"Slowpoke: How to be a faster writer" by Michael Agger in Slate (Aug. 10, 2011) does not, unfortunately, provide the miracle cure of its subtitle (darn!).  Instead, it very briefly introduces some major figures and conclusions in the field of studies of the work methods of professional writers.  It shares such nuggets as:  ( four excerpts )

Have you ever read Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster?  It's a series of weekly lectures he gave at Cambridge in 1927, and they are a dazzling delight for readers and writers alike.  I highly recommend them.  I've been reading myself to sleep lately on one essay (lecture) per night, and I may, when I'm done, turn back to the beginning and go ( Read more... )