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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

"How I Write, The Secret Lives of Authors" Edited by Dan Crowe (2)

Here are more snippets from the book How I Write.

Alain de Botton: relies on a large desk (five meters long) on which to place books, articles, whatever, to anchor him down to work.

Luis J. Rodriquez: has a statue of the Hindu Lord of success--Ganesha--on his desk. It reminds him of the spiritual nature of his work.

Gina Ochsner: has a picture she got in Prague of a musician playing a violin. She looks at it every morning to remind her of the kind of writer she wants to be--one in tune with something larger than herself.

Melissa Bank: writing originates in her subconscious mind. She doesn't control the process. She lets it arise from within.

David Baddiel: has a signed photograph of Simon Wiesenthal on one wall beside his desk and a montage of the Simpsons cartoons on the opposite wall, reminding him of the full range of his work.

Anthony Bourdain: can write only while continuously smoking cigarettes. Smoking aids his concentration.

7 comments:

Jeff Hargett said...

I can so relate to Anthony. For my own health and the smell in my office, I'm trying eCigs now. But yes, the nicotine does aid concentration.

Emily R. King said...

Anthony Bourdain will die earlier than necessary because of those cigarettes. Worst thing he could do to his body!

Elise Fallson said...

I'm more of a mix between Alain and Melissa. When the muse hits, I like to sit at a big table and spread out papers, pens, laptop, notebooks, etc.

Misha Gerrick said...

Melissa Bank and me seems to share a writing process. :-)

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

That's an interesting writing process.

Rachna Chhabria said...

They all have interesting writing processes.

Tanya Reimer said...

I do relate to Melissa Bank, but I also surround myself by things that inspire me not to give up.