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Wednesday, May 27, 2020

A Page A Day; A Lifetime Of Achievement


“I regard the writing of humor as a supreme artistic challenge.” – Herman Wouk

Born on this date in 1915, Wouk admired those who could write humor.  But after starting as a gag writer for comedian Fred Allen, he turned his focus to historical fiction like the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Caine Mutiny, and his bestselling two-book series The Winds of War and The War and Remembrance.   All three were also made into popular movies. 
    Called by The Washington Post "the reclusive dean of American historical novelists, “ Wouk always treasured his privacy despite his public persona.  Born and raised in New York City he was leaning toward a business career when WWII intervened and he signed up for the Navy.  It was during time aboard two destroyer minesweepers that he started writing and became an instant success with his first effort, Aurora Dawn.

After 6 years in the service – where he earned 8 battle stars and multiple other awards for his heroism – he turned to writing full time with some of his most memorable works based on naval characters and battles, both from history and from his time in the military.  Wouk kept a personal diary from 1937 until age 100 (he lived to 103, dying just 10 days short of 104).  His extensive journals, numbering over 100 volumes, were donated to the Library of Congress with the first batch given at the ceremony honoring him with the first Library of Congress Lifetime Achievement Award for the Writing of Fiction. 

Wouk said he often referred to his journals to check dates and facts in his writing and always found writing to be both cathartic and a life’s purpose.  In addition to those journals and hundreds of essays, he wrote more than two dozen bestselling books. 

His advice to success in writing was simple:  “Write a page a day.   It will add up.”
 

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