title: Page Fright: Foibles and Fetishes of Famous Writers
author:  Harry Bruce 
description: "<b>Page Fright </b>is a splendid omnibus of why writers write, what keeps them writing, and what happens when they stop (willingly or not)." <br /> <i>Globe and Mail<br /><br /></i>"An essential book. . . . Buy it. Read it."<br /><i> </i>Peter C. Newman<br /><br />"<b>Page Fright</b> is popcorn for the literary-loving mind."<br /> <i>Winnipeg Free Press<br /></i><br />"Bruce gives readers much to savour . . . you can virtually start anywhere and find something to inspire and fascinate."<br /> <i>Ottawa Citizen<br /></i><br />"An effervescent new book." <br /><i> National Post<br /></i><br />"Entertaining and essential reading for fans of writing." <br /><i> Atlantic Books Today</i>
zlib_text: ![](images/00005.jpg)
  
  [Start Reading](index_split_001.html#filepos1059)
  
  [About this Book](index_split_043.html#filepos770404)
  
  [About the Author](index_split_045.html#filepos772229)
  
  [Reviews](index_split_044.html#filepos771376)
  
  [Also by this Author](index_split_046.html#filepos773025)
  
  [Table of Contents](index_split_049.html#filepos777980)
  
  [ ](index_split_047.html#filepos774592)![](images/00001.jpg)[
  ](index_split_047.html#filepos774592)
  
  [www.headofzeus.com](http://www.headofzeus.com)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  for Katie
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  > It was the truths that made the people grotesques... It was his notion that
  > the moment one of the people took one of the truths to himself, called it
  > his truth, and tried to live his life by it, he became a grotesque and the
  > truth he embraced became a falsehood.
  
  > —Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio
  
  > It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine).
  
  > —R.E.M.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Part 1](index_split_049.html#filepos777980)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [1](index_split_049.html#filepos7