Douglas Adams' note to self reveals author found writing torture | Douglas Adams | The Guardian

"Writing isn't so bad really when you get through the worry. Forget about the worry, just press on. Don't be embarrassed about the bad bits. Don't strain at them," The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy author wrote to himself. "Writing can be good. You attack it, don't let it attack you. You can get pleasure out of it. You can certainly do very well for yourself with it!"

The fascinating note will be in a book based on the abundant trove of unseen letters, scripts, jokes, poems, ideas, ID cards and to-do notes in the archive left by Adams after his death in 2001, aged 49.
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The crowdfunded book shines light on his best-known work, including Hitchhiker's and Dirk Gently, as well as unrealised projects such as a dark theme park ride at Chessington World of Adventures.

A number of documents reveal how horrible the writing process could be for Adams, not least the "general note to myself" with which he reminded himself that he would get there in time.