Part 1: Chapter 7 Summary

During that first year, Larry teaches four large classes and writes in his spare time because he doesn't plan on being laid off for lack of publications. One of the professors, who has been working for six years on one book, calls Larry a hack. Sally is not lonely because she always has Charity to talk to while Larry is busy.

Larry puts a chart up on their concrete wall graphing his time: how much time there is to sleep, to eat, to teach, to write, etc. He uses every spare minute, a "pathological beaver of a boy who chewed continually because his teeth kept growing". Sally helps him with everything he writes, criticizing, editing, typing, deciding which pieces are good enough to send out, which need rewriting, and which to toss.

Sid is getting worried about appearances. He feels that...