06 November 2009

Editing, End of Academia... at least for a while.

It was quite unexpected, as it often is, to find myself working on something I didn't anticipate. Somehow I have been going over Trails with a fine tooth comb - after the most recent submission only a few months back. You find a coma or a full stop in the wrong place or a wrong word, or some fault of dyslexia or some two words better suited swapped around, and you get on a systematic band wagon. Before you know it, what the heck... go through it all. There is no monumental change, and no errors I fear would have the project put into the trash at a prospective publisher, but enough to say, were it accepted, the proof before typesetting would be less taxing. One thing that does bother me - I've never read this thing as a story is meant to be read. One day soon. Or maybe that is for the pleasure of my readers alone, for, once more I'll be too busy writing the sequel.

No more essays as a student, at least until I am approved and on the move for post graduate studies. Exciting it will be to dig further into the sorts of things I live, and build more on the foundations for my betterment as a writer. The research, and courses like WRIT 203 have been particularly helpful in teaching me how to dig for information, but also remind me again of the basics. That seems to be a theme in my life. But not just in work. Anyway, it will be great to get back into HoA again, and start thinking, again, about how the sequel to Trails will be going together. Nothing quite like project management to see where you're going... maybe.

It is not the fiction that is important, but the message.

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31 August 2009

Submission

Well, I let Trails go again. Doesn't matter how you go about it - this time, my first electronic submission of my major work, unlike having done it electronically for several short story competitions in the past - it always conjures up weird emotions. Have to wait out at least nine months which is a while, but you get that in the big jobs. Suppose the more popular a publisher is, the more work they have on, the bigger their pile, the longer it will take.

Trails can't really become any better now unless it becomes a new story. It's done, and now its time to focus on other aspects of the larger world. There are plenty of places to go and people to meet, and weird and wonderful technologies to encounter.

My dream would be to be able to write full-time but very few of us ever get the chance for that. I'll keep living and learning and making the most of it, adding value, entertainment and thought to the universe I've created until that day comes. And if it doesn't, it doesn't matter because as long as its part of me and part of the lives of those who read what I have to say, it's all that does matter, at the end of the day.

If you want an example of a life fulfilled, that's the best one I have to offer.

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09 August 2009

Revisiting Old Friends... if just for a minute or two, for brief moments.

When you don't read your own work for a while it can be quite rewarding. As I systematically trudged away on the relatively simple task of putting all of Trails into a single text file, most of what I got was chapter ending hooks. I was impressed with my own scribblings. The odd bit of dialogue hit me as well, as I went on with this somewhat repetitive task, and they weren't too bad, even if I do say so myself - which of course I do. For a few moments, drawn back into the world is a pretty cool experience, reminds me how much depth and detail was there - bits I'd forgotten. Now, wonder when I'll get a chance to read through the whole thing again, properly. Hopefully when its sent back to me for a final going over before it goes to the typesetters.

Ah yes, the reason for this ounce or two of labour. First time I've discovered it, but a publisher out there does their submissions electronically. Not via email due to spam and stuff, but you can send via the post if you can't do it online. Interesting. Far cheaper. Problem is, could be up to a year to hear back on this one. Never mind, heaps to do on the new novel, and once that is done, Trails sequel. Will be good to be back to that finally. And since I did any serious work on it my experience has shot threw the roof. There is much more clarity as to the art of wordsmithing. I can actually string a proper chapter together.

There is a tentative renaming of HoA to, well, something else. But we shall see. HoA will be the title for the second part of that particular trilogy and will make more sense. Once I make a decision I'll let ardent fans know. Not really sure how many people even read this page... Maybe I should call for a show of hands. Email me if you read this - subject line - I'm an ardent fan. Tell me more.

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02 July 2009

Chapter Organisation, Length, Brain-swamping... and the future of THS.

