Book: ABOUT TOWN - Ben Yagoda
Music: John Hiatt - "Slow Turning"
TV/Movie: Logan's Run

Every now and then I come across a discussion on what best exemplifies the Great American Novel. I'm of the opinion that the Greatest American Novel was set half in France and written by an Englishman. I refer to THE RAZOR'S EDGE by W. Somerset Maugham which I've read more times than I can easily recall. I highly recommend it to others. In fact, I think I'm going to take it down off the shelf and reread it (yet again) myself. The Ben Yagoda book is very good, but very dense. I'll need something to read for "in-betweens" (as a hobbit might say).

Maugham himself had a way with words and had some good quotes about writing--for example:

"There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."

"The trouble with young writers is that they are all in their sixties."

"We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to."

And he had his moments of dry wit such as:

"Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it."

"Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit."

But what I think is most applicable to this particular journal entry reads as follows:

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."

Not a whole lot to report on now that it's Friday evening. I picked up my box of SFWA Bulletins from the printers and a big stack of them are, as I write this, winging their way to Philadelphia for the Nebulas next weekend. the subscriber issues should start going out on Monday. bulk mail tho-- will take two+ weeks before they arrive on doorsteps.

It's been raining since 10 this morning. I've had enough rain and snow. C'mon Spring! Make with the sunny weather again! You can do it! Springe is ycumen in, singge ye cuku singge!

Tomorrow I have to hit a library or bookstore to do some research. I'm tempted to go see a movie but the only thing I'd want to see would be Spirited Away. Too bad I've already seen it. Just as well as what I should be doing tomorrow is writing. I need to find out what it's going to cost to get the battery in my laptop working again so I can take that sucker out for breakfast and just write over coffee and eggs w/ linguica for a couple of hours. I have a number of different writing projects that need attention--their notes all piled up on my desk and bawling for attention. (And let's not forget some additional html work and some layout design I want to get cracking on as well.) A busy weekend, but the sort of busy that I enjoy.

After I announced my webpage updates last night, it looks like I've had a pretty decent increase in traffic. Tres cool. Thanks to everyone who's been visting and who have sent me mail and comments. Much appreciated!

Cheers!

--John Teehan