Hemingway typed standing up when he occasionally wrote dialogue. He figured anything important to be said was usually done by people on their heels.

/article fail.

"For writing Mr Earbrass affects an athletic sweater of forgotten origin and unknown significance; it is always worn hind-side-to."

The writing rituals of famous contemporary authors:

Link (new window)

No, he wrote with his brain switched off.

Richard Pye: No, he wrote with his brain switched off.

Best way to read him, too. I like Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels & Demons.

RedPhoenix122: George R. R. Martin feeds on the tears of people begging him to release his next book.

Of course, with each book, it takes more tears, which take increasingly longer amounts of time to collect. Book seven should be out sometime around 2053.

If you're going to look at weird writing rituals, look no further than Robert E. Howard. He wrote in long stretches, often all night, because he believed that the spirit of Conan was standing behind him and would behead him if he stopped.

PizzaJedi81: RedPhoenix122: George R. R. Martin feeds on the tears of people begging him to release his next book.

Of course, with each book, it takes more tears, which take increasingly longer amounts of time to collect. Book seven should be out sometime around 2053.

In it, there is a plague, and every major character catches it and dies. Two minor characters from the second and fifth books survive, and the series ends with one of them at a feast and the other taking a dump.

Dan Brown cut and pastes from Robert Anton Wilson.

Robert1966: Two minor characters from the second and fifth books survive, and the series ends with one of them at a feast and the other taking a dump.

You forgot to describe every item of food at the feast, including the composition of all drinks.

Also, the consistency of the dump, including color, content and firmness.

/I kid...I like the books, haven't gotten to Dance With Dragons yet.

Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal. At first you get the rush from all that sugar and salt, then its supreme crappyness hits you, and finally you end up disgusted with yourself for consuming such crap.

PizzaJedi81: Robert1966: Two minor characters from the second and fifth books survive, and the series ends with one of them at a feast and the other taking a dump.

You forgot to describe every item of food at the feast, including the composition of all drinks.

Also, the consistency of the dump, including color, content and firmness.

/I kid...I like the books, haven't gotten to Dance With Dragons yet.

Me, too. I read the others in paperback, and I figure there's no rush to start waiting for the next one.

PizzaJedi81: RedPhoenix122: George R. R. Martin feeds on the tears of people begging him to release his next book.

Of course, with each book, it takes more tears, which take increasingly longer amounts of time to collect. Book seven should be out sometime around 2053.

I looked at his body of work. People don't have to wait that long for his new books. I hope there isn't a lot of outrage over it.

/had to wait 10 years between Corrections and Freedom

Beluga Heights: PizzaJedi81: RedPhoenix122: George R. R. Martin feeds on the tears of people begging him to release his next book.

Of course, with each book, it takes more tears, which take increasingly longer amounts of time to collect. Book seven should be out sometime around 2053.

I looked at his body of work. People don't have to wait that long for his new books. I hope there isn't a lot of outrage over it.

/had to wait 10 years between Corrections and Freedom

The primary concern, which I think is incredibly valid, is that he'll do a Robert Jordan and die before the last book is published, leaving only an outline, some notes and rough drafts of a few random chapters. Even he seemed to realize it and had an "Oh crap" moment and got to work on finishing DwD.

sotua: Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal.

Mass market paperbacks are just an extension of pulp fiction and dime novels, nothing new. The disturbing trend is treating them like they're better than they are.

I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

sotua: Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal. At first you get the rush from all that sugar and salt, then its supreme crappyness hits you, and finally you end up disgusted with yourself for consuming such crap.

Often, that's what I need in my pleasure reading. I'm a technical editor; when I read at home I just want to be wrapped up in a good story.

That said, I haven't read any of Brown's work, but had planned on getting to it. I just recently finished The Alienist by Carr, The Historian by Kostova, and The Club Dumas by Perez-Reverte. None of which are real heavyweight literature, but each gave me a neat little story to get lost in. My only complaint was that The Historian was a bit of a chore to finish, and had a very underwhelming ending.

gunga galunga: I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

Yeah, but the end result of that is The Tommyknockers, and nobody wants that.

PizzaJedi81: Richard Pye: No, he wrote with his brain switched off.

Best way to read him, too. I like Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels & Demons.

I bet you could find better "guilty pleasure" authors to read if you know what I mean, and I think that you do.

Ooba Tooba: PizzaJedi81: Richard Pye: No, he wrote with his brain switched off.

Best way to read him, too. I like Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels & Demons.

I bet you could find better "guilty pleasure" authors to read if you know what I mean, and I think that you do.

