John Steinbeck: O’ Rare Werewolf Writer
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS BELIEVE IN SYNTAX, the internet, biographers or trivia blogs. It is documented that John Steinbeck used 300 pencils to write East of Eden. Okay. Fine. But then, a biographer claimed he used, “…up to 60 pencils in a day. So. If my math’s correct, it took Steiny just five days to write East of Eden? He won a Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer Prize and two Oscars for his work. His first book was a failed werewolf novel, set in Lake Tahoe. He mentions this in a meeting with Mike Fenberg, protagonist in Naked Came The Novelist. Betcha didn’t know Johnny’s real name wasn’t Steinbeck. It’s “Grossteinbeck.” His paternal grandpapa knocked off the “Gross” when he immigrated from Germany to America.
John was one unhealthy kid. At 16, he almost died from pleural pneumonia and a doctor saved his life by cutting through his rib cage to drain fluid from his lungs. Same year? Had his appendix removed. (Steinbeck; not the doctor) He had a fractured knee cap, back injuries, a renal infection, stroke, a compromised immune system, and, worse? He finally died, in December of 1968.
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS BELIEVE IN SYNTAX, the internet, biographers or trivia blogs. It is documented that John Steinbeck used 300 pencils to write East of Eden. Okay. Fine. But then, a biographer claimed he used, “…up to 60 pencils in a day. So. If my math’s correct, it took Steiny just five days to write East of Eden? He won a Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer Prize and two Oscars for his work. His first book was a failed werewolf novel, set in Lake Tahoe. He mentions this in a meeting with Mike Fenberg, protagonist in Naked Came The Novelist. You’ve heard that old kid’s excuse of “My dog ate my homework?” That happened to Steinbeck, but it was a novel. His dog, Toby, ate a good chunk of his original manuscript, written in pencil, “Of Mice and Men.” Toby’s aperitif caused Steinbeck to have to rewrite from memory and delayed publication of the 1937 classic.
Steinbeck made three trips to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. His pro-labor writings earned him a tale from the FBI.
Betcha didn’t know Johnny’s real name wasn’t Steinbeck. It’s “Grossteinbeck.” His paternal grandpapa knocked off the “Gross” when he immigrated from Germany to America.
John was one unhealthy kid. At 16, he almost died from pleural pneumonia and a doctor saved his life by cutting through his rib cage to drain fluid from his lungs. Same year? Had his appendix removed. (Steinbeck; not the doctor) He had a fractured knee cap, back injuries, a renal infection, stroke, a compromised immune system, and, worse? He finally died, in December of 1968.
Seventeen of Steinbeck’s works were turned into films, including the above. In high school, I played the Burgess Meredith character of George. My pal, Jim Brandt, played Lenny. I’d like to tease that Jim wasn’t acting, but, actually, Master Brandt, besides being huge, was brain scientist smart….
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.