Hey all,
So, I guess by now you would've guessed, from the title, that I don't have much to say. Oh the joys of writers block...
So I have had a few attempts to start this book that I have aspired to since the age of twelve, none of which have any success of any note. I have a reputation in my family of having a way with words. I can write just about anything, I've written songs, poems, short stories, minor novels, obituaries and whatever else you can possibly think of. But no matter what I've written.. I just can't seem to get something written that would classify as a book, at least not one that someone else actually likes.
So after many failed attempts... stories that have great starts but nowhere to take the story, stories that would (apparently) only ever be found in those seedy little book stores that sell the types of books that should have a rating of M or higher, or stories that are so boring to me that I don't bother to take them anywhere... I have taken to carrying a notepad with me to write down the tidbits I gain from my powers of observation. Or if I don't have my notepad, my phone is quickly whipped out of my pocket and I use my phone's office app to type what I'm thinking in Word.
Now, so far this seems to be working pretty well, but throughout this experience, I'm beginning to realise why so many writers are on goverment payments. Its not exactly easy to be a serious writer when its only a part-time pursuit. Once you put down your project and go off to do something else, you've lost your train of thought, and its almost impossible to keep the story going, unless of course you make a habit of having writing materials with you twenty-four seven.
So here is the cause of my dilemma, I know writing is not a stable career that generates a constant income, but its something that I've always taken very very seriously. Most of the time, this was a source of much conflict with members of my family, especially my parents. They didn't seem to think that I should aspire to such volatile career goals, even if I did have a certain amount of talent or enjoyment in experiencing it.
I do believe that I could make a go of being an author/writer, but there is one small thing, or perhaps a rather big thing, holding me back. I'm too much of a free spirit. Now, this may not seem like it's a problem, but to really make a career out of writing, you have to be willing to pick up the little bits and pieces, whether it be newspaper articles or some sort of journalistic pursuits. But I have never been able to do this, I don't believe in having my writing abilities restrained to the guidelines of other people, and it's a well known fact that that is the sort of writing expected from companies who will pay you for writing that isn't a novel.
I like to let it flow, quite often I'll close my eyes and let the words in my head connect with the fingers on my keyboard (this sometimes being where those seedy little bookshop novels come from) What can I say? I think writing tends to turn out bigger and better that way. It makes it easier for readers to connect to on an emotional level. I tend to believe, that directing your stories at a particular audience means connecting and writing about the things they experience in everyday life. That small bit of reality in creativity, can sometimes mean the difference between success and failure with a particular audience. I think some examples of this would include two of my favourite drama novels: Deenie by Judy Blume and Looking For Alibrandi or Saving Francesca or On The Jellicoe Road all written by Melina Marchetta.
But then you have your Harry Potters and Twilights, which have no element of reality within their stories. But I love these books too. My personal reasons for loving these books is pretty simple: they came out during my teenage years, which were full of turmoil, my battles with depression and my past quite often being the norm. I liked the escape from reality that thy gave me, when I felt as though all I needed was a break. They were a much needed 'therapy' I guess you could say. And I love those books for that. I find it fitting that the last movies for both of those series'of books are coming out now, closing the era of these books, as I begin my adult life and my teenage turmoil becomes a thing of the past.
But it was back when I felt I needed help or a dose of confidence and strength, or when I feel that way now, that I reach for my favourite, reality based novels. As those books have lessons or attitudes throughout them that allow me to get my much needed confidence boost and give me back my zest for life and my desire to acheive and accomplish. I sometimes think I wouldn't make it through life without them.
So, even writing this long and probably boring blog has helped me to gain some understanding of what sort of novel my book should turn out to be. I almost feel as if maybe, I might be able to get something out now, something that brings the best of both of my worlds. The adult world, that more often than not brings with it the cold hard dose of reality and my teenage world, the need to escape, the need to just express myself and develop my inner imagination. I know that books have been a huge part of my life, even if my reading tastes have become slightly superficial these days (my current read is Kardashian Konfidential, the autobiography written and put together by the three most famous Kardashians: Kourtney, Kim and Khloe) I think they still are important and probably always will be.
Having parents who weren't big communicators, but people who were big on intellect and talent, I've learnt most of what I know comes from the broad variety of books that I read. I'm a kid who was reading Lord Of The Rings and authors like James Courtney and Charlotte Bronte, when I really should have still been stuck in books like The Babysitters Club and Goosebumps. But that's always been who I am. I'm still told to this day that I'm someone 30 years my senior most of the time. But I always say, and I'm gonna say it again.
NEVER underestimate the power of literature.
It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it. ~Oscar Wilde
See you next time!
