Stephen & James

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The Artist’s Angst

“A friend came to visit James Joyce one day and found the great man sprawled across his writing desk in a posture of utter despair.
 
“‘James, what’s wrong?’ the friend asked. ‘Is it the work?’
 
“Joyce indicated assent without even raising his head to look at his friend. Of course it was the work; isn’t it always?
 
“‘How many words did you get today?’ the friend pursued.
 
“Joyce (still in despair, still sprawled facedown on his desk): ‘Seven.’
 
“‘Seven? But James . . . that’s good, at least for you.’
 
“‘Yes,’ Joyce said, finally looking up. ‘I suppose it is . . .  but I don’t know what order they go in!’”

—Stephen King, writer, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, 2002

• Editorial Comment: Ulysses is going to take a while at this rate.

PeezPix by Ted Pease

Morning Tide







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Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff, Trinidad, California. (Be)Friend The WORD

“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
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