Sunday 31 January 2016
Signing off.....
I've spent most of the day working on this month's blog post only for it to disappear before I'd even finished it. After much upset and shouting, I've made the decision to sign off on the blog for now. I'm still going to record my monthly achievements, but in a document that I can save along the way- and have my continuing writing journey all in one place. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to read my blog since I started over a year ago and I'm not saying goodbye, just taking a break and maybe sometime in the future I'll feel once again that I have something worthy of sharing with the world.See you on the other side.....
Monday 11 January 2016
Why do I write?
It's a question that I regularly ask myself, especially the days when I feel like I'm hitting a wall and no words come out on the page. When I started a just over a couple of years ago (wow, where has the time gone??) it was to fulfill the need to get those words onto the blank page, sometimes not even thinking about what's being written and letting the pen do the talking. But along the way I have certainly had my doubts, in myself and my writing and I'm sure there are a lot more to come on the journey. So why am I writing? My first reply would be because I have to. There is too much going round in my head. A wealth of ideas and notes that could be something if only I let them. I have to find a way to release all the pent up creativity, although it took me a long time to discover that writing was my way of doing that.
My next answer would be that I feel I have something to say and I want it to share it with others, even on the bad days. In fact, specifically on those days. My blog especially has helped me, sharing my journey with others and the support I have received. But there's still lots to learn along the way, the journey is far from over. The main aim being how to become a better writer. I don't like most of what I put down at first so I can only improve and that's what editing is for!
I think I would like others to read and appreciate my work. My blog and columns have so far received positive feedback, but I'm still not sure of myself in regards printing or publishing my stories. Much like any other writer starting out, I enter competitions, the themes and word count giving me focus, particularly when other projects have come to a standstill. I've been incredibly lucky to have pieces chosen for our most recent writers group anthology as well as an online magazine, so I suppose a little of that fear has subsided.
I've read since a young age and over the years have been (and still am) inspired by many authors. Even more since I've taken up my own pen and started writing. But how do you write a book? As a relative beginner I can't say I really know. I do know that I've written the most words I've done on anything and that its still a long way off from being finished but I've currently run out of words. I hope that its just a blip and that once I pick up again, with the help of some more detailed and visual planning, the spark that ignited the idea in the first place will be renewed.
What these last few months have especially taught me is that in order to become a better writer, I need to start thinking like a writer. So that means going back to basics and planning where I want my words to go. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next. Bust as to the question about if I have a novel in me, the jury's still out. But I'm not going to give up until I've at least had a proper shot at it.
My next answer would be that I feel I have something to say and I want it to share it with others, even on the bad days. In fact, specifically on those days. My blog especially has helped me, sharing my journey with others and the support I have received. But there's still lots to learn along the way, the journey is far from over. The main aim being how to become a better writer. I don't like most of what I put down at first so I can only improve and that's what editing is for!
I think I would like others to read and appreciate my work. My blog and columns have so far received positive feedback, but I'm still not sure of myself in regards printing or publishing my stories. Much like any other writer starting out, I enter competitions, the themes and word count giving me focus, particularly when other projects have come to a standstill. I've been incredibly lucky to have pieces chosen for our most recent writers group anthology as well as an online magazine, so I suppose a little of that fear has subsided.
I've read since a young age and over the years have been (and still am) inspired by many authors. Even more since I've taken up my own pen and started writing. But how do you write a book? As a relative beginner I can't say I really know. I do know that I've written the most words I've done on anything and that its still a long way off from being finished but I've currently run out of words. I hope that its just a blip and that once I pick up again, with the help of some more detailed and visual planning, the spark that ignited the idea in the first place will be renewed.
What these last few months have especially taught me is that in order to become a better writer, I need to start thinking like a writer. So that means going back to basics and planning where I want my words to go. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next. Bust as to the question about if I have a novel in me, the jury's still out. But I'm not going to give up until I've at least had a proper shot at it.
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