Tuesday 28 July 2009

Of Finding Spaces In Which To Write


Finally, finally. After months of trying I have managed to find myself a comfortable spot from which to write.
I don't know about anyone else, in general really, but specifically about how they like to write but I'm assuming this 'space' is something everyone needs. I can't write just anywhere. I know some can - and I'm geet jealous. And I know of a least one person who is brave enough to go and sit in a coffee shop, with a laptop ad write in public. Again, I am geet jealous of that talent. I have tried it, but it was here - not in town - and here is... Not great... For that sort of thing. Firstly because there is only one coffee shop here. Secondly because the customers were eying up my laptop quite greedily.

Besides. DK would not be impressed.

Anyway. The point is is that I can't write, not really, unless I'm properly spaced. If you see what I mean. And now I'm sorted. Look:


Now, I know it's small. But I live in a small place. I've had to abandon my flat to the credit crunch, this is what I've got.

And it's great.

I have geet loads of books from which I can soak up tastes and textures. I like being surrounded by better writers, it gives me something to aim for - and, yes, I admit that somewhere on those shelves is my heavily crossed out 'Family Edition' 9987 but generally it's full of proper geet mint writers.

And I have a window from which I can see both the bypass (lucky me), the footbridge which spans it, and rows of terraces on the otherside. And I know it sounds a bit crap, but, actually, I do like a bit of urban miserableness. Oh, and it's raining so the writing is really coming on well.

DK is there on my right, Plantface (as yet unnamed or identified plant which lives on my window sill) and heavily coffee stained mug are all present. And I have a chair, of sorts, made from my late bill reminder packed blue file box. Which is, if I'm honest, not comfy. But it is solid.

The only really prob is that I have no music playing stuff except the laptop.. Which is fine, but I really need music coming from behind me to really go clattering across my keyboard properly... Anyway...

I sent my brother out for coffee three days ago and haven't seen him since. So it looks like I'm going to the shop myself...



Tuesday 14 July 2009

Slowly Returning (To Form)

Morning all,

S'been a while yes?

Sorry.

But I've been busy not marking. Something far more exciting has been happening instead. It appears that I am writing things again.

I've not wanted to jinx it by announcing it. In fact I still don't want to jinx by announcing it but, ya knaa, I've missed you and my blog was going a bit stale.

Besides - I wasn't entirely sure how to follow up on chapter one.

Chapter two I suppose but that really isn't a habit I want to get into. As much as I'm obviously in this writing game for the women and the glory the money is also quite good so chucking a novel on my blog for free isn't a great plan.

I'm hoping my royalty cheque covers a service on for the car. Novel two might get me some new brake pads or repair the front grill maybe. Or, oh, and this would be a luxury, a valet for it. There is a chip stuck down the side of the driver's seat which I really need to shift.

Anyway - what was I doing?

Writing, yeah, that's it.

I've (almost) got a short story ready for Tonto and Caroline and it's not bad. I'm not a natural short story writer I think, they tend to be scenes rather than 'proper' stories. I know scenes can work really well as short stories and they always sound geet literary like but mine are... well... a bit crap usually.

This one I'm more confident about. (I hope)

Currently I'm hiding, again. Closed me door, stuck a poster over the window, typing really quietly. I've got no more lessons today so I'll be writing then too. Just waiting for Art Kettle to boil (DK had a bad time at school, he's a bit pot bellied see, suffered a bit as you can imagine. Particularly in ball sports. No hands see, although not bad at lassoing. Not that there was a lot of that at school mind.)

Ahha, I hears a clunking whine which can only and inexplicably be the Art Kettle. Time to dash commando style down the corridor...

Wish me luck...