Perseverance

When I tell someone that I write fantasy books, the person sighs and says that they wish they could write a book.

The conversation continues to how they wish they could finish writing a story and how they used to write when they were kids.

I always say that no matter what they're writing, it is possible to finish it. It is possible to finish writing a book. When I give advise, it is ignored as the 'I don't have time' and 'I wish I could be as creative as you' comments continue.

If you are reading this and want to write or finish writing a book, you will make it a priority. It's easy when you break down a certain number of words or write a page a day. After all, most writers started off writing books while holding down a full time job.

The Time When It Was About Goals And Affirmations

The Time When It Was About Passion

Passion

When I turned 10, an explosion of poetry came out of me. I don't know what happened. I couldn't stop writing the damn things. It was like a volcano. I filled notebook after notebook. It was fun but also made me look like a freak. Some time later, I started writing short stories. I couldn't stop creating.

Writing wasn't the only thing I loved. I started painting and drawing. I couldn't get enough of it. I went through the starving artist faze and studied Fine Arts too. I loved English literature as much as any day dreaming writer did.

From there, fast forward to a few years ago when I started writing longer stories, songs and more poems. There was a point where I didn't know what to do with myself. I stopped writing for a while but kept writing poems and songs.

There was a weird day at work when I had this idea for a book. I started scribbling things down during my lunch break. When I was back at work again, it was all I was thinking about. When I got home, I cracked open my laptop and started writing the first chapter of my first book. The more I wrote, the more the story unfurled. I wanted to have some element of reality as well as fantasy.

There was a point during the journey when I realised that I was a writer. I was a writer. This is it. It hit me. Shit, no one is going to take me seriously. Everyone is going to hate my book. There was no way I was going support myself as a writer.

These were my old thoughts, my old beliefs. People might tell you exactly what I said before. Ignore them. Keep writing. Finish that damn book and write another one. Passion will keep you going. You know you love it.

I'm still writing now. I still love it. I still write poems and songs. Who cares in what form you write. Remember your passion. It will follow you to your grave. Regret never made anyone into anything.

Never give up.

Remember, passion will get you through.

Good night! xxx  :)

The Time When It Was Epic

The Time When I Showed You The Lanes

Starting Out As A Writer Part 2

Starting off as a writer is one of the hardest things, come to think of it. Writers aren't taken as seriously as other jobs. When I was an artist, I'd get the same expression when I said I was a writer; surprise, then a 'you'll never make money as an artist/writer look' and finally a glazed over look.

Although, since JK Rowling had success with Harry Potter, the glazed over look turned into 'oh well, you never know' look. At that point, instead of adopting an F U look, I smile back with a 'DAMN RIGHT' look. Works every time.

As a fiction writer, it all takes a turn for the worst. When asked, 'what kind of writing do you do?'
I reply, 'fiction'.
Here it comes wait for it.
'oh ... what kind of fiction?'
'Fantasy'
I can see the flash of lightening, hear thunder clapping, as suddenly as it went, it's back. The glazed over look.

Now I'm ever more compared to a non-fiction writer. Apparently, they do really well, sell books, make money, have, wait for it, 'VALUE'.

If you think non-fiction writing is the only type of writing that has value, think again. Since I began reading Neil Gaiman's books, I have discovered how many lives have been saved just from reading his books. The hope they have instilled in his readers, including me. That it's possible to do what I love and make a living out of it. Everything is impossible until it has been proven possible. Now this takes me to Alice Through The Looking Glass. There is so much in this film than the story or the movie seems to have on the surface. Time portrayed as a man and time travelling to save the Mad  Hatter's family. I won't spoilt it any further if you haven't watched it. It has so many layers to it that it left me awe struck. Fiction digs deeper and pulls at your insides more that non-fiction does. That is my opinion, I'm stating it here.

I found an interesting article about fiction.
http://www.returnofkings.com/35173/on-the-importance-of-fiction-writing


Here is Neil Gaiman's edited lecture for the Reading Agency.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/24/neil-gaiman-face-facts-need-fiction

I hope you've enjoyed this blog.

Good Night :) xxx