When Ray was writing the screenplay for Moby Dick he read every other chapter… 1-3-5-7.
Because he didn’t want “too much nonsense.” Then after the odd chapter reading he wrote the screenplay and read the entire book to see if he’d “missed anything.” Made the necessary fine tuning, and finished it. I think he skipped the whale info.
Ray famously had a note on his typewriter… “Don’t Think—Write.”
Many, including Ray, are credited with the quote, “Jump and grow wings on the way down.” But Ray lived it.
One of his caretakers was writing a song. He was stuck and asked Ray for help… (Ray was always enthusiatic, always willing to help.)
Ray said his usual
“Jump and grow wings on the way down.” And today there is a heavy metal song with that title.