05 March 2011

Who am I?

I didn't know it, but I was literally writing a dime novel.  In the spring of 1950 it cost me nine dollars and eighty cents in dimes to write and finish the first draft of _________, which later became _________.
 
In all the years from 1941 to that time, I had done most of my typing in the family garages, either in Venice, California (where we lived because we were poor, not because it was the "in" place to be), or behind the tract house where my wife, _________, and I raised our family.  I was driven out of my garage by my loving children, who insisted on coming around to the rear window and singing and tapping on the panes.  Father had to choose between finishing a story or playing with the girls.  I chose to play, of course, which endangered the family income.  An office had to be found.  We couldn't afford one.
 
Finally,  I located just the place, the typing room in the basement of the library at the University of California at Los Angeles.  There, in neat rows, were a score or more of old Remington or Underwood typewriters which rented out at a dime a half hour.  You thrust your dime in, the clock ticked madly, and you typed wildly, to finish before the half hour ran out.  Thus I was twice driven; by children to leave home, and by a typewriter timing device to be a maniac at the keys.  Time was indeed money.  I finished the first draft in roughly nine days.  At 25,000 words, it was half the novel it eventually would become.
 
Who am I? And what is the published title of my novel? For extra points, tell me my wife's name.

12 comments:

  1. Ray Bradbury, Farenheit 451? I feel like I heard something about that...I don't know his wife's name and I'm too lazy to google right now :) Fun post!

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  2. I'm stumped but I enjoyed reading it and thinking about it!

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  3. No idea. But, I love the idea of paying to write. Such an incentive to write quickly and finish. =D

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  4. No idea I'm afraid, looking forward to finding out.

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  5. Yep, I'm saying Ray Bradbury, and Fahrenheit 451, which was called The Fire Man initially.

    I can stand Angry getting here earlier today.

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  6. Just saw the third space. His wife was Marguerite.

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  7. Is it the guy who drew the "Archie" Comics?

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  8. Good job, Jess and Everyone. Porky, you got them all correct. Although Lurker still beat you here. That's funny, you know.

    Anyway, I award everyone who played four miniature dinosaurs and three broken pencils.

    Thanks for playing. I enjoyed this bit about Bradbury. Hope you did as well.

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  9. I did too. It's reassuring such a fast pace can still produce a great work.

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  10. I'm glad you liked it. I'm rereading a book of his where he talked about it and thought, I'm going to blog that.

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  11. This was a great idea for a post. I would have never guessed. Very fun.

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  12. Hi Anne. Great to see you. Glad you liked this post. More Who am I? to come. Hope you and baby monster are well. Happy Writing to you.

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