Friday, January 27, 2012

How to write a book



This is how I do it. I am not sure which are the most important elements: the research material on all that A4 paper; the CDs of major interviews; the hard copies of what has been previously published on the topic; the brightly coloured versions of Post-It notes; the classic yellow Post-It notes; the glass of water; the glass of wine; or the stack of cookbooks in the distance.

At least I don’t have to make stuff up. Glad I’m not a novelist:

5 comments:

Stephanie said...

So, the family really went on holiday because you need the whole dining table for your work.....? Love it!

Stephen Stratford said...

Yes. They are very understanding. They understand that I am suboptimal company at times like this i.e. when I have to actually work.

Stephanie said...

PS Something missing from the picture - how do you write it? Pencil on paper, perhaps, the old fashioned way? Or a computer conveniently out of shot? Personally, I like the pencil idea.

Stephen Stratford said...

Well-spotted, Stephanie. This is just the prepping stage which a) takes up a lot of desk space and b) is actively hindered by having a computer handy with all that internetty distraction. I'd like to say that the writing will involve a quill pen dipped in Stephens' ink, or dictation to my harem of houris, but sadly no, it will be typed laboriously in my much less appealing office. Still, at least there I get a view of the potato patch.

Stephanie said...

Stephen's ink .... brilliant!