A friend’s 13 year old son asked me if my book was
out yet. When I told him no, but that I was now blogging, his face lit up.
‘Wow!’ I could see I’d risen by some degrees in his estimation: I was impressed
that he was impressed.
After almost a whole two months, I think I can officially say I’m a blogger! Yet it still feels like I’m shuffling along a
corridor in the dark with my hands stuck out in front of me so I don’t smack
into something.
So what exactly is this blogging? Is it a diary? Is
it about giving information and educating people? Is it a rant? Is it a
strategic marketing and PR game? Is it an opportunity to get feedback? Or the chance to display your writing skills
by offering freebies to attract readers? Is it a love me, love me cry? I think it’s all of the above and more.
Entropy ensures that if you do nothing, you
deteriorate. In fact, you actually have to work quite hard to stand still. It’s
therefore in your own interest to acquire new skills. So, yes, blogging can be a fresh
challenge where you’re writing in a more journalistic, conversational mode instead of poring
over any number of literary aspects in your other writing, whether that be
poetry, prose or non-fiction. So, I’m going to keep blogging even if the route,
let alone the destination, isn’t crystal clear.
I’ve printed out the first draft of my novel. The pile of crisp
white pages sits neatly aligned in the centre of my desk. It’s been there for
two days. And for two days I’ve ignored it, leaving it on the back burner. I
find that stepping away from a piece of work, even for a short while, helps me
to come at it with a sharper, more detached, eye. What happens is that you’re using a work – rest pattern
that activates your subconscious mind. Everything has a rhythm and putting a
piece of work on the back burner doesn’t mean it’s forgotten.
I’m sure I’ll feel different once the read through is finished, and those pages are
covered in scribbled notes, but right now there is a sense of achievement as I pass another milestone on
this journey.
I think you simply have to keep
writing, pushing on, putting in the time, if you want to achieve your goal. So, please, wish me luck as I sit down this morning,
red pen and highlighter to hand, to begin the next stage of this fascinating venture.
Today’s Haiku
SNOWDROPS
A crowd of snowdrops
tremble, shaking their heads in
gusts of chill March wind.
And I haven’t been idle, I’ve been editing haikus for the
upcoming Haikus Galore which will
appear on Amazon in April (date tbc).
http://www.urbanwritersretreat.co.uk/
And I found Mark Coker's no nonsense blog which gives you the truth about publishing really informative.
Another valuable book is How Fiction Works by James Wood which has lots of insights to help you with your writing.
For all book
lovers out there, I wish you good reading and for those of you who write, good
writing.
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