In the last few months, as I’ve been travelling from one end of the country to the other, I’ve started writing. I’ve had a book in my head for some time but I’m always pushing it away as I want to write it when I have time to sit down and just do it, rather than trying to fit it in between so many other things.
One day, when I was on one of my long train journeys, I suddenly thought of JK Rowling and how she apparently formulated Harry Potter on the train to
So, I started to put down on paper the elements of my story and the characters …..and it felt really good. The words were just flowing from my pen with hardly any effort and I got very excited at the thought of writing it. I was planning to start it on the journey back but I was so tired that I slept all the way. And since then, I haven’t been able to get back into it. It’s as if something is physically stopping me.
I’m guessing it’s fear. All the time that the book was in my head, it was a bit of a fantasy that I could dismiss fairly easily as something to be done in the future. After putting down my thoughts on paper though, it has become much more real and I could end up writing this and it could be rubbish. I don’t have a clue how to write a book. I don’t even know if I have style that would or could engage readers. So I have not gone back to it at all. I’m such a coward.
However, whenever I travel by train now, I have an irrational desire to write. I probably should just write the book and then put it away and look at it again next year, or something. But like I said, I can’t. So instead, I have found that by watching people on the train, ideas suddenly pop into my head and I have now written a number of short stories.
I don’t know if they’re any good but I have just read the first one, which I wrote a couple of months ago and I think I like it but I really want to get some honest opinions. I don’t know if I have the guts to publish it here and I may never be able to do it……..
You have to steel yourself and do it. I'm on my second novel now and try to write every day... and every day I have to overcome that resistance to getting to grips with it. After a while it just becomes habit and then it gets easier.
ReplyDeleteI'm in a similar position. I'd go for it!
ReplyDeletemost defintiely would love to read it...and i dont know that i would get off the train until i finished...lol
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Selina. The trouble with getting people's opinions is that they always seem to disagree with one another, so you don't necessarily learn much from them. Also, many truly great writers have been panned by critics who should have known better. All that said, I'll briefly give you my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI say, GO FOR IT!" You can do it! Follow your dreams! :-)
ReplyDeleteGod bless and have a great week :-)
~Ron
Lovely to read you again. As for writing, just do it! And if you don't want to run a story here I'd be chuffed if you'd send one to me by email. I'm a damn good editor. So nice to have you back.
ReplyDeleteYeah do it! Feel the fear and do it anyway etc...I like the idea that you're on a train...train of thought eh?
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I wouldn't put it up on the blog. I'd write, find someone offline who'd give you an honest opinion at various points and not post any samples in public until you've done a couple of drafts and some editing. People are much less likely to give you the cold, hard truth in public - especially if they're trying to write themselves...
ReplyDeleteSet aside a little time to write everyday--or at least 5 days a week.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking a bit like dadwhowrites and snowbrush. Complete strangers might not be the way to go. But we would read it. Maybe it should be part of another blog, like an on going blog entry.
ReplyDeletegood for you with the writing. Keep up the train journeys.
Basically I think we'll read whatever you right. But I think needing to write - that urge needs to be listened to...whatever the medium is!
ReplyDeleteHi I've read your blog and the range of comments you've received, which will show you the spectrum of opinions you could get back from one of your stories. Will that be helpful? I have just started writing a blog and like getting feedback. I think I will continue to write if no one gets back but its better to share, so perhaps share one story see how it goes and keep writing its good for the mind isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there's something about being on trains and writing? Or maybe just traveling. I can see myself scribbling away on board a cruise liner on a round the world tour.
ReplyDeleteLove the name of your blog.