Word: bolker
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...Jeremiah P. Ostriker ’59 walked from Matthews Hall to the Freshman Union for breakfast, he would sprinkle radish seeds alongside the pathways of Harvard Yard. His freshman year roommate Ethan D. Bolker ’59 said that Ostriker—now a Princeton professor and noted astrophysicist—was curious to see if the plants would grow. Sure enough, when the grass began to blossom in the spring of 1956, it was dotted with radishes. “He’s always had a sense of humor about him,” said...
...Bolker: Pleasure is maybe more the word than fun. I think there has to be in any good writing an element of play, by which I mean the opposite of constriction. It’s very important to know that you can put things on the paper or computer that will not end up in the final draft...
...Bolker: There are a few answers. Some people have really un-useful ideas about how to write. They tie themselves in knots that way, and once you do that it’s hard to get out. I’ve had students whose advisers have died, or advisers who don’t return their work for six months—which is almost the same as dying. Also, you have to really want to spend your time working on the material that absolutely fascinates...
...Bolker: Years ago, when my husband and I were grad students, we knew this wonderful guy who had two kids who were 10 months and two years and had another one on the way. He looked up one day and said, “I’ve got to finish,” and he just sequestered himself from the world for six weeks and wrote his dissertation. I understand that there are those people who get off by waiting until that last minute, but I would not recommend it. If you’re writing at the 11th...
...Bolker: Sit down and set the alarm for 10 minutes, then write as fast as you can about what you think the paper will be. Given the four-day scenario, I would say find another time that day and do the same thing. If you do it enough times, you’ll get going...