Novel Notes by Jerome K. Jerome

How much more of our -- fortunately not very valuable -- time we devoted to this wonderful novel of ours, I cannot exactly say. Turning the dogs'- eared leaves of the dilapidated diary that lies before me, I find the record of our later gatherings confused and incomplete. For weeks there does not appear a single word. Then comes an alarmingly business-like minute of a meeting at which there were -- "Present: Jephson, MacShaughnassy, Brown, and Self"; and at which the "Proceedings commenced at 8.30. " At what time the "proceedings" terminated, and what business was done, the chronicle, however, sayeth not; though, faintly pencilled in the margin of the page, I trace these hieroglyphics: "3.14.9-2.6.7," bringing out a result of "1.8.2. " Evidently an unremunerative night.

On September 13th we seem to have become suddenly imbued with energy to a quite remarkable degree, for I read that we "Resolved to start the first chapter at once" -- "at once" being underlined. After this spurt, we rest until October 4th, when we "Discussed whether it should be a novel of plot or of character," without -- so far as the diary affords indication -- arriving at any definite decision. I observe that on the same day "Mac told a story about a man who accidentally bought a camel at a sale. " Details of the story are, however, wanting, which, perhaps, is fortunate for the reader.