Have decided to rig things up in this particularly research intensive part of the novel so that each proposed individual chapter has its own folder (there are intended, at this stage anyway, to be 15 chapters), with the associated materials that will help me write the chapter in question. Well before this happens there needs to be a game-plan, a layout of how the sub-plot fits into the rest of the story, and how it will develop itself. I just whipped up a text file and listed off the 15 chapters, included tentative titles which helps remind you what things are about, what the particular focus is of the 800 - 2000 odd words, added the name (rank, position or whatever is appropriate) of the main character to feature's POV, and a few details. In saying that, you never truly know where things will go and resolve until its all done, dead and buried as a finished article.

This method may or may not work for you, but its presented here if you find yourself on a bigger type project which finds you feeling a bit weighed under with all the material you have to contend with. As I work away here it has been useful, before digging into the prose proper. The outline is handy for just jotting down notes, bits of dialogue etc, then later dropping them into the actual chapter documents they relate to.

A few days later I can say that things are rolling along. Once you start writing, dispense with that blank page as it were, things do start to move. Particular thoughts are produced from the work as it develops and that's one of the beauties of the writing beast as it grows and becomes, often, something you didn't envision, or is far more than you expected. The important thing is, it is a living breathing literary thing.

Don't discourage if a plan doesn't go to plan... just as long as you keep making progress, that's a forward thing, a forward looking thing. While I wanted to finish the fifteen chapters before returning to school, it will be good to get five done to a reasonable standard, do five more through the course of the first half semester and the last five in the break. No problem. Better that than 15 chapters of half the quality in a third the time.

Learned a long time ago, in order to keep that focus you need, like any project it needs to be broken down into manageable parts. When you rip into a given chapter, keep it to one perspective, from a given character, and deal with a single event - at the end, suggest or lead into another event - that keeps people reading, wanting to know what happens next. The hook. This not only makes things clearer in your writing mind, it also promotes the idea of chapters not becoming too bulky, to cumbersome, and does, as stated above, mean you'll have a word count, on average between 1000 and 2000. Anything more and you have to start questioning things like excessive detail, multiple ideas in one space, more than one POV and so on, which can all lead to a bit of a jumble, for you, but more importantly, for your reader who didn't sit down to get confused and brain-swamped. You might find, as I have, even these days, that a particular piece of work needs to be split up. On the rare occasion this becomes near impossible, but for the most part, it is far better to have two 1500 word chapters, or three 1000 word chapters, over one which is 3000 words.

On a final note, even chapter order might change, but dive in and just get writing. Each chapter doesn't need to be done in chronological order either, but it can help in not getting things muddled. Just get into it and get down as much as you can in each case and remember that it is a first draft. That is the role of the first draft - a foundation, a base, for modifications, for a more refined piece later on as you go over and over that work until it is the best it can be. All the best with that particular mission.

THS 2010

Looking to scale down THS for next year. Comes as I have realised over an extended period of time that there is little point having some much of my writing in public domain. Whereas a few years back I could say at least several times a month I'd let some form of correspondence from people unknown, in relation to what was on board here, in more recent times I get something in relation to the contents perhaps once every two or three months. I guess it is about generating human response, debate, analysis, being able to assist in things, and when you don't have that capacity there isn't much point in having the material out there.

Instead, better just to do the writing for myself or stuff that is specifically intended for publication. The former is not really important or even meant for the web, the latter, well, if its out there in circulation, for whatever reason, response will come and and where and how it does. THS will certainly still exist in 2010, unless the sky falls on our heads - a serious concern of Asterix and his mates, but yeah, slimed down somewhat, and for sure it will still be a avenue for thought and communication.

Anyway, website aside, all the very best with the writing, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you want to talk trade.

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16 June 2009

Making Headway, Evolving Narrative, 42nd Infantry Division... and icebergs.

So with the first semester of skool having come to a close, it is time to brace myself for a more intense second semester. Well, not quite. In-between times I'm looking to make some headway on HoA. While I've mentioned this last subplot I don't know whether it will be the last one or not. Could be I'll form another one out of when Andrea is surviving the chaos around the same time. Not so sure how it will form yet, that part. Sometimes all you can do is get your arse into writing and see how the beast of the narrative evolves. Only then is it time to try and control it, get some idea of where it might go and apply some sort of developing vision to it, and hope it doesn't go totally whacked. Might have gathered up a fair amount of research material as it stands but that's only the beginning. Just getting some order to it will be a mission. Deciding how things will roll together... well, it gives me a fresh appreciation of those holding rank above Lt-Col.

