P is for… Pratchett on Writing (A Slip of the Keyboard) (Book) and PHD Comics #AtoZChallenge
P is for… Pratchett on Writing (A Slip of the Keyboard) (Book) and PHD Comics
Well – ooops – didn’t read this properly. Saw this book on a publisher’s list and had been hoping to get a copy to review. It’s not actually published until the 24th October though but this is definitely on the must read list.
A Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Non-Fiction is a collection of essays and other non-fiction from Terry Pratchett (info from amazon.co.uk).
A quote on writing by Terry:
‘…I have to write because if I don’t get something down then after a while I feel it’s going to bang the side of my head off.’ (Pratchett 2009 cited Preston 2009)
Preston, J., 2009. Sir Terry Pratchett interview for Unseen Academicals. Telegraph.co.uk. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6231337/SIr-Terry-Pratchett-interview.html [Accessed 9th March 2010).
Instead of reviewing this then, I’m going to tell you about the source of reassurance that comes from reading PHD Comics. It helps to know you aren’t alone.
Here are my top 2 comics.
The Allnighter

The Allnighter “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham http://www.phdcomics.com
I am very much a procrastinator and identify with this so much.
Aura of Logical Distortion

Aura of Logical Distortion “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham http://www.phdcomics.com
How exactly do they do this? If only they could bottle it.
What gives you reassurance you aren’t alone?
Posted on April 19, 2013, in April A-Z Challenge, PhD and tagged A Slip of the Keyboard, A-Z 2013, PHD Comics, Pratchett. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.
Very enjoyable post. And I agree with that quote … I have to write because …
What gives me reassurance when I’m alone? I love being alone, because I can write … and writers spend most of their time in their own heads, alone, but when I really get fed up being alone, I bother my family. 🙂 And they seem ok with it.
Great post. Good to be here.
Silvia @ Silvia Writes
Yes I am one of these people that needs time alone to recuperate. Thanks for commenting.
I like those cartoons–and even though I haven’t gone through the PhD process, I can totally relate to the Professor’s Aura of Logical Distortion. I’ve experienced that a few times. 🙂
Yes that aura thing can be very frustrating ;o)