It is half term. Expect nothing to be achieved this week. Though how this varies from other weeks is difficult to say.
I have, of recent times, been opening my ‘initial notes’ document and adding a few lines. Still feeling my way through the plot. Still uncertainly rooting my landscape in fantasylands heavily borrowed from first-millennia history, ready to transplant to whole enterprise into deep space if suitably persuaded.
In other words, nothing has changed.
On the horizon I have a possible trip to Hull to talk about writing – if I can sort the rest of my life out – and, of course, my yearly sojourn to Derby for Edge-Lit. Unfortunately this year’s event has been moved to September, which is already a busy month. We shall have to see what can be done.
But all these adventures seem a little hollow this year. What have I to contribute? I mean, I’m not going to Edge-Lit as a guest or panellist or anything. Been there, done that. That was back when I had a career and ambition.
What I really need is time. Time to breathe, to reorder myself, find that original vision. Life has not been kind, recently – or maybe my perception is askew – and I feel the need to regroup. Writing, I’m very sad to say, has slipped down my list of priorities; not for lack of want, or even for the ‘what’s the point of it all’-ness, but because some battles need to be fought first.
When I started this blog, over a decade ago now, I was already able to write. I had trained myself to sit at my computer and put words on the screen. Now I need to go away and relearn the basics. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I feel, a decade later, like I have learnt too much and now I am paralysed by the sheer vistas of personal ignorance that stretch before me.
I fear I am rambling so I will stop here. Have a wonderful day, all you lovely people. Keep on fighting the good fight.
A Writer's Life 