Do restrict your browsing to a few websites a day. Don’t go near the online bookies – unless it’s research. […] Do not search amazon.co.uk for the book you haven’t written yet.
The Guardian Review, 20 February 2010 source ↗
Others on this question
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Naomi Osaka
Japanese professional tennis player
I communicated that I wanted to skip press conferences at Roland Garros to exercise self-care and preservation of my mental health. I stand by that. Athletes are humans.
Colm Tóibín
Novelist, essayist and critic
No alcohol, sex or drugs while you are working. […] No going to London. […] No going anywhere else either.
Joyce Carol Oates
Novelist, short story writer and essayist
I’ve turned down opportunities constantly. I turn down invitations to do things for money. I have almost no interest in making money.
Simone Biles
United States artistic gymnast
I just felt like it would be a little bit better to take a back seat, work on my mindfulness. And I knew that the girls would do an absolutely great job and I didn't want to risk the team a medal for kind of my screw ups because they've worked way too hard for that. So I just decided that those girls need to go in and do the rest of the competition.
Recorded
Post-competition press conference, Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo Olympics, Rev, 27 July 2021
source ↗
More from Roddy Doyle
View profile →Do, occasionally, give in to temptation. Wash the kitchen floor, hang out the washing. It’s research.
Do keep a thesaurus, but in the shed at the back of the garden or behind the fridge, somewhere that demands travel or effort. Chances are the words that come into your head will do fine, eg “horse”, “ran”, “said”.
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