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Reference documents
Writing hard
posted by Rob on September 6, 2009 08:13 AM
Stephen Fry writing about writing, referencing Clive James, quoting Thomas Mann saying this: "A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than for other people." Which I sort of take to mean that a writer is both more acutely aware of words and more strict with them; it's only those who are neither who can scribble away without effort. But then again, I think writing is probably like love: different for everyone. I'm sure there are those who produce really great stuff with a casual flick of the wrist.
The excerpt is from Stephen's recent blog post written after a prolonged bout of (screenplay?) writing. It is here.
Comments: 4
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I haven't met any writers who write easily yet, and if I did I couldn't be their friends.
I've always said that writing is both the most difficult and the most important thing in my life, which is a bit annoying sometimes, but mostly the greatest gift. Lucky me.
Posted by: fiona robyn on September 7, 2009 08:11 AM
Interesting read.
By the way, the Osiris Ritual makeover looks great.
Posted by: Steve Jensen on September 7, 2009 04:12 PM
Lovely link, Rob, and my only curiosity now is how did the kink in Stephen Fry's nose come about? Ruby Wax once wrote that she chewed chicken bones when she wrote. I'd just procrastinate by reading other people's work and having a nice time....
Posted by: Catheryn Kilgarriff on September 8, 2009 01:30 PM
I don't mind the writing. It's the rewriting that I hate. Throwing out stuff that I thought was great. Ditching paragraphs as overwrought. I'm often left with a feeling of foolishness that must be overcome by the new day's work.
Posted by: Harry MacLean on September 10, 2009 06:52 PM