I've been collecting up basic information only to realise I have to dig deeper in some cases, and find myself once again grateful for the Internet. It has been funny how things work out sometimes, for example, when a member of the 86th from the Vermont Army National Guard got in touch to talk about my Gebirgsjäger page and the VANG having a very unique and sought after skill set in the US. Low and behold this is the main area, around New York and the New England area I'm focusing on for a major portion of HoA. The 10th Mountain and the 42nd Infantry are key players in the battle to... yes, you guessed it, save mankind. Anyway, yeah, my point being, there is nothing quite like being able to communicate directly with those who will feature in your work.

Asides from future developments changing things, there is no second guessing that which you base your stories on. Solid reliable sources. Wikipedia might be a good first port of call, but, just as university has taught me, it doesn't serve well beyond that, but it does give you pointers of where to go and you can surely get those primary sources which are vital avoid upsetting the discerning reader.

I have been thinking that research for writing is much like an iceberg - you see out and recognise what you have to do as one thing, and when you get closer and can see under the surface it ends up being far more. It is a question of required detail, depending on how information is going to be used, to what extent and in how much depth. If you're finding yourself on the ice, all the very best with it.

Just have to remember, at the end of the rainbow there is a pot of gold.

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09 May 2009

Words Per Day, Facts of Life, Scriptwriting... and a final subplot.

An writer mate of mine has long since said of the discipline of writing, square away 500 words a day. No matter what, if you want to be a writer and achieve those goals professionally, you must do it. Of course some days are better than others, and once more I make a connection to my time in the Bujinkan. My instructor has recently emailed me on the notion of commitment and putting in what you can. We all have hurdles in life and that is just, well... a fact of life. Five minutes one day, two hours the next, who knows how it will pan out. The point is, just doing it.

Writing, like any profession (though self directed ones require that self-disapline more than most - there is no boss or booming Corporal to motivate you) is one where one must get on with it in order to achieve what ever it is you set out to achieve.

So, in light of some arbitrary number, yet lucid word-count, which seems reasonable enough, remember that it can come in any form, so long as the end result is coming closer. You might do a day of 1000, another of 2,500, or seven days of 500. Always have a day off, and do something other than writing, as a reward and as a necessary component of resting that writer part of your brain. Don't count writing for your blog or website either... or writing to your grandmother... which reminds me...

Scriptwriting

http://www.scriptHollywood.com

Last night before hitting the hay I found myself in one of those pre-Op states of mind. Where the operation is my life as literary man. Yes, project management at its barest beginnings. Looking at the new novel, at the two short stories that adorn my desktop, and a letter to the new Defence Minister. Then of course, there are several assignments and essays which must be catered for.

In amongst it all is scripts. A pilot film for television and a first episode. 90 pages and 42 pages of black on white respectively. So my mind goes back to 305 and how I managed, somehow, to get a A- for the subject. A reinvigoration of just why I took the course - after all it wasn't just some random points thing for a misguided degree. With this in mind folks, it is time to return to the textbook, The Hollywood Standard: The Complete & Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style by one Christopher Riley, and make some headway.

Allegiance

I've divvied up the component parts of this last subplot of HoA, now it is just (oh yeah, just) a case of getting it down, well, and researching that which which must be researched. If I can get the majority of the planning done over the Mid Year break, all should be fine for finishing first draft by Christmas. A solidly good first draft mind you. Aliens, battleships, Warthogs, the burning of depleted uranium, and cold wet nights in remote OPs will be the order of the day.

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31 March 2009

Academic Writing, Note-taking, The Guardian... and more short stories.

With a few required reading logs for FILM 234, and doing WRIT 101, my writing has not been left in the lurch. It has been good with the latter to go back to the basics. You need to force yourself to do this every now and then regardless of how you use your writing professionally, whether it be in administration, creative or academic fields. Can't really underestimate the value of this, given the time to do it of course.

