Anecdote James Joyce – Irish novelist and poet (1882 – 1941)

One day a friend visited the writer and found him totally depressed. Joyce explained that he couldn't finish some book he was writing.

'So how much have you written yet?', the friend asked.

'Seven words', Joyce replied.

'It's not that bad', the friend tried to console him.

'Maybe, but I still don't know in what order I should put them', said the writer.