Admittedly, I'm new to this whole book-writing thing. But that didn't prevent me from affecting a kind of knowing, self-important, on-the-inside attitude toward this essay on writers whose books never quite get all the way finished.
At any rate, ingenue that I am, I can vouch for this:
Working on a book can provide authors with a sense of security. It confers on them the sense -- illusory though it may be -- of being employed, a comforting thing to someone who wakes up every morning without a compelling reason to put on a pair of pants.
I see parallels with this and graduate school.
Posted by: Al at September 25, 2004 10:15 PMI'm not kidding when I note that a significant number of writers I've known do their writing in an internet bar or kinkos or coffee shop, or pay for an office, all for the point of making sure they put on some pants and get out at a certain hour so as to be sure to start writing then, rather than do what's otherwise preferable.
To many, it's worth a month's rent for a separate office, and in my observation, for many it is.
The list of reasons for writing later is infinite.
In my observation, the majority of those who do best are those who exercise real discipline: I'm going to write X number of hours, between X and Y hours, and turn out X number of pages per day, or otherwise exact huge penalties upon myself.
But, of course, there are huge numbers of exceptions to that who are also successes. There are no absolute rules.
It's just that if I had a penny for every quite talented friend who prefered to spend most of the week doing "research," or waiting for "inspiration" to strike, well, I'd at least know even more successful writers.
My strong suspicion is that the music business is not entirely different, though I'm just guessing here.
Posted by: Gary Farber at September 26, 2004 12:31 AMYeah, Gary. I found I never ended up getting much done when I tried to write at home. So my book was mostly written in neighborhood cafes and bars. Not only did that allow me to get more done, but it made the daily visits to neighborhood bars feel a little less sordid.
Posted by: Dr. Frank at September 26, 2004 12:56 AMI find writing in the area coffee houses easier than at home, or in some alternate places. State Parks have been goldmines for brainstorm treasure troves. Here in Connecticut there are several open practically all year round. Sometimes their solitude works really well. I try to submit stuff often as I can. Currently one publisher is reading my submission over (Well hopefully anyway)
If I get published great. If not oh well. I have my shitty dead end job either way.
Can't wait to see what you come up with though Doc. If your songwriting skills are any indication the book should definetly be worth checking out.