It is always good to come to a place in a project where you know exactly where you are heading and what must be done, but unfortunately, so far HoA goes, there is little time to see it through. Only had a few hundred words done in its benefit since starting the first semester. Can be irritating to be only really getting down the odd one-liner or other notes to jog the memory later at a more appropriate time.

Now I did get to see The Guardian the other night for the first time. Interestingly, as soon as I started watching I knew the initial base depicted was in Alaska - which happens to be part of Andrea's mother's earlier military career. Realised early on I wanted a different kind of background, but still military, and the United States Coast Guard was part of the picture very early on in the piece. It is suggested in the first part of Andrea's story. It is in Part II, more details come to the fore as Andrea learns about her parents' earlier lives, linked, oh so subtlety to the present. While the film doesn't add much to the technical side of things, it does increase my motivations to work on the novel. Plenty more research, as always, and quite keen to put the first part to rest so as the second can be undertaken in earnest.

Unfortunately there has been little time for the creative side of things. I have got a new short story underway, and a second one which is for my cyberpunk universe, but they're both just sitting on the desktop where I can jot things down as they come to mind. Want to get a few more shorts squared away, with the idea in mind to get some stuff out that has been on the mind, and recent experiences too, that have had me thinking. Embedding the real into fiction, I suppose. Typical of my work over the years; situations, people, experiences put down on the parchment as a means of holding onto the memories. The direct stuff comes through my journal entries and bits and pieces that will make up my autobiography. But that's another story...

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04 February 2009

The Continuing Saga...

It has been a while since I've been in here, 'bout time for an update. The main focus has been on HoA, and this significant subplot so far as the overall story goes. It needed to be written and I wasn't even aware of the requirement until, really, this far along. It covers the earlier life of one of the protagonists in Trails - a bounty hunter who pursuing the band during their adventures. In HoA it will all end more than likely in a covert job no doubt somewhat like Watergate. Just this fellow proving his worth to his new employer. Plus, you see a bit more of the world through his eyes, how its changed and what not, instead of simply overdone narrative voice. Everything, ladies and gentlemen, must be done through the characters. It is their world after all.

Have to admit to been just a little paranoid about my writing skills just right at the moment, deeming I'm only just really getting back into it. There will be about six to eight chapters in this lot, interweaved amongst others. They will take place over several months of time, after the war is over and things are slowly making their way back to normal - whatever that is in such a world as I've created. Of course out of change comes rebellion...

So, asides from the major battle in HoA which I have mentioned many times before, and this subplot there is not a lot more needs to be done. Most is adjoining stuff tying everything together, and the conclusion, which of course is not. Things end so that the story can stand on its own but it pretty obvious that there is much more to tell. And no matter the tale you tell, I believe that should always be the case, short story or long, novella or novel options are always open to be explored. Well, otherwise, you kind of defeat the purpose of the creative art, do you not?

Now, considering the next bit of writing I am undertaking, it is a good example of one aspect of writing I keep coming back to - that of showing, not telling. A demonstration, the surroundings described through the character's eyes. But, more specifically, if you need to practice it all - think of those senses and remove the main one, indeed, sight. Even try it out yourself. But, imagine a blind-folded character, and press home what they feel, what they smell, and even what they taste. This is key to really getting to grips with the environments you are introducing to your readers. The reader has to feel like they are right there, or at the very least, have an affinity, an empathy, an understanding of the character. They experience the world through the character. Master that and you're halfway there. Wrap it up in a narrative... with passion and conviction. The world comes alive, and no one will forget the tales you have told.

On other things, for those who have been following closely, in as much as short stories fill the void when a particular angle of writing is not appropriate for the mainstay of my work, that has been happening lately with the sequel to Trails. Perhaps it is that I am thinking more and more again of my original characters, dunno. Either way little bits of dialogue, historical recollections for them and other bits and pieces are being noted down. It will all make the next journey a little easier when the time comes, which, all going well, shouldn't be too far away. But as always, the saga does continue...

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01 November 2008

More Research for HoA, An A- for Scriptwriting... and taming the beast of prose.

