“I have never been particularly impressed by the self centered musings of my fellow writers” – Gore Vidal

Around one year ago I decided to revisit my passion for writing and rewrite & update some stories I wrote many years ago. I’ve since published my first book, and I’m well into writing the sequel. Many people have repeated the same questions to me, so I thought I would share some of the experiences I had in an effort to share with others who might have the same questions.

I will be posting about every fortnight – not that this particular frequency has any merit. I just like the word. Try saying it out loud: fortnight. Feels funky, right?

With apologies to Mr. Vidal, and with respect to the value of time that any reader cherishes, I will keep these ramblings to as short as possible. Further illumination on any topic is only an email away – I would welcome your interaction.

I must start with the act of writing itself. Whether you are a budding writer or a seasoned professional, you’ve probably read in many places about the need for writing to be a regular daily routine – a part of your daily life similar to eating and sleeping. I am quite the opposite. Writing, for me at least, is something that I must do only when it ‘feels right’. I want to enjoy the process, not feel like it is a daily chore that MUST be done.

I’ve also found that writing needs thinking time. Time when you aren’t at your keyboard but are still ‘in the process’. Thinking about each character’s personality, say, or about details regarding the setting they are in. You also then get a chance to revisit the storyline itself and adjust it wherever needed.

Thinking time can be as pictured here, staring into the nothing and silence of life, or it could be going for a walk in a quiet woods. It could mean sitting in a busy coffee shop watching hundreds of pedestrians walk past, or delving deeply into a novel you are enjoying. The main purpose is to simply step away from the act of writing without beating yourself up about the fact that you are not writing. Be patient. The writing will happen when it feels right, and will probably benefit greatly by your having been absent from it for a while.

This process also serves as an excellent ‘out’ for absolutely anything you are doing in life when someone asks you how your writing is going. Just say: “I’m deeply into the thinking portion of the process.” Sounds way better than “I’m in a funk” or “I’m too easily distracted”, right?

“Poirot,” I said. “I have been thinking.”

“An admirable exercise my friend. Continue It.” – Agatha Christie in ‘Peril at End House’