The Digital Divide: The Fun of Formatting

Hi Everyone.

Editing.

I spent three years writing a doctoral dissertation and used to love the hours I spent fussing over commas and colons. I could while away a whole afternoon formatting a single footnote and then be satisfied that this was all I had done for the day.

I worked in an enormous university library somewhere in the south east of England – it was the size of a decent shopping centre – and had a small perch/nest (room) overlooking a large reading room. With the exception of the occasional undergraduate who was happier talking than actually reading, the sense of silence was awe-inspiring.

I treated my doctorate like a job and wrote between 9 and 12 everyday Monday to Friday. Then I would stop for lunch.

After lunch I would return to my perch and not write.

I would do anything else I felt was necessary dissertation-wise, but I avoided writing anything new.

Once I left the library for the day it was as if my doctorate didn’t exist. I was lucky to be able to forget all about it and not lay awake at night worrying whether I would finish it or not.

The next morning I would be on the bus at 8am and spend the hour it took to get to my perch reading two newspapers.

I didn’t always feel like writing but I did always feel like sitting in my perch.

I’m no longer sitting in that library but I do still eat my lunch at 12 Monday to Friday.

I hope you have a productive day whatever you are doing.

Barnaby

P.S. How do you work?

Published by Barnaby Taylor

Barnaby Taylor is a multi-talented author and artist whose work spans a range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and experimental film. He is best known for his writing guide How to Write Something and the popular VIRO series, both of which showcase his passion for storytelling and his gift for engaging and informative writing. In addition to his writing career, Taylor is also an avid enthusiast of artificial intelligence, 1950s Japanese cinema, gaming, and rare soul music. When he's not writing or making films, Taylor can be found exploring new technologies, immersing himself in his favourite hobbies, and spending time with his loved ones. View all posts by Barnaby Taylor

8 thoughts on “The Digital Divide: The Fun of Formatting”

Lucy Brazier says:

January 17, 2018 at 12:50 pm

It’s always interesting to learn how other people work. I do like the sound of your perch. Writers need a good perch. My technique involves hardly any writing, then lots of writing all in one go. I can spend weeks – months – just thinking the book through in my head, scribbling little notes here and there, doodling hats. This goes on for quite some time. Then, when I have the whole book in my head, I write relentlessly for about a week or so until it is done. All in one go. Mostly, when people say ‘how’s the new book coming along?’ I say ‘yeah, pretty good, thanks’ and I haven’t actually written a word (except for in my head).

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1. Barnaby Taylor says:
  
  January 17, 2018 at 3:00 pm
  
  Hi Lucy, I’m fascinated by your approach. Do you find it exhilarating? I think I’d be too terrified to leave it until I had everything ready to go. My neurosis requires me to peck away every day; a sentence, a paragraph, or, if I’m really flying, a page.
  Thanks for sharing.
  
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  1. Lucy Brazier says:
    
    January 17, 2018 at 3:03 pm
    
    It’s quite a stressful way of doing things, admittedly, but it just works for me, it doesn’t feel comfortable doing it any other way. There is a huge adrenaline rush at the end of each working day and the feeling of accomplishment when it’s done is immense. I don’t get much food or sleep, though, and am halfway to insanity by then end.
    
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  2. Barnaby Taylor says:
    
    January 17, 2018 at 3:26 pm
    
    I love the rush one gets from creative effort. Here’s to the next one! 🙂
    
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michelle says:

January 17, 2018 at 5:51 pm

What an inspired routine with consistent commitment. I find writing to a schedule is helpful as well. And a beautiful view is necessary as well . . .

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1. Barnaby Taylor says:
  
  January 17, 2018 at 5:54 pm
  
  A beautiful view really helps. How do you write?
  
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  1. michelle says:
    
    January 17, 2018 at 8:15 pm
    
    That is a tough question! It depends on the project. I like to do free writes for my blog and for poetry. For book projects I make an outline and flesh it out. I like to write a piece and then take some time away from the project so that I can edit it with fresh eyes.
    
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  2. Barnaby Taylor says:
    
    January 17, 2018 at 8:35 pm
    
    Thanks for sharing. You’re right, it is a tough question. 🙂
    
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