Look, my wife's the one who reads romance novels, not me.

And Dan Brown should be the very definition of guilty pleasure. They're formulaic, lambasted by people, but damn if I don't like reading them anyway.

/Deception Point had an interesting premise, but I'm not too sure I dug the ending.

PizzaJedi81: gunga galunga: I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

Yeah, but the end result of that is The Tommyknockers, and nobody wants that.

He also wrote Misery and The Eyes of the Dragon during that time frame. It, too. Although that one admittedly gets longwinded in the last part. And even though it was probably not a good idea to include the teenage gang bang scene, it amuses me to no end that he went there.

dragonchild: sotua: Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal.

Mass market paperbacks are just an extension of pulp fiction and dime novels, nothing new. The disturbing trend is treating them like they're better than they are.

Oh, I love me some value-meal books. But Dan Brown's work left a very strong 'why the fark did I read that shiate for?' feeling. Which I don't get with, say, Robert Crais, Stephen King, Grisham, etc.

Come to think of it, "value meal" is too much for Brown. If all those authors are the literary equivalent of McD's/BK, then Dan Brown is that gas-station-in-the-middle-of-nowhere microwave taco with the expiration date so faded you aren't really sure it's expired or not.

gunga galunga: PizzaJedi81: gunga galunga: I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

Yeah, but the end result of that is The Tommyknockers, and nobody wants that.

He also wrote Misery and The Eyes of the Dragon during that time frame. It, too. Although that one admittedly gets longwinded in the last part. And even though it was probably not a good idea to include the teenage gang bang scene, it amuses me to no end that he went there.

I dunno. I'm kinda digging post-van King. From a Buick 8 is one of his better novels, imo, and a fairly nice return to classic King. Duma Key, Lisey's Story, and especially Full Dark, No Stars are among his better works, to me. About the only books I DIDN'T like were Song of Susannah and Wolves of the Calla. Even The Dark Tower had a lot of nice moments in it, and I really liked the ending. I haven't gotten to Cell yet, but I intend to soon. I started 11/22/63, but had to return it to the library.

Orgasmatron138: sotua: Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal. At first you get the rush from all that sugar and salt, then its supreme crappyness hits you, and finally you end up disgusted with yourself for consuming such crap.

Often, that's what I need in my pleasure reading. I'm a technical editor; when I read at home I just want to be wrapped up in a good story.

That said, I haven't read any of Brown's work, but had planned on getting to it. I just recently finished The Alienist by Carr, The Historian by Kostova, and The Club Dumas by Perez-Reverte. None of which are real heavyweight literature, but each gave me a neat little story to get lost in. My only complaint was that The Historian was a bit of a chore to finish, and had a very underwhelming ending.

That's the thing, you ain't getting a good story with Dan Brown. :)

To quote my previous post: "Come to think of it, "value meal" is too much for Brown. If all those authors are the literary equivalent of McD's/BK, then Dan Brown is that gas-station-in-the-middle-of-nowhere microwave taco with the expiration date so faded you aren't really sure it's expired or not."

sotua: Dan Brown is that gas-station-in-the-middle-of-nowhere microwave taco with the expiration date so faded you aren't really sure it's expired or not.

Mmm...dysentery taco...

Dan Brown begins each chapter 20 feet from the canyon edge and takes a step towards the edge after each page. Repeat.

I understand the Martin love, but I won't pick up another one of his books after reading the first and mistakenly buying the third. I got about 60 pages in before it was apparent I had missed anything in the second book.

PizzaJedi81: Ooba Tooba: PizzaJedi81: Richard Pye: No, he wrote with his brain switched off.

Best way to read him, too. I like Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels & Demons.

I bet you could find better "guilty pleasure" authors to read if you know what I mean, and I think that you do.

Look, my wife's the one who reads romance novels, not me.

And Dan Brown should be the very definition of guilty pleasure. They're formulaic, lambasted by people, but damn if I don't like reading them anyway.

/Deception Point had an interesting premise, but I'm not too sure I dug the ending.

Just teasing you a little bit using your own Jedi-isms here. Also have read Angels, and grudgingly admit I also enjoyed it for what it was. (guilty pleasure) /donated immediately, never to be read again of course/

I actually can type with my eyes shut. It takes a lot of familiarity with the keyboard and I'm just not used to the height my new desk puts the keyboard at.

While I'm out and about I might look for a podium to put my KB on so I can stand and type with my eyes shut.

As far as odd habits... I have plenty of those already. I just need a bit of discipline and organization. I also bought a Keurig yesterday and might come down with caffine poisoning soon.

