About authors (like Shakespeare) and their kids -
Melanie Sands
BBC, (have recorded it so will watch rest later) I then read an
interview with H B-C where she apparently said that Enid Bylton
was "bonkers and a bad mother".
Enid Blyton wrote over 750 childrens books, plus magazine stories,
there was a time where she wrote an estimated 10'000 words per day.
Yes, that's TEN THOUSAND WORDS PER DAY.
I listened to Stephen Kings's "On Writing", read by the author (one
of the few authors who can also READ as well as write - usually
authors reading of their books makes one comatose - ) and he
said he writes 2'000 words a day, which is an awful lot.
George Sand wrote 16 pages per night, also a large amount.
Anway, to come to the point - sooner or later in the life of every
famous person, one of their children will crop up with a "Mommy
Dearest" book which slanders and whithers the reputation of said
mommy (or daddy) who was a famous person and never had time
for their kids.
Every parent knows, with kids, you're damned if you do, and you're
damned if you don't.
If you're there, you stifle them, if you're not, you're a neglecting
parent and all their problems are your fault.
If you love them, you're too clingy, if you maintatin a distance,
you're
a cold hag who's fatally damaged their emotional abilities to cope.
If you lay down the law, you're a reign-of-terror, if you let them
decide,
you're an incompetent weakling who should have shown them the
boundries.
If you're at home for them all day and night, you're a loser who
should get a life, if you have a career you're a bad parent
who never should have had kids.
So, basically, where does this leave us with Shakespeare? Shakespeare
who was in London and not in Stratford for months at a time.
Shakespeare
who left his kids to go off and earn money.
Yes, seasonal workers have done this for centuries. John Adams, first
Vice
and second President of the USA did this.
Did Susannah Shakespeare and sister Judith and brother Hamnet
complain?
Helena Bonham-Carter's 6 year-old son took her ENID script and threw
it
across the room, complaining: "I like you but I don't like what you
do,
because it takes too long." - even though the filming of Enid only
took a
record 16 days. Yup, another "Mommy Dearest" novel in the making!
Melanie
art
>
> I listened to Stephen Kings's "On Writing", read by the author (one
> of the few authors who can also READ as well as write - usually
> authors reading of their books makes one comatose - ) and he
> said he writes 2'000 words a day, which is an awful lot.
UNDER THE DOME
By Stephen King
Scribner. 1,074 pp. $35
.....................................................
washingtonpost.com > Arts & Living > Books
Skyward, all hail the returning King
By Graham Joyce
Saturday, November 14, 2009
<<In 2002 Stephen King announced that he'd given up writing. Yes, and
the Queen of England said she'd had it with servants and fancy
carriages and was off to do volunteer work in Somalia. . . . You can't
write 2,000 words a day for more than three decades and suddenly stop.
Because, as King knows perfectly well, you don't give up writing;
writing gives up you, but only when it's good and done with you. And
writing isn't done with King, not by a long shot.>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
<<Rowe was the first biographer to pass down the tradition that
Shakespeare retired to Stratford some years before his death. After
1606–1607, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays, and none are attributed to
him after 1613. His last three plays were collaborations, probably
with John Fletcher, who succeeded him as the house playwright for the
King’s Men.>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Art Neuendorffer
book...@yahoo.com
<Melani...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Watching a bit of "Enid" (Enid Blyton) with Helena Bonham Carter on
>BBC, (have recorded it so will watch rest later) I then read an
>interview with H B-C where she apparently said that Enid Bylton
>was "bonkers and a bad mother".
>
>Enid Blyton wrote over 750 childrens books, plus magazine stories,
>there was a time where she wrote an estimated 10'000 words per day.
>Yes, that's TEN THOUSAND WORDS PER DAY.
>
>I listened to Stephen Kings's "On Writing", read by the author (one
>of the few authors who can also READ as well as write - usually
>authors reading of their books makes one comatose - ) and he
>said he writes 2'000 words a day, which is an awful lot.
