Write off EDINBURGH author and wizarding expert JK Rowling has divulged one of the arcane secrets of her cunning craft. Harry Potter’s maw has explained what to do when you reach a tricky bit in a book you’re writing. She reveals on social media that she was struggling with a chapter, realising it didn’t work, but having no idea how to fix it.
There was only one thing she could possibly do: remain at her desk, scratching her head, rubbing her temples and focusing very, very hard. Actually, that’s not what she did at all. Instead, she sneaked off and watched seven episodes of Seinfeld, back to back, then went to bed.
In the morning she sat down at her laptop and immediately had her solution. PS The Diary now realises why we never solve the numerous problems that arise scribbling this pesky column. We only watch six episodes of Seinfeld in a row.
.. beginner’s error.
Management speak INTERVIEWING a bloke for a job with the accountancy firm that he runs, Bruce Johnson was surprised when the potential employee starting to boast about his ‘skill set’. Says Bruce: “When I was starting my career, many years ago, nobody claimed to have a skill set. Instead, we would say, ‘Here’s a bunch of tasks I can just about complete without screwing any of them up’.
” Adds Bruce: “It doesn’t sound nearly so impressive as a ‘skill set’, though undoubtedly more truthful.” Drumming up business YUMMY Chinese food has become part of the staple diet of the Scottish nati.