Almost Gone, Daddy, Gone

Before I vanish, I wanted to offer up this interesting piece from a biographical page on Anthony Trollope (one of my writing heroes, for his volume and ability, if not for his books, some of which I find unfathomable). It is as follows.

Trollope regularly produced 1000 words an hour before breakfast – his page contained 250 words. “Perhaps the main characteristic of writers like Jane Austen and Trollope is their complete non-literariness”, noted Ford Madox Ford in The March of Literature (1938). “Indeed, you would say that they are without the passion to write that distinguishes a Balzac, a Dickens, a Thackeray or even a genuine artist like Gautier.” Trollope spent three productive hours a day at his desk, before a quire of paper, pen in hand. “I always began my task by reading the work of the day before,” he wrote in An Autobiography (1883). “I would strongly recommend this practice to all tyros in writing”. Rewriting Trollope considered “a waste of time.” In the evening he enjoyed playing whist at the Garrick Club.

I’m really gone after this, but I wanted to offer up this link, which is baffling and scary and…really interesting. Can you imagine reading a 900 page Anthony Trollope book on your cell phone? No? Someone did. I’m fascinated.

Gone, Daddy, Gone

I have just been banned off AW.

Which does not come as a surprise, since I e-mailed Mac and said “Can you ban my butt of AW for November, please?” and she was kind enough to oblige.

It not only provides perspective, a good thing, but it also provides me with more writing and reading time. Without AW, I tend to gravitate toward the internet less — or am able to spend less time doing things, since I can say no to checking blogs. I usually just keep my e-mail open. This means I’m more likely to read a book when I’m avoiding writing. I see no downside.

I’m also more likely not to avoid writing. The last time I was banned to go write, I got a massive amount of work done.

And this time around, I’m a lot more excited about The Nondescript. So I expect to get way, way, way more.

Kristine is also banned, or about to be, since I double-dog dared her to ban herself for November too. It’s cool. It’s fun.

So now you know.