I haven't posted in this blog since 2012.
I have absolutely no idea why.
It's pretty shocking stuff frankly as, in the past, despite my early doubts about the actual relevance of blogs, I have found it a fairly useful way of keeping track of my plans and ideals for my work.
I guess I simply forgot to blog.
So I was thinking; what could be my new blog post be about?
2013 looks like it is here to stay so what does that mean for my writing? I decided to keep it honest and real, like a blog post should be.
I've come to the foregone conclusion that I'm a very lazy writer. Plain and simple.
Positive reviews for Swan Song continue to pour in (okay, trickle in), despite the title actually being homeless at present.
A few good online friends have been passing the novella onto like minded people and slowly, very slowly, it's finding it's audience, like I always hoped it would. Occasionally, I'll get some lovely words from a total stranger in my inbox, followed by 'I can't wait to read your next book' or 'So what else have you written?' It's always here I have to make an apology.
I do write. Just not very fast. And I have written a lot more than Swan Song. A LOT more! The problem lies in my inability to just sit down and WRITE! Basically, it boils down to discipline. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE writing once I've started. It's getting me to frigging start that's the problem.
(What's really embarrassing is I'm becoming less like talented slacker Hank Moody in Californication and more like alcoholic no-hoper Brian 'the Dog' Griffin from Family Guy)!
Funny quote from Stewie to Brian :
'But you can't give up writing, Brian! It's the only thing that's giving your drinking credibility!'
My second book, Hotel Nomad, continues to gestate as I pen it one page a smegging week and my notes for the other titles I have in mind are growing at an alarming rate.
I am still in contact with publishers and agents, that's something I am planning never to cease, and I do actually have some brand new material to release. A collection of twelve vampire themed short stories, already fully edited, entitled Against The Grain. It was due to be published at Swan Song's previous home; Vamplit Publishing. I even had a cover designed and waiting to go!
So here I am; way past a Friday night's witching hour, trying to ignore the shambling drunks that are loudly making their way home from O'Neils just outside my window, doing what I should be doing; writing.
I'm simply going to have to try and be harder on myself in future.
Forget the distractions (like a very addictive Red Dead Redemption on the X Box 360) and focus my energies on that which always pays back triple what you put in. It's that rewarding!
Bottom line; I love literature and ultimately, I can't imagine my life not creating it.
Yes sir, I'm going do grand things!
I won't fail those few who saw promise in Swan Song!
I won't allow my ideas to remain simply that, ideas!
I'll soldier on and make me proud. (It's only me I'm trying to impress anyway!)
Onwards and upwards!
(Note; expect the next likely blog post in 2015)
LMAO! 2015? C'mon now.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you recall that it was regret that finally got me motivated back when I was 38. One of the things I tell people is how I lacked maturity as well. I guess I just wasn't ready to be the writer I would later become. Maybe you've got something like that as well. Who's to say? Only you know you. Right? Don't be so hard on yourself. You've definitely got some skills, my friend. I would really hate to see you let things get in the way of you telling your stories.
Cheers, mate!
-Jimmy
Discipline, or rather lack of it, is always the culprit - for me anyway. There is so much to do and experience and feel, and we are all self-nurturing, doing what feels good in the moment.
ReplyDeleteI know you are an artist at heart - From what little I know about you, I know you love to write and you love music and you love a great movie and you love beautiful - and you love your wife. So much vying for your time. All creating who you are.
Personally, I can't imagine a world without music, or without nature or without stories. I want to do and feel it all but reality keeps budding in and wants from my energy.
I'm rambling. But I love Swan Song - and I am looking forward to reading more from you. I know you have amazing talent because I see the artist in you - and the way one gets lost in music, a writers get lost in his words and those words create experiences that the rest of us want to escape to - making fantasy reality- an escape we all seek.
And the artist shall deliver. I have faith.