literature | 106 |
Keep Out Writer at Work | 120 |
To Hide Out or Greet Life | 130 |
Panoramas Bare Walls Strange Habits | 140 |
While Working on It Shut Up About It Or Dont | 156 |
They Wrote Lying Down Standing Up Stark Naked | 165 |
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Common terms and phrases
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