INeedAName: I understand the Martin love, but I won't pick up another one of his books after reading the first and mistakenly buying the third. I got about 60 pages in before it was apparent I had missed anything in the second book.

That's like getting 5 pages into anything else!

I refuse to read Tom Clancy anymore, and have since high school (More than a decade now.) when I suddenly realized about halfway through one of the...maybe NetForce, I'm not sure, books that I'd read it three times...in the past month.

sotua: Orgasmatron138: sotua: Dan Brown is like a McDonalds/BK/Cheap Chain value meal. At first you get the rush from all that sugar and salt, then its supreme crappyness hits you, and finally you end up disgusted with yourself for consuming such crap.

Often, that's what I need in my pleasure reading. I'm a technical editor; when I read at home I just want to be wrapped up in a good story.

That said, I haven't read any of Brown's work, but had planned on getting to it. I just recently finished The Alienist by Carr, The Historian by Kostova, and The Club Dumas by Perez-Reverte. None of which are real heavyweight literature, but each gave me a neat little story to get lost in. My only complaint was that The Historian was a bit of a chore to finish, and had a very underwhelming ending.

That's the thing, you ain't getting a good story with Dan Brown. :)

To quote my previous post: "Come to think of it, "value meal" is too much for Brown. If all those authors are the literary equivalent of McD's/BK, then Dan Brown is that gas-station-in-the-middle-of-nowhere microwave taco with the expiration date so faded you aren't really sure it's expired or not."

Ah, I get what you're saying.

You know what was funny? This last October I read The Ring as part of my Halloween season horror reading. I was kind of surprised to get to the end of the book and the creepy dead girl never makes an actual appearance. That was only added for the film versions. I thought the story actually worked better without her.

PizzaJedi81: gunga galunga: PizzaJedi81: gunga galunga: I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

Yeah, but the end result of that is The Tommyknockers, and nobody wants that.

He also wrote Misery and The Eyes of the Dragon during that time frame. It, too. Although that one admittedly gets longwinded in the last part. And even though it was probably not a good idea to include the teenage gang bang scene, it amuses me to no end that he went there.

I dunno. I'm kinda digging post-van King. From a Buick 8 is one of his better novels, imo, and a fairly nice return to classic King. Duma Key, Lisey's Story, and especially Full Dark, No Stars are among his better works, to me. About the only books I DIDN'T like were Song of Susannah and Wolves of the Calla. Even The Dark Tower had a lot of nice moments in it, and I really liked the ending. I haven't gotten to Cell yet, but I intend to soon. I started 11/22/63, but had to return it to the library.

I definitely agree with you about Buick 8. I got Full Dark No Stars for Christmas but haven't started it yet.

gunga galunga: I definitely agree with you about Buick 8. I got Full Dark No Stars for Christmas but haven't started it yet.

From a Buick 8 is one of the very few novels I've finished in one sitting. I stayed up until 3, maybe 4 because I just could not put it down.

It's really good. I like all of the stories in it, honestly. And, if you ever get the chance, get the audiobook version. Two different readers, but I prefer Jessica Hect reading Big Driver and A Good Marriage.

PizzaJedi81: gunga galunga: I definitely agree with you about Buick 8. I got Full Dark No Stars for Christmas but haven't started it yet.

From a Buick 8 is one of the very few novels I've finished in one sitting. I stayed up until 3, maybe 4 because I just could not put it down.

It'sFull Dark, No Stars is really good. I like all of the stories in it, honestly. And, if you ever get the chance, get the audiobook version. Two different readers, but I prefer Jessica Hect reading Big Driver and A Good Marriage.

Sorry...started, then went back and added, forgot to clarify.

PizzaJedi81: Beluga Heights: PizzaJedi81: RedPhoenix122: George R. R. Martin feeds on the tears of people begging him to release his next book.

Of course, with each book, it takes more tears, which take increasingly longer amounts of time to collect. Book seven should be out sometime around 2053.

I looked at his body of work. People don't have to wait that long for his new books. I hope there isn't a lot of outrage over it.

/had to wait 10 years between Corrections and Freedom

The primary concern, which I think is incredibly valid, is that he'll do a Robert Jordan and die before the last book is published, leaving only an outline, some notes and rough drafts of a few random chapters. Even he seemed to realize it and had an "Oh crap" moment and got to work on finishing DwD.

Orgasmatron138: sotua: Orgasmatron138: sotua:
Ah, I get what you're saying.

