Saturday and the first day of my weekend. But just because I’ve not been on the day job that doesn’t mean I haven’t been working… As they say, there’s no rest for the wicked. However, I do have to apologise for the delay in posting this. It has been a somewhat slightly crazy day. Nevertheless here is today’s blog entry.
They say everyone has a novel inside of them. Some untold story just waiting for the perfect moment to burst out of you. I suppose I can relate with that now.
Whether you choose to pursue that moment when it strikes and put pen to paper is up to you. Someone, (and for the life of me I can’t remember who) once told me that writing can be cathartic. At the time I don’t think I even knew what the word meant if I’m honest. I’m pretty certain I can remember going to look it up in my dictionary. The day the meaning really resonated with me was one long after my breakdown. For years I’d been writing what I like to call ‘fluff.’ I wasn’t sure if it was any good but at the time I had enjoyed it. It made the people laugh who I had shown it to and so I carried on. But it’s safe to say that after being in a dark place, I couldn’t bring myself to write anything that was remotely light hearted or funny anymore. Instead I decided one day to open up my heart and pour onto paper every thought, every emotion, every relevant memory to what I was feeling at the time.
It turns out that this would become the novel that would so consume and take over my life. I am in fact still currently working on it. I’ve finally found my voice. (For someone who was so hell bent on sticking to her rom-coms, I’ve sure surprised myself.)
I hear other authors talking about finding their niche, their style, their voice. It never occurred to me that in all my years of ‘playing’ at writing, I hadn’t actually found my own yet. I’ve felt more of a buzz, and definitely more of an emotional connection to this current story than any other I’ve ever written. Not only am I thoroughly enjoying writing it but I also don’t want it to end. Inevitably it will have to. I do plan to bite the bullet on this one and pluck up the courage to send it to some literary agents. (Watch this space!)
Why I wonder, has it taken me so long to get to this point? I can’t be sure of that but what I am sure of is that this is MY story. The one that has been burning inside of me for so long just waiting to be told. And you know what else? It has been a cathartic process. A form of therapy in itself. I’ve certainly come a long way since starting it.
Ask many successful authors, (Marian Keyes or Matt Haig for instance) and I’m sure they’ll agree with this… ‘Writing CAN make a difference to people.’ It can literally change lives. If not always the reader, then maybe the one who at the time of writing it, was at his or her wits end.
So try it. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a few words strung together barely forming a sentence. Or if it ever sees the light of day. Just go with what’s in your own heart. Because that’s where you’ll find your story. Don’t try to be anyone else and above all don’t try to write like anyone else. Just be true to yourself and the words will surely flow. You never know it might be a life changing event for you. And if you sit down to give it a go and you get nothing? Then perhaps it’s just not your time yet. But wait. Your time will come…
Hope you’ve all had a fabulous day.
J xoxo
P.s Photo today is one I took whilst on my first visit to London a few years back.
*Cathartic. Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis: eg. Crying is a cathartic release. ( Oxford Dictionaries) http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cathartic
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