If you are one who has a nervous breakdown every time you even think you've bitten off more than you can chew - don't become a writer - lest not for more than a fun pastime type affair. I say this in the knowledge that I am some three quarters of the way through the first draft of my new novel and its all fine and good until I realise that there are at least three avenues of research I must undertake. Tis all about the learning. Coming up with a fantastic and original idea for a subplot on means one thing - plenty more research! Plenty to be said about introducing new characters, problems for them to solve and so on, but actually making it authentic in a fictitious environment is the real challenge. I have some mediocre knowledge in the fields I'm traipsing through, which at least is some sort of start point.

And these fundamentals of story development have all been part of my Scriptwriting course at university - of which I somehow managed to pull off a A-. I should have more faith - something of which numerous family and good friends have stated over the years, particularly in the more difficult times, which all writers go through. If you don't go through them then you're just writing for fun.

Have to say, my previous entry here seemed quite negative and, with an A- those things which I thought wouldn't have an impact obviously did and I'm thankful of that. The mark reflects my efforts for the course, even if the outcomes weren't as good as I would have liked. Next week I'll pick up my final assessments of the Pitch and the Treatment, so it'll be interesting to see what they say. My participation and attendance record must have paid off and it is, particularly in the latter case, the first time it has played a substantial impact on the outcome. In a supposedly undisciplined world maybe it needs to be more focused on in the future. Not because of the tentative mark I received, but in all honesty, FILM 305 was worth undertaking - it gave me a chance to work on some stuff of my own, not just some academic essay which had no bearing in my future career. It was worth it just for that.

A world comes alive as you progress though it - you don't just see it in your mind's eye, you smell it, you feel it, you are often deafened by it until it is brought under control. This is called the first draft... and often the second, and the third... tame the beast.

It is all worthwhile I can tell you - just when you're amongst the jungle, it is difficult to see the stars through multiple canopy while you're also keeping an eye out for deadfall. There seems to be a healthy combination of hacking away at the undergrowth and slowly withering your way through the vines that constantly attempt to ensnare you.

That there is the sign of the character within the writer. If it were easy, you wouldn't be doing it. And because you have taken up the standard, of which only you can carry, you deserve it to yourself, to your tale, and to your audience, to see it through to the end. If you are not convicted of this, then you should find something else to do and relegate this thing to the status of hobby.

In saying this, I must return to the research...

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07 October 2008

Film 305 Scriptwriting - VUW - The Pitch...

Had our film pitch ex today. Run out of time but really didn't care. I know my story, and its all about very brief, most often informal, conversations, or emails or whatever - not standing up there in front of a bunch of people - right you've got three minutes buddy! If I get more than a C for that I'll be surprised. Make up for it in my treatment due on Thursday. Not only that, got so many stories, and several other scripts... I'm well ahead of the game.

The whole idea that the learning environment was meant to be treated as a real world working environment, the lecturer our producer and that sort of thing just didn't happen. I mean, I'd very much doubt that my having never been late once will be any benefit to my final mark. I treated the course with exactly that kind of discipline but yeah... at the end of the day I doubt it will have any reflection on my final grade.

Likewise, the idea of the pitch was not to have any notes - just run with your story (which you should, by now, know pretty well). I did that, no notes or references as I thought it was meant to be done, and suffered as a result and ran out of time. We didn't even do a single dry run, practical practice.

The guest speakers today, who were there for our pitches were quite good. From the Writers Guild - knew about these jokers since I got to Wellington. Good advocacy for all sorts of writers. They were contradicting several things we had been taught in lectures. Honestly, no surprises - not from me at least. But then, its stuff I mostly knew from my writing experience. Which most of my fellow students just don't have the benefit of, but I have tried, in class participation, to put useful stuff out there for them.

Real world stuff and you just wonder why sometimes... the academic world is so very different. And there should be no wondering as to why the local film industry doesn't hold the Vic university scriptwriting course in high regard. But of course, you only find this out half way through after you've paid the money. I'll be pitching my films, my ideas my visions as I always have.

I don't regret having done the course - it just serves as another life experience. Plus, I should have done something less personal for my project... maybe my splatter-fest comedy or the other one about the student bank robbers... still, I didn't learn nothing. And as I say, others were able to learn from some of the stuff I imparted.

