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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Working outdoors
Today's the day I moved that old card table down to the bottom of the garden to see if I can trick myself into working like Somerset Maugham or Roald Dahl.
This kind of thing makes me think of David Niven saying that he liked to write outside but couldn't if there were any distractions: distractions like a plane going over or the sun coming out. So his preferred location was in a corner, facing a large hedge. It was the only way.
With apologies for minor name dropping - I once met John Junkin at the BBC and I wanted to ask him about 'A Hard Day's Night', but he wanted to talk about writing in his garden shed. He spent most days in the 60s & 70s in that shed, apparently.
Russell Davies has this Delicious link to a re-make of George Bernard Shaw's "Shabby Romantic" writing shed - with fold-away day bed, writing table, and a rotating base so you can follow the sun: http://www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk/nationaltrust/writersretreat.asp
I still remember the fantastic interview with John Junkin in Q in the late eighties when he said his biggest inspiration was pinning a red final demand above the typewriter.
Interesting: Eddie Braben, chief writer for Morecambe & Wise, also once said in interview that he worked with a gas bill by his typewriter for inspiration!
Today's the day I moved that old card table down to the bottom of the garden to see if I can trick myself into working like Somerset Maugham or Roald Dahl.
But not like my Uncle who was trawler man! ;). It is lovely day.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of thing makes me think of David Niven saying that he liked to write outside but couldn't if there were any distractions: distractions like a plane going over or the sun coming out. So his preferred location was in a corner, facing a large hedge. It was the only way.
ReplyDeleteWith apologies for minor name dropping - I once met John Junkin at the BBC and I wanted to ask him about 'A Hard Day's Night', but he wanted to talk about writing in his garden shed. He spent most days in the 60s & 70s in that shed, apparently.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd find trying to write outside too distracting.
ReplyDeleteBad enough where I am with the view out of the window.
Luckily it is quiet so I can write rather than watch.
I always get distracted by the garden birds. Their lives are more interesting than mine.
ReplyDeleteRussell Davies has this Delicious link to a re-make of George Bernard Shaw's "Shabby Romantic" writing shed - with fold-away day bed, writing table, and a rotating base so you can follow the sun:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk/nationaltrust/writersretreat.asp
Terence/David
ReplyDeleteI still remember the fantastic interview with John Junkin in Q in the late eighties when he said his biggest inspiration was pinning a red final demand above the typewriter.
Interesting: Eddie Braben, chief writer for Morecambe & Wise, also once said in interview that he worked with a gas bill by his typewriter for inspiration!
ReplyDelete