Unblocking
– Starting
points that just might go somewhere!!
I’ve left behind the
screwdriver, hammer and pliers, made it to sunny Spain and the first morning
Fergus and I lay together watching raindrops racing down the caravan
window. His reaction being only 6 months
old was one of fascination, mine one of frustration ......
Or ......:
The sun was warm, but
there was a tinge of the Pyrenean snowfields in the gentle breeze that blew off
the blazing snow, that sparkled in the spring sunshine ......
Or ......:
After a few days of
Spanish sunshine, the writer’s block is possibly beginning to ease a little,
unblocking - we’ll wait and see! I have been
recently reading a series of articles from the participants in last year’s Hay
Festival, interspersed with a series of “Rules for Writing” by well known
authors who also appeared at said Festival.
From one it suggested finding the best time for you to write and then
slavishly sticking with it. Indeed, I
have often thought that I should perhaps try getting up as the sun rises,
having a light breakfast of coffee, fruit juice and some healthy muesli topped
with yoghurt or fresh fruit, walking the dog and then religiously starting to
slave over my computer keyboard or convenient notepad and pen (I use both, and am
indeed copying / editing this from some scribbled notes after dinner and a
shared bottle of not too convincing Rioja [ * see later on and you’ll
understand!], being as we are at the moment in the caravan in sunny Northern
Spain. Although as dinner is now finished
the warm sun has dipped behind the hills and a cool evening ensued – well it is
still only the first week in March!), for several hours before a light late
lunch, if the creative urge hasn’t got the better of me and it’s already
teatime!
But, there’s always a
thousand and one other things to do, as my wife keeps reminding me, so the
better option for me was the late at night, drunk, well after a glass or two of
something stronger than water! However,
interestingly, I’m writing this after a “dry” late lunch, but undoubtedly a
glass or two might be involved in the conclusion!! [*]
Then, I read the 11
Rules of Writing by Elif Shafak (did I say well known writers?), who although
refuting the existence of writer’s block (Rule 10) and suggesting if you run
out of inspiration you “go to Istanbul, spend a few days in the chaos of the
city; observing, listening feeding the seagulls, feeling shrunken and expanded all
at once.” Had some better advice
afterwards, although for now the sunny Costa Brava will have to suffice, but a
trip to Marrakesh is looming on the horizon, so hopefully inspiration a plenty!
But her, and certainly
my favourite of all the rules, last one (No, 11), which although slightly
negating the wonderful idea of feeding seagulls, as well as hopefully yourself,
in sensuously chaotic Istanbul states: “11.
Finally, ignore every single one of my rules (to which I would add and everyone else’s). There are no rules for writing. That’s the beauty of it. That’s the freedom we should not allow anyone
to take from us.” To which I would say
“Hallelujah,” as I’m currently also reading Ben Elton’s “Blind Faith.” If you’ve not read it it’s a must, like all
his others – they flow thick and fast like his comedy routines, with hardly a
moment to take breathe!!
And ......:
Before I know it there
is perhaps the next “Creative Urge blogpost” written and ready to put to bed,
without even leaving the starting point, well as Elif’s Rule 11 says; “There
are no rules for writing!!!”
And ......:
Maybe, the Rioja wasn’t
too bad after all!!
