Still reading Michael Palin's Diaries and although they're a little 'pedestrian' in parts, I've grown accustomed to his voice and I'm going to really miss them when I get to the end. So, I think I'm going to have to buy the next volume, which I've already spotted on sale on Amazon for 1p or thereabouts.
It's quite odd reading his account of his life, because it seems so normal (the trips to Barbados and the jetting back and for'ard to New York and the multitude of showbiz pals and encounters aside). Emotionally balanced, I think is what I'm 'groping for'. When I think of the sketches he was in (Blackmail, The Spanish Inquisition, for example) he seemed completely off the wall, but in 'real life' he must be totally different - very grounded and quite reserved I think. Nothing much seems to 'throw' him, or at least that's the impression I have.
It's interesting to read about his writing routine - he worked very very hard at it, to an extent that surprised me. Mind you, it was his living and had been since leaving Oxford. So he had the motivation and the time, and possibly most importantly, he had the contacts. To paraphrase - 'he had three things - motivation, time, and contacts. And success...he had FOUR things, time, motivation, contacts, and success...and a conducive environment...FIVE things....' and so on and so forth. Not to mention a vast amount of talent. 'SIX things....' And energy. 'SEVEN...'
Nevertheless, he was incredibly productive. One thing in particular that made me take note was his attempt (successful) at novel-writing. 'I'm going to set myself a target of 1,000 words a day, and I'm going to get the whole thing done in three months.' And he did.
I can easily bang out 1,000 words in a day - whether they're any good or not is another question. My main problem is not the word target but the plot - I have not got one. I'm a rambler. But, nothing ventured, and I think I might try the thousand words a day thing and see where it takes me. That's on top of any posts I produce here on the blog.
It's quite odd reading his account of his life, because it seems so normal (the trips to Barbados and the jetting back and for'ard to New York and the multitude of showbiz pals and encounters aside). Emotionally balanced, I think is what I'm 'groping for'. When I think of the sketches he was in (Blackmail, The Spanish Inquisition, for example) he seemed completely off the wall, but in 'real life' he must be totally different - very grounded and quite reserved I think. Nothing much seems to 'throw' him, or at least that's the impression I have.
It's interesting to read about his writing routine - he worked very very hard at it, to an extent that surprised me. Mind you, it was his living and had been since leaving Oxford. So he had the motivation and the time, and possibly most importantly, he had the contacts. To paraphrase - 'he had three things - motivation, time, and contacts. And success...he had FOUR things, time, motivation, contacts, and success...and a conducive environment...FIVE things....' and so on and so forth. Not to mention a vast amount of talent. 'SIX things....' And energy. 'SEVEN...'
Nevertheless, he was incredibly productive. One thing in particular that made me take note was his attempt (successful) at novel-writing. 'I'm going to set myself a target of 1,000 words a day, and I'm going to get the whole thing done in three months.' And he did.
I can easily bang out 1,000 words in a day - whether they're any good or not is another question. My main problem is not the word target but the plot - I have not got one. I'm a rambler. But, nothing ventured, and I think I might try the thousand words a day thing and see where it takes me. That's on top of any posts I produce here on the blog.
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