Got a few peanut slabs out of the bargain, and grabbed a few extra for my CD kit. The big ones... Didn't feel guilty after learning that it was the university that paid for them. Some sort of gesture for the guest speaker jokers. Now, I should get my Music presentation results today.

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22 August 2008

Progress... and scriptwriting.

Progress? Yes, well... no, not really. Scrag me, I'm starting to sound like a politician. Just looking at my spreadsheet for HoA and realising how close I am to finishing. Well, there is heaps of work in the first part regarding the two battles, but all in all, going on uncut chapters, I only have about 15 to go, around 25,000 words - okay so there will be further splits, but yeah, all it comes down to is finding the time to see it through. With my plans to do a Design course at Uni to provide tuition in 3D modeling it won't be a cinch, but its not unreasonable to think it could be done before the end of the year.

Scriptwriting at Uni has been quite rewarding and I'm learning quite a bit about a different facet of writing. It is quite insightful, requiring different outlooks and techniques, even humbling after spending so much time as a novelist. Again, this is a means to provide a different creative outlet, another set of skills to diversify. Perhaps more so, as I explained to a mate the other day regarding the modeling, it is a means by which to expand and solidify my capacity to communicate my ideas with those who are far better in the field than I am myself. A means by which to build bridges of communication to get a given project done. Have realised how important this is. You just have to have the flexibility these days - even if you have years of experience in a particular area, if you can't maneuver you're quite likely to go down - and yeah, a lot of that has to do with communication.

The first exercise was about scripting a short portion of a old New Zealand novel, and was a good introduction to the skills of scriptwriting, visualising the material for the screen. For a spec script though, I was putting in too much direction - which is up to the director, and the camera operator etc. They work that stuff out. You just produce the bear bones, dialogue and the details on the set.

The second exercise was an initial scene, including an "inciting incident" which is the breaking of the status quo, which happens within the first ten minutes (pages) of the script. I didn't work this right, and my characters lacked any depth, which I'm unsure how to establish in the first ten minutes. Not sure how I managed to pass that ex, but I did, so I'm best not to complain. Still, I'm setting to a rewrite for my own benefit, to properly secure the rest of the project, to know where I'm going. Over the holiday, we have to do a rewrite of a classmate's initial script portion. The one I got was particularly good and its proving to be a challenge to improve on what is there. Did make a few suggestions which are there to be considered by the writer. Have to work on that a bit more this evening. My own rewrite is already underway, after an hour or two at the library. My failures I think was, or though we were told that our scripts had to be character based, there needs to be some sort of action.

All in all it has been a good experience and am glad to have got onto the limited entry course.

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15 May 2008

Return to HoA

Got back into the new novel today, finally. Well overdue. Scary really. The linear fashion in which I was progressing previously worked for a time, and then it became more conventional, rolling with what I felt good to go with at the time - for example, jumping forward to around the chapter 30 area (more on that in the future). Somehow I managed to go from chapter 1 to 18 in one broad stroke. My last recorded save of 18 was February 2006. As mentioned have done a few other chapters in between time but it seems a while since I've been back to my characters.

1527hrs

Have just run through 19 again, first time in a long time and its not too bad now. Shaved quite a bit off the tail end of it too (saved into chapter 20 file) and it is now at 1965. A good length, but there are six chapters (including 01) that are in excess of 2500 and thats a wee bit concerning. Still, the old rule stands - write it all through to the end then concern yourself with any rewrites later, otherwise you'll be there forever.

20 looks like it will be split up, but both parts will be 2000 all up, word count wise. I might well be on a roll again. Certainly hope so. Now just have to haul in the self discipline to keep the momentum up.

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29 March 2008

Film Treatments

Every now and then there is an opportunity to broaden writing experience in areas you're not wholly familiar. I've done this with academic writing in essays, with poetry and some advocacy work. Now, in relation to my Film degree I've been given an chance to give a film treatment a go.

The treatment is a piece of work which defines the action of a film in straightforward prose, typically without dialogue or camera directions as with a script. It is essentially a short story but only focuses on the key scenes and drama.

