Show 15: The sci-fi author on the gadgets that keep him inspired...
“This is my study, where the writing happens. My commute consists of walking downstairs. In theory, I sit down and I write 2,000 – 3,000 words a day. In theory, again, I work about an eight-hour day. In practice, it’s rather more complicated. Sometimes it involves getting up at 4am and having a whole day’s work done by breakfast time.
I have two computers; one is for email so that I don’t get distracted when I’m writing. Everything really goes on to the computer these days. I start with notes, and then the finished article. I really admire people who work from hand, but I just find it takes too long, so although I’m a very inaccurate typist, I’m quite fast, so my hands can keep up with my brain. Generally, I’m a water-fuelled writer: the days when writers were fuelled by whisky are sadly over. I’ve tried it, but it doesn’t work.
I have a noticeboard here, filled with assorted nonsense, including my very first rejection slip, from Jonathan Cape, dated the 28th of January 1974 – on a typewriter! Then there’s the unused cheque: this is one of the cheques that I sent to the people who actually published my first novel, MacMillan, which wasn’t used because they published my manuscript rather than sending it back to me, There are also photographs of various cars I’ve owned over the years, and in some cases, crashed as well.
Then there’s my light sabre; a flare gun from my father’s boat; a telegraph pole insulator; the rest of the study is basically comprised of books, books and more books…science fiction, mainstream, reference; the whole thing reflects me, I suppose; my brain: quite big, not that impressive, full of science fiction and mainstream, and a bit dusty… ”