09 November 2005
28 October 2005
Why Do I Write?
Why do I want to write? Writing is what makes me who I am. Or at least, I am most concretely myself in my writing. As someone more at home in the interior world of ideas than the exterior world of people and things – what most people call, the ‘real’ world - it is in writing that my true self emerges and I am the better able to exist in that ‘real’ world. Of course, there are glimpses of my real self in my family life, in conversation with friends, and in my work outside of writing. But in writing, I am in control of what it is that comes out and feel most truly myself.
My writing self has time to think and shape the ‘me’ that emerges in a way that the speaking self never can. The speaking ‘me’ is often disappointed by the ‘me’ that is projected into that outer space, the world. But the writing ‘me’ can look at what emerges and see a greater correspondence with the thinking ‘me’, the ‘me’ that I most readily recognise as myself.
I want to write to prove that I exist and that I am good! Of course, I’d like to sell my writing, to earn just enough to buy that farm-house in the Cotswolds – the one with the Roman villa in the garden. But right now, I’d settle for a magazine article or two and enough money to pay for the Writing Course.
My writing self has time to think and shape the ‘me’ that emerges in a way that the speaking self never can. The speaking ‘me’ is often disappointed by the ‘me’ that is projected into that outer space, the world. But the writing ‘me’ can look at what emerges and see a greater correspondence with the thinking ‘me’, the ‘me’ that I most readily recognise as myself.
I want to write to prove that I exist and that I am good! Of course, I’d like to sell my writing, to earn just enough to buy that farm-house in the Cotswolds – the one with the Roman villa in the garden. But right now, I’d settle for a magazine article or two and enough money to pay for the Writing Course.
27 October 2005
"Sharpening The Saw"
Writing is "sharpening the saw".
The plan is to use Fridays as my primary writing day - when Rose is at work. From September, I will also probably have a regular appointment on Friday mornings, and I have promised that I will have finished my week's work so that Saturdays can be free.
I'm not sure about using the bedroom (where I am now): the wireless internet connection is unreliable and I don't find this chair and table comfortable.
Alternatives include my study or the dining room (if I can have the laptop - maybe I'll earn enough as a writer to buy myself a laptop!) or going somewhere else entirely - like Warrington, taking my handheld and keyboard, which is what I am using to write this.
What do I need to write? A computer - desktop, laptop or handheld; the writer's course binder (Do I take this with me to Warrington? Or just the current module?). Do I need a notebook and pen? (Fountain pen would be nice.) Pencil.
The plan is to use Fridays as my primary writing day - when Rose is at work. From September, I will also probably have a regular appointment on Friday mornings, and I have promised that I will have finished my week's work so that Saturdays can be free.
I'm not sure about using the bedroom (where I am now): the wireless internet connection is unreliable and I don't find this chair and table comfortable.
Alternatives include my study or the dining room (if I can have the laptop - maybe I'll earn enough as a writer to buy myself a laptop!) or going somewhere else entirely - like Warrington, taking my handheld and keyboard, which is what I am using to write this.
What do I need to write? A computer - desktop, laptop or handheld; the writer's course binder (Do I take this with me to Warrington? Or just the current module?). Do I need a notebook and pen? (Fountain pen would be nice.) Pencil.
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