Sir Fitzroy Maclean

Julian Barnes

Susan Hill

Jilly Cooper

When I'm on a book, I'll work all day, every day. I start about ten, and I'll go on and on, until eight or nine. There's nothing in the middle except a dog walk and a chat to the horses. There's not even any food really because I'm always trying to lose weight. The room where I work is serious chaos. The room faces south, so my typist Monica and I trek about to whichever surface has no sun and the least mess. I keep longhand notebooks of all the events and characters in the current book and a file for each chapter. If Leo's here, it's great, because he'll usually cook supper. By then I'm only fit to slump in front of the telly.

When I was single, I had a lovely long morning that began at about eight, with nobody to think about but me. There's no doubt it's harder now, having got up at 6.30 and done the school run, and having one's head seething with domestic things. You have to guard against that dangerous, restless time when you return home and can get waylaid so easily. I'm working in a Portakabin in the garden while we convert a barn into my study. I take coffee in there and sit quietly, thinking myself down into the book again. I have little breaks for more coffee, but this doesn't interfere withconcentration at all nor does my stunning view. I stop at lunchtime and that's it really. I use jumbo economy pads and write in longhand. I prefer pencil. I used to type the manuscript myself but then I found a wonderful lady who can read my writing. I'm useless with machines.

When I get to my desk at about ten, I find I don't very much want to be there. Luckily this feeling passes. My desk is in a light, upstairs room painted Chinese yellow. There are two prunus trees outside, which bullfinches seem to like, and once I saw a jay. I'm fairly easily distracted, and will roam off to get mugs of coffee, biscuits and raisins, and wait hopefully by the letter box for the postman. The best creative time is from ten to one. I work on a big black electric typewriter. I don't want a word processor. When I'm working on a novel, I'll put in a seven-day week. Cooking's helpful if I'm stuck. I don't really reward myself at the end of a good day. I'm just relieved to feel less guilty.

I wrote Eastern Approaches 45 years ago, and I've had a book on the go ever since. I travel all the time and I get on with writing wherever I am, buses, helicopters, airports, anywhere. In 1946, in America, I bought a portable typewriter but when I'd typed 150,000 words on it, I thought, 'Never again.' I like yellow spiral-backed pads and those floating ball pens. My ideal is to write in the library, or in my specially insulated room at home in Scotland, or at the kitchen table in London, sustaining myself with a huge pot of China tea. If I'm travelling, I take a flask for tea - it's vital. I like regular meals and I'm inclined to sleep after lunch. My book is my first thought every day, and it's my escape from real life. I don't need a reward at the end of a day. The writing is a prize in itself.

D. Match the question numbers (1-15) with the writers’ names (A- F). Some choices may be required more than once.

Which writer(s)   - admits to being able to work anywhere?
- refer(s) to someone who helps with the typing?
- has used a word processor?
- can only work when the room is a particular temperature?		A Rose Tremain
- uses a typewriter?		BPatrick Gale
- used a typewriter in the past?
- undertakes domestic duties before settling down to write?		C Jilly Cooper
- experiences initial resistance to starting work?		D Julia Barnes
- enjoy(s) frequent coffee breaks?		ESusan Hill
- mentions the need for peace and quiet?
- refers to a previous working routine?		F Sir Fitzroy Maclean
- have more than one workplace?
- doesn’t stop for lunch?
- exercises indoors?
- watch(es) TV to relax?

E. Now look back at the passage and summarize the information about the writers’ routines and habits.

Say:

1) where they prefer to work;

2) when they start their work;

3) how long they normally work a day;

4) whether they have breaks and how long they last;

5) what their distractions are, if any;

6) what tools they use for writing;

7) whether they have their works typewritten or whether they do it themselves;

8) how they relax after a working day.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-23