As promised in my first entry I will try and post up a weekly tip. This maybe prompted by a quote, pinched from the desk of another or merely an observation by my good self. This week, its prompted by another self, Will Self who says, 'The writing life is essentially one of solitary confinement - if you can't deal with it you needn't apply...'
I think most of us who write understand the sentiments behind this quote, perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of our life for others around us to understand. Being a writer often means shutting your self away and off from any other distractions, including loved ones, friends, family dog, the internet and your own inner critic. However, equally so for the writer, whether you are just starting out or indeed have rafts of publications, I do believe that sometimes (and only sometimes) you have to come out of your shell. How that happens is up to you, but the key thing is to build yourself a little group of like-minded people, writers like you, who you can call upon when in need, or just to mull something over. Splendid isolation is fine as long as you can write, email or get on-line and talk to someone - even if it is of a virtual nature. For example, I belong to a 'vibrant' writing community - some of you may have heard it called so in the latest Writers News. No? Well shame on you, get over and visit Writers Abroad, a social place for ex-pat writers where we share our work, provide comments, solace and congratulations when and where due, as well as a critical eye on our punctuation, plot, and characterisation.
So my tip is find yourself a place or a person to venture out from the safety of your solitary confinement and return there all the better for having 'got out and about'. Go on, break out for a while.
Speak next week...
Louise
