Two

Numbers in writing are important, they mark chapters, they indicate pages moving, the story flowing......and here is the second entry:

If you are a writer, it would appear you must be in need of a blog.

Oh d*mn I hear echoes of Austen here, as in “It is well known, if not universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of a fortune, is in need of a wife” - or in this period of modern history, “a writer in possession of words, wishing to sell such words must, even if it is not universally acknowledged, create a blog to inspire readership, lure agents, and demonstrate the craft of writing”.

One without the other, writing without a blog, is in the manners of the “noughties”, unseemly.

Where once writers were seen as isolated creatures, to be kept apart, locked in attic garrets, or existing in poverty level conditions in tumbled-down country cottages; it is now expected writers be gregarious and outgoing. Writers are expected to be witty and friendly and understanding, with the "right" type of political views so as not to alienate the reader – even if they lust after their neighbour's llama. Writers are expected to promote, and market, and sell the wears of their imaginations as loudly, brashly, insincerely, as the most slippery cunning car salesman.

Thus I present to you, the reader, the glorious reader, the glorious reader from whom readership, and for whom the publishing of the books is concerned; this most humble blog on words and writing.

I shan't aim to limit this blog to merely my own writing, writings, or wisdom; else it be no deeper than this humble writer before you.

I am by birth Irish, by taxable residence Australian, and, by inclination, an internationalist. This probably falls back to both the place of my birth, and the country in which I now make my residence.

The Irish dispora, the great outflowing of the Irish across the world, has never ceased, those who would call themselves Irish have ever possessed wandering feet. Australia by population size, geographic position, and population mix, has always been an associate of great powers rather than the power itself – thus an open minded international approach to allies and foes has always been the Australian modus operandi.

I feel I am waffling already. Let me then say I am not yet a published author, I am merely a writer. I also have not, to the best part of my knowledge, ever killed anyone, and thus I am a writer of promise as yet unconfirmed.

I have written plays, and stories, and poems, and more than a few attempts at novels. For some less than sensible reason, known only to my own mind, I don't tend to write many short stories – my stories are half novel size or a few pages. I also write poetry, usually at least one a day, and sometimes several, and the quality of such poetry I leave to the judgment of the reader. I have been writing poetry for many years now. Many many years.

I am currently working on several novels, and going back over a few others, editing, and tidying, and addressing the voice, and considering the character – and......well going about doing the stuff of writing.

A question I think every writer should ask, is do they want to be published? Do you dream of seeing your book marked down from $20, to $10, to $5, to the three books for $5 bin?

Even the best writers suffer this fate, and unless you have the un-shakeable faith of Moses in your own ability – and this reflects the reality of your ability, it shall not be your fate to have the joy of seeing your written wares gradually reduce in value over their time in the marketplace....; for without faith it does not matter if you are good enough - for you shall not find someone willing to publish your novel.

You see, self publishing, whilst a way to promote your ability, and product, is not going likely to result in a writing career.

You need someone else, a money grubbing company run by Satan's minions to take your manuscript (or lengthy email, or libidinous blog), edit it, create cover art for it, set it in print, and bind it between covers – with your name somewhere thereabouts – and definitely their corporate logo; before you are properly published.

Before you can call yourself an author, rather than a mere writer. For many, many, many, are the writers in our midst, with their single story which, if they could but complete, would stun the world to silence, only broken by the turning of pages, or the click of fingernail to screen, to move the story, so brilliantly transposed, forward.

So that's is writing.

Why write. For immortality, to preserve your sanity, to earn money and pay bills, to gain fame; it matters not. One must just do and, in achieving, be rewarded.