You know what was funny? This last October I read The Ring as part of my Halloween season horror reading. I was kind of surprised to get to the end of the book and the creepy dead girl never makes an actual appearance. That was only added for the film versions. I thought the story actually worked better without her.

I really thought the cause of the "curse," or whatever you want to call it, was interestingly explained in the book- it was a good read.

I can type without looking at the keyboard or the screen, and with my eyes closed too, if that's required. It's called touch typing.

A friend of mine is really freakily impressive - he can carry on a conversation while typing. Looking right at you and in every way having what appears to be (and effectively is) his full attention, except his hands are tapping away at high speed. He just has that much extra ability to multi-task that he can do both at the same time.

For me it's my full brain power just to talk *and* think at the same time.

As a history/anthropology major, I decided Dan Brown was crap becuase he took the ideas of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" to make "Foucault's Pendulum for Dummies." My opinion trended further downward by the number of people waving his book in my face saying, "ZOMFG! Have you read what this says about DaVinci and the Vatican!?!"

"FIC-TION. The book is FIC-TION!"

From reading Game of Thrones, do think George R.R. Martin writes extremely well. He juggles vibrant characters so effortlessly among the dynastic plotting. But it's really depressing. There is only so much destruction of good people for the sake of power and despair one can take, so I did not continue.

KiplingKat872: As a history/anthropology major, I decided Dan Brown was crap becuase he took the ideas of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" to make "Foucault's Pendulum for Dummies." My opinion trended further downward by the number of people waving his book in my face saying, "ZOMFG! Have you read what this says about DaVinci and the Vatican!?!"

"FIC-TION. The book is FIC-TION!"

From reading Game of Thrones, do think George R.R. Martin writes extremely well. He juggles vibrant characters so effortlessly among the dynastic plotting. But it's really depressing. There is only so much destruction of good people for the sake of power and despair one can take, so I did not continue.

You should have pressed on. It stops with all the despair and turns into some boat rides. And a few meals.

/fark you GRRM
//will still read the next one
///dammit!

I, due to school (college), have to write all sorts of papers. I can tell you that half of the time I am writing them with my eyes closed. Especially anything creative!!! I can see the words as I type them out and it seems to flow out of me much better. I am great typing skills and rarely make any errors.

It really works.

thst exlains d lot

(I typed the above while my eyes were closed)

gunga galunga

I wish Stephen King would return to his earlier writing ritual. Q-tips up his nostrils to hold in the bleeding from all the coke he was doing and a growing stack of empty beer cans by his side.

King's latest book, 11/22/63, although a departure from his usual brand of fiction, is one of his best books to date.

karnal: King's latest book, 11/22/63, although a departure from his usual brand of fiction, is one of his best books to date.

And marks a pretty extensive cameo by two of the leads from IT, as well.

As a writer, I almost had a brain embolism when I read how Tom Robbins (one of my favourite authors) writes:


Finally, Tom briefly explained how he wrote his books. He treats writing like a nine-to-five job, writing eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. No writing allowed on weekends. He gets up in the morning, makes himself breakfast, lights a cigar, and sits at his typewriter.

When he starts a novel, it works like this. First he writes a sentence. Then he rewrites it again and again, examining each word, making sure of its perfection, finely honing each phrase until it reverberates with the subtle texture of the infinite. Sometimes it takes hours. Sometimes an entire day is devoted to one sentence, which gets marked on and expanded upon in every possible direction until he is satisfied. Then, and only then, does he add a period.    

Next, he rereads the first sentence and starts writing a second, rewriting it again and again until it shimmers. Then, and only then, does he add a period. While working on each sentence, he has no idea what the next sentence is going to be, much less the next chapter or the end of the book. All thoughts of where he is going or where he has been are banished. Each sentence is a Zen universe unto itself, and while working on it, nothing exists but the sentence. He keeps writing in such a manner until he eventually reaches a sentence which he works on like all the others. He adds a period and the book is done. No editing or revising in any way. When you read a Tom Robbins book, you are experiencing the words not only in the exact order that he wrote them but almost in the exact order that he thought them.    

"But wait a minute," I interrupted. "The first sentence of your first book, Another Roadside Attraction, is 'The magician's underwear has just been found in a cardboard suitcase floating in a stagnant pond on the outskirts of Miami.' Are you telling me you wrote that sentence having absolutely no idea where it was leading?"    

"Yes," he said. "I knew I could explain it later. I like painting myself in corners and seeing if I can get out."

Like I said, being a writer, this blew my farking mind and I don't think I wrote a single thing for almost a month.