弗拉基米爾·納博科夫用5×8英寸大小的索引卡片來整理和組織他小說中的場景。這個習慣使他可以在謄寫手稿終稿之前,就能試著編排各章節的順序。
[i].Vladimir Nabokov: 弗拉基米爾·納博科夫(1899~1977)，俄國小說家，著有《洛麗塔》(Lolita)、《微暗的火》(Pale Fire)等長篇小說。
[ii].transcribe [trænˈskraɪb] vt. 抄寫，謄寫
穩紮穩打
Slow and Steady
Stephen King[i]) has explained that he always writes 10 pages a day, every day of the year (even holidays). His slow and steady approach to project management has ensured that he has a steady stream of new works entering the marketplace, and he is one of the most prolific modern authors working in America today.
斯蒂芬·金曾解釋說，他通常一天寫十頁，天天如此，節假日也不例外。他這種穩紮穩打的寫作安排方法保證了他有源源不斷的新作流向市場，而他也成了當今美國筆耕不輟的最多產的現代作家之一。
[i].Stephen King: 斯蒂芬·金(1947~)，美國暢銷書作家，著有《魔女嘉莉》(Carrie)等多部小說。
早起的鳥兒有蟲吃
Get Up Early
Writers like Mary Higgins Clark[i]) and Sylvia Plath[ii]) started writing at 5 am and 4 am each day, respectively. Both women had small children, and those early moments in the day were the only time they had to pursue their writing careers. Writer Denison Hatch[iii]) forced himself to write just 500 words per day before starting his day job, and ultimately sold three novels.
像瑪麗·希金斯·克拉克和西爾維婭·普拉特這兩位作家，她們每天開始寫作的時間分別是早晨五點和早晨四點。這兩位女作家都有年幼的孩子要照顧，因而一天中早上的這些時段就成了她們可以用來繼續自己寫作生涯的唯一時間。作家丹尼森·哈奇督促自己每天在開始一天的工作之前只寫500字，到最後出版了三部小說。
[i].Mary Higgins Clark: 瑪麗·希金斯·克拉克(1927~)，美國著名懸疑小說家，著有《孩子在哪裡》(Where Are the Children?)、《夜半陌生人》(A Stranger Is Watching)等多部暢銷作品。
[ii].Sylvia Plath: 西爾維婭·普拉特(1932~1963)，美國詩人、小說家、兒童作家與短篇故事作家，其代表作有《瓶中美人》(The Bell Jar)與《精靈》(Ariel)等。
[iii].Denison Hatch: 丹尼森•哈奇，又名Denny Hatch，著有《被操控的城市》(The Fingered City)等作品。
集中注意力
Get Centered
Some writers need to go through the ritual of touching base with[i]) a favorite literary totem[ii]). For example, Somerset Maugham[iii]) would read Voltaire's Candide before starting work, while Willa Cather read the Bible.
有些作家在動筆前必須要先和自己最崇拜的一部文學名著做精神交流。例如,薩默塞特·毛姆在寫作前會看伏爾泰的《老實人》,而威拉·卡瑟則會讀讀《聖經》。
[i].touch base with: 與……進行必要的溝通聯繫
[ii].totem [ˈtəʊtəm] n. 崇拜物
[iii].Somerset Maugham: 薩默塞特·毛姆(1874~1965)，英國現代劇作家、小說家，著有《人性的枷鎖》(Of Human Bondage)、《刀鋒》(The Razor's Edge)等多部作品。
衝勁十足
Be Impulsive
In business, if you have a good idea, you need to move quickly to keep ahead of your competition. In the words of Bill Gates, "When you find a good idea, act on it right away."
在生意場上，如果你有一個好的想法，你需要趕快採取行動以領先於你的競爭對手。用比爾·蓋茨的話來說就是：“有了靈感就馬上行動。”
今日且多幹，收穫待將來
Work Long Hours Now,
Reap the Benefits Later
Ben Franklin[i]) knew the benefits of working long hours, as well as being known among his peers as being a person who worked long hours. This work ethic[ii]) was essential for growing his printing business. He also had a routine of asking himself questions during the day. Ben Franklin asked himself each morning, "What good shall I do today?" every night before bed, "What good have I done today?"
本·富蘭克林知道長時間工作的益處,他的同輩們也都知道他是個把大量時間都用於工作的人。這一工作理念對他的印刷事業的發展至關重要。他還養成了“一日三省吾身”的習慣。本·富蘭克林每天早上都會問自己“我今天要做什麼有意義的事?”每天晚上睡覺前則會問“我今天做了什麼有意義的事？”
[i].Ben Franklin: 本·富蘭克林(1706~1790)，美國著名政治家、科學家，是美國革命重要的領導人之一，參與了《獨立宣言》(Declaration of Independence)等多項重要文件的草擬。
[ii].work ethic: 職業道德
強迫自己全神貫注
Force Yourself to Stay Focused
Greek orator Demosthenes would force himself to stay focused on composing his orations[i]) by shaving off half of his hair, making him look so ridiculous that he wouldn’t be tempted to procrastinate[ii]) by leaving his home. Victor Hugo would do something similar, forcing himself to meet his daily writing goals by having his valet[iii]) hide his clothes. Yup[iv]), the guy who wrote Les Miserables liked to work in the nude[v]).
希臘演說家狄摩西尼為了強迫自己集中精力創作演講稿，會剃掉自己一半的頭髮，好讓自己看起來非常可笑，這樣他就不會因為經不住想要出門的誘惑而拖延時間。維克多·雨果也做過類似的事情。為了強迫自己完成每天的寫作計劃，他會讓貼身男僕把他的衣服藏起來。沒錯，這個創作出《悲慘世界》的傢伙喜歡光著身子寫作。
[i].oration [ɔːˈreɪʃn] n. 演說，演講
[ii].procrastinate [prəʊˈkræstɪneɪt] vi. 拖延，耽擱
[iii].valet [ˈvæleɪ] n. (為男主人照料衣食等事務的)貼身男僕
[iv].yup [jʌp] adv. (= yep) 是，是的
[v].in the nude: 裸體
時刻盯著你的競爭對手
Never Take Your Eyes off Your Competition
Playwright Henrik Ibsen would work at a desk decorated with a portrait of arch-rival[i]) playwright August Strindberg. Try keeping a picture of your competitors face on your desk to spur[ii]) you to new heights.
劇作家亨裡克·易卜生工作用的書桌上擺放著他的勁敵——劇作家奧古斯特·斯特林堡的畫像。你可以試著把你的競爭對手的頭像放在你的桌子上來激勵自己更上一層樓。
[i].arch-rival: 主要對手
[ii].spur [spɜː(r)] vt. 激勵，鞭策
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