The way I write

I write to music and when I’m beginning a new story, taking up a new idea, I try not to think too much. I know that sounds mighty peculiar, (the trying not to think too much), but it’s to hold back the resident weed of an imp who sits inside my head criticising my effort. 'What!' it explodes. ‘You can’t write that!’ Or…'that sounds too crazy,' followed by examples of how I should be writing.

If I had followed all the 'shoulds' offered up in my life I would have ended up someone quite different. And probably someone I didn’t like too much.

The same with writing. Write as you. Don’t try to write like anyone else. All good writing carries the seeds of originality, whether in the way the piece is written, or the way the theme is handled, or an unforgettable character.

Venture into your story with your sleeves rolled up, whistling a tune, knowing that you are going to have a good time.

Write with joy.

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Helping a story to grow (it’s a bit like a garden)

Write the story down, sow your idea seeds.

After the story is written and your idea seeds have sprouted this is when the hard digging work begins.

Some of the seeds will be weak. Get rid of them. Pull out all those words that are not necessary.

Some of the seeds will have grown in the wrong place. Transplant those pieces into another part of the story. If they don’t work repot them to use in another story.

Prune away all the dead and unnecessary seedlings. Toss those bits of the story onto the compost heap of ideas, perhaps to be used another time.

Keep on weeding your story until it can stand on its own.

Then and only then will you have a story that blooms bright and beautiful.

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Where do the ideas come from?

They are all around. Mostly it can be a combination of the ordinary.

Sometimes if I’m lucky a character will slip into my head and won’t leave until I’ve told their story.

However, when this doesn’t happen I like to take different things, put them together and then start asking `what if.’

For example: a young boy needs glasses but won’t wear them. An old granny goat desperately wants a friend. An abandoned car appears in a field.

Now comes in the `what if’ part.

What if the abandoned car was part of a bank robbery. What if the goat keeps following the boy around. What if the boy decides to become a private investigator and for this he needs his glasses, but can’t find them.

The above is really rough, but it gets the ideas rolling.

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In a nutshell

Both stories and gardens are creative projects.

Both can produce beautiful results.

Both need a combination of hard work and tender care.

But to me both are worth it.

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Ten desirable characteristics (in my opinion) for those who long to write

• Has a vast well of persistence.
• Reads non-stop.
• Likes to meddle with words.
• Has that magic quality called ‘stickability’.
• Has a thick skin.
• Shows no fear when approaching the letterbox or e-box.
• Bonds more often with bits of paper than people.
• Doesn’t worry about being caught talking to the computer, or self.
• Is happiest when hiding and making up ‘tall’ stories.
• Shows no interest in fame or fortune (well not in the beginning anyway)
  

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