Douglas Adams, author of the humorous sci-fi classic The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, wrote a note to himself that may offer advice to other struggling writers.
The note will be included in a crowdfunded compilation book of unseen letters, scripts, jokes, poems, ideas, ID cards and to-do notes by the late author.
The book offers an insight into Douglas Adams’ best-known work, including The Hitchhiker’s Guide, and Dirk Gently, as well as some unpublished projects.
A number of notes he made reveal what a struggle creative writing could be for him, and his “general note to myself” seems to be written as a reminder that the journey is worth it.
In other notes, Adams wrote: “Today I am monumentally fed up with the idea of writing. I haven’t actually written anything for two days, and that makes me fed up as well.”
Another note shows the struggle the author was having while writing Hitchhiker’s: “Arthur Dent is a burk. He does not interest me. Ford Prefect is a burk. He does not interest me. Zaphod Beeblebrox is a burk. He does not interest me. Marvin is a burk. He does not interest me. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a burk. It does not interest me.”
Douglas Adams’ ‘General noted to myself’ gave some sage advice though: “Writing isn’t so bad really when you get through the worry. Forget about the worry, just press on. Don’t be embarrassed about the bad bits. Don’t strain at them. Writing can be good. You attack it, don’t let it attack you. You can get pleasure out of it. You can certainly do very well for yourself with it!”
Other authors struggling with their own writing and the characters they have created may take some comfort that even our favourites have moments of doubt.
Just remember: DON’T PANIC and CARRY A TOWEL!
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