>George Sand wrote 16 pages per night, also a large amount.
Method of composition is a legitimate issue in studying authors'
creativity, I understand.
Hemingway had some odd ideas about what make it work for him, like
re-visiting his "big wound" from WW I, and the psychological fall-out.
He would get up before dawn, go to a writing stand to write standing
up, and would spend several hours trying to get about 300 words, as I
understand it. Later in the day, he would revise that.
One famous English woman travel writer, mother of another author AIR,
needed the income from writing, so spent all her time at it, wearing a
hole in her thumb. She would write of American cities in striking
ways, although never having been there.
Shakespeare? Never blotted a line? Lost control of his wits in some
way? Had control issues about his works?
Stratman did care for his kids, though; may not have been strict but
was a good, business-like provider. Ex-President Bush had trouble with
his wayward daughters and reigned them in at one point; and I see in
S's will that he circumvented daughter Judith's wayward husband from
inheriting her estate. I bet S would find humor in Bush'es
Rabelaisian remark that his dog was the son he never had. bookburn
lackpurity
MM:
The children of Saints should consider themselves lucky. Even if they
do not get as much time and attention as other kids get from their
parents. A few minutes with a Saint can make all the difference. It
could be better than 100 years with a sinner. So, the QUALITY of the
time is another factor. Shakespeare was a Saint, so his children were
LUCKY from the gitgo. If he spent time in London, that would be
relatively unimportant, vis-a-vis, the fact that he visited them in
Stratford. IOW, I believe we should thank God for whatever time we
get to spend with the Saints. They are not sent to this world, just
for a few children. They are sent to collect the sheep. Sometimes,
the sheep are numerous, and quite often they resemble MULTITUDES, as
Christ mentioned regarding the Sermon on the Mount. Saints love their
children, and that love can liberate them spiritually, so the love of
Saints, and the love of sinners, is like comparing apples and orages,
to be frank.
Are you thinking of your own child, Melanie? :-)
> So, basically, where does this leave us with Shakespeare? Shakespeare
> who was in London and not in Stratford for months at a time.
> Shakespeare
> who left his kids to go off and earn money.
> Yes, seasonal workers have done this for centuries. John Adams, first
> Vice
> and second President of the USA did this.
>
> Did Susannah Shakespeare and sister Judith and brother Hamnet
> complain?
>
> Helena Bonham-Carter's 6 year-old son took her ENID script and threw
> it
> across the room, complaining: "I like you but I don't like what you
> do,
> because it takes too long." - even though the filming of Enid only
> took a
> record 16 days. Yup, another "Mommy Dearest" novel in the making!
>
> Melanie
MM:
Even Saints have been misunderstood by the world. Certain karmas
bring parents and children together, but that doesn't necessarily
translate into perfect harmony. There can be a lack of understanding,
even though the parent might love the children very dearly.
Michael Martin
La Mouse
> Watching a bit of "Enid" (Enid Blyton) with Helena Bonham Carter on
> BBC, (have recorded it so will watch rest later) I then read an
> interview with H B-C where she apparently said that Enid Bylton
> was "bonkers and a bad mother".
>
> Enid Blyton wrote over 750 childrens books, plus magazine stories,
> there was a time where she wrote an estimated 10'000 words per day.
> Yes, that's TEN THOUSAND WORDS PER DAY.
And the results look as if that's what she did. Although I did like
The Enchanted Wood and The Magic Faraway Tree when I was a kid.
>
> I listened to Stephen Kings's "On Writing", read by the author (one
> of the few authors who can also READ as well as write - usually
> authors reading of their books makes one comatose - ) and he
> said he writes 2'000 words a day, which is an awful lot.
I think that's probably average for many writers. Even I write about
1000-1500 words a day when I get going, probably closer to 2 thou if
you take into account all the changes and edits that I make as I go.
And although King's written a lot of rubbish, he's written a few
really good pieces also.
(snip)
Mouse