How does Eco find the time to write so much?

David Lodge was a famous English novelist. He was much amazed how Umberto Eco could do all the things he did. Mukund Padmanabhan put the same question to Eco of writing scholarly works and the novels simultaneously. Eco answered very modestly. Revealing his secret, Eco remarked that he was always doing the same thing. Eco pointed out that he had some philosophical interests.

Eco tells that there are empty spaces in the universe. In the same way there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as ‘interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he won’t sit idle. He would write during his arrival. Till the person arrives, he has already written an article. Thus by utilising these empty spaces he finds time to write so much. Mukund is much amazed at his dexterity.