One assignment (of over a dozen options which is always good, and typical of the Film department) was a film treatment for a feature film based in New Zealand in the action adventure genre. Not too bad I thought. Good thing to already have several ideas in mind before you are presented with the question - as was the case thanks to my brain in constant creative writer mode. The end product is based around some events which occur in New Zealand during the times of Trails, if a little earlier.

I'm yet unsure what the order would be, but the treatment is the sale document to promote the film. The story, short, novella or novella is going to be the basis, and the two permit the development of a script.

Some films are sold on a treatment alone, which I was quite surprised to hear. Many then go on and get a scriptwriter professional to do that side of the business.

You need your introduction, including the setting, the premise and the characters. Then, as with most stories, the three acts loosely considered Establishment, Action and Resolution - sometimes known by other names.

If a film, feature or short is where you're aiming, then give it a whirl. It is a tool to achieve an objective, the selling of a film idea. Make it dramatic, make sure all the reader's senses are stimulated. Make it visual. Make the film come up off the page. A synopsis tells the reader what is happening (as with a novel), the treatment sells the idea. Go for it.

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10 February 2008

What Writing Means to Me

So I get sidetracked once more. This writing combines and entwines every major aspect of my life, and somehow also my own personal history. Quite scary really, when I look back and make the associations, most quite obvious when I bother to think about it.

One of the most critical assets I think exists in regards writing, whatever form it happens to take is that it opens up the world in a search for understanding. Sometimes its humourous, sometimes it is deadly serious, sometimes it is somewhere in between, contemplative. Joy, sadness, troubling and confrontational it produces emotions for all seasons and all hearts. You really can't do without it. This underpins the handicap of illiteracy in our modern world. No one should be without the capacity to express themselves, or to take on board the thoughts of others. Therefore, it is a real blessing there is so many different art forms out there - if you can't be catered for in one way, there is sure to be another. Film, dance, theatre, books, painting, poetry... you name it. In these times there is even video games, which operate in the same way if you care to look beyond brazen stereotypes.

Everyone writes, but not everyone is a writer. Still, expression is exactly that and all it takes is an open mind. As the artist writer though, you need a certain kind of dedication - my mother tells me I'm like a dog with a bone... You need to understand your purpose, for without purpose that dedication can not be founded. It needs to grow, and for that it needs to be nurtured. Family, solid mates and a fair amount of constant inspiration is all that is required. Other than that... dedication. And honesty. If you want to make sure your work is valued and means something real in the real world, in years to come, you can't go past honesty. Dribble is dribble and there is plenty of that.

It is a solitary life, being a writer, but it certainly doesn't mean you're alone. You can't afford to be alone if the aforementioned is to be achieved. There is a desperate need for people to look at the world with fresh eyes, produce material (in whatever form) to change the world for the better, and make the most out of the good stuff we have on hand. Creative reinvention - after all, of the core stories, there are but a few. In the silence of your thoughts comes the work you produce, from which comes fresh insight and a necessary vision for mankind. Done right, your audience will see and feel your passion. Sometimes, though, it needs to be controlled, so you can achieve a little bit of brilliance, rather than a whole lot of nothing... self discipline to keep at it, but make sure what comes out at the other end is worthy of your labours. You might have a lot to say, but it is better just a few words are spoken with clarity.

Eventually you will find a unique style. Its something that some authors loose as the pressure mounts professionally. That voice is something you should never forsake. Again, better to write a few books and be well remembered than a whole swag of them and find yourself lost to the original vision. Worse yet, be labeled a copout... or slave to the masters of print.

In this journey you find humanity, relationships, an exploration of our souls. Whether a reader or a writer, or any other creative artist, it is something well worth taking hold of. If you can't do this at least once a day, even for a few minutes, life becomes but existence, no true living. It is these things we impart, share, which make us uniquely human. In all this as artists mentoring each other is critical to the artform and making the most of experience and all this things I've talked about so far. I've learned so much from other forms which has invigorated me and ensured that what I do and the vision I have remains alive.

Whether I write or not is up to me. Whether or not I succeed as a writer is up to my audience. My audience is the world, but is also me.

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