I guess it has to begin somewhere, but not necessarily as a part of me, or my life. What I write is not autobiographical. In fact, it's what I see around me...as I sit here for instance. How people react to each other, what I read in the newspapers, how what I see before me, sparks off ideas. Ideas which I then take for a walk... Very often, they go off in a completely different direction to what I expect. In fact, most of the time, I have little or no idea where an idea will take me. It's what makes writing interesting. You can allow your imagination free reign. Go off on flights of fancy.
Yes. There must be a beginning, a middle and an end. There must a good plot, some interesting characters, some colour and excitement. That still leaves you a lot of leeway in the meantime. Plenty of opportunity there to let your imagination run wild. Only a 'would be' published writer, I never the less remain a dedicated reader. Indeed a voracious reader. I cannot survive without at least one book on the go. I read, or have read the classics, or a good few of them. I have read comtemporary writers, I have tried the self published writers, the young novelist, the few who began writing later than most. Many of the popular genres, it seems to me, are of werewolves, magic, the fae, all subjects where you can stretch your imagination, or people's credulity.
A good story is like a stirring piece of music, it will sweep you away. To somewhere you love and want to visit again, or to somewhere brand new, to explore and enjoy. With a live band, the excitement begins even before anyone plays, or stands on stage. You can feel the excitement building, as the people find their seats. The tension rising, the noise getting louder until all goes quiet, a great roar and you're off! Along with the musicians, the sound people, the staging crew and all the rest. You are all off together, if you're lucky, on the ride of a lifetime. Building memories, making favourites.
A good book can grab you just the same. Ok it's a quieter, perhaps a more solitary process. But whether on line, or through the printed word and book shops. You peruse hundreds, you read snippets from a few, you search out favourite authors, or try new ones. You are attracted to the colourful covers, read the synopsis, make your choice. Then find the ideal place, to settle down, to become engrossed in your choosen story, or favourite author. Then, just like the music, you are off together. Enjoying using your own imagination along with someone else's. It's stirring, it's stimulating, it's exciting. Don't you just love the books you can't put down. Fervently searching out the next book from the same author, and the next.
Well, writing is a bit like that. It carries you away, you often just can't get the words down quick enough. A friend said to me the other day, 'I feel I should be writing something, I like the process of sitting behind a keyboard, but what to write?' Well, from someone who has been there. An ace procrastinator, that was me. Just let me say, don't worry too much what you think you want to write. Just write.....write every day without fail. Explore ideas, put down thoughts, observations, story titles, anything. It's the actual process of writing on a daily basis that will open up your direction. It's that which will inspire you. I still have no idea if I will be writing a blockbuster, or mainly blogging. Whatever! Really! Enjoy the process, I love to write...not published, but as I tell anyone who wants to know...I am a writer!
Be happy out there, explore words, love ideas, enioy your vocabulary. Then watch, listen and above all...read!
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