What I’m getting from writing and reading.

First, I get to create characters who are what I’m not and situations to be resolved. I wasn’t born with the cool gene. I’m not John Travolta who, for me, is the original definition of cool and who owned Grease. I can, however, get things done on the page. My imagination can roam and go wild. I have utilized my experiences into a team of guys who must overcome challenges and can take care of themselves. In addition, writing serves as mental stimulation and it keeps my outdoor memories alive. I’d love to repeat my Grand Canyon day hike, my 12 ½ hour Southern Crossing experience and the Outward Bound sea scheme, but, since I can’t, I’ll use them this way.

Second, I have an eye on the future. I own a tourism business and, for me, there’s nothing better than taking visitors here, there and everywhere but it’s a fickle industry, vulnerable to external shocks. Furthermore, through natural process or health, my time in the industry will end as all things do. Everything has its time. I dislike the idea but time flies and I must learn to accept it. Writing is an alternative plan and I hope it works. I see writing like a Hollywood movie. Someone dreams up a story and pens a script. If it’s greenlit, all those involved take a leap of faith without knowing the result, they do their level best and they hope it works with the audience.

Readers may or may not be writers but if you’re a writer, you must be an enthusiastic reader. That’s not negotiable. There’s an old adage, verified by Stephen King, that the best writers are great readers. Reading introduces different worlds, visions, dialogue and the presentation of different ideas. Every author is different. I see other styles, other uses of language, different turns of phrase and the creation of imagery. It’s all about how to light up and turn the page. Reading gives me different ideas for my work. Read across the genres. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the adventures and missions of Lee Child’s iconic character. Hugh Howey grabbed me with his original, intriguing, gritty vision of people forced to live underground, corralled into something beyond their control. He innovated again with Sand, a chilling picture of people living a brutal future reality. These concepts and visions remind me of the movie nights we had at boarding school. We didn’t enjoy all that we saw but that didn’t matter. It was our time out and the screen was filled with ideas and action. I’d like to get hold of more works by Clive Cussler, Alistair McLean and Stephen King (especially his earlier efforts) and re-read George Orwell because these authors were old school masters of English and their efforts are some of the best out there.

Drew

Post Views : 68