Barcelona was brilliant. Just love that city - it's completely bonkers! Each time I visit Spain it makes me yearns to live there again. Barcelona is completely different to Madrid where I lived when I was younger but I still think it's a great place.
On a different note, a funny thing happened recently...
I was talking to my mother about my masterpiece and she expressed surprised that I had managed to stick at my writing for this long. She presumed that I would have abandoned this 'hobby' by now.
I was a bit miffed by this.
Let me just say that mother dearest is extremely supportive but she's also a realist and to be fair she has seen me latch on to so many ideas (fashion design) and hobbies (beading, dress-making,, rollerblading, photography among many, many others) whereby I like to buy all the gear, equipment, books etc. and then mere months later tend to grow tired of it all and move onto the next thing. All the crap I enjoyed purchasing at the time subsequently clogs up the spare bedroom so I really was being a bit precious at getting the hump over her surprise.
My writing is different. It's got to be hasn't it? How could I spend nearly three years on various bits of writing and mainly the wip not be serious about it? That's a heck of a lot of social and TV time sacrificed to write.
I'm guilty of giving my very first (i.e. atrocious) draft to my mother and she politely battled her way through the first few chapters of utter dross before I told her to stop as I'd a brainwave which was going to make it the next bestseller and required a dramatic re-write. I suspect that in her mind she's wondering why I'm labouring over something that was so poor.
I've not given her any other drafts to read though will brave it for the next one. I'm sure she's intrigued as to whether there's been any substantial progress since those first few pages she read ages ago (god, I hope so!).
The other problem is that I've taken it almost personally when she's been disparraging of books that I've recommended to her and also thought were very well written. She'd probably hate the novel I'm writing and dismiss it as frothy and girly.
It hit a bit of a nerve.
I want all my nearest and dearest to think that my work is wonderful. Even if I get published the fact is that some people won't like the type of book that I've written and that may well include critics. Arghhhhh!
Clearly I need to grow a thicker skin if I'm to become a writer. Also need to stop worrying about such things and focus more on finishing the wip. Now that's a good place to start!
On a different note, a funny thing happened recently...
I was talking to my mother about my masterpiece and she expressed surprised that I had managed to stick at my writing for this long. She presumed that I would have abandoned this 'hobby' by now.
I was a bit miffed by this.
Let me just say that mother dearest is extremely supportive but she's also a realist and to be fair she has seen me latch on to so many ideas (fashion design) and hobbies (beading, dress-making,, rollerblading, photography among many, many others) whereby I like to buy all the gear, equipment, books etc. and then mere months later tend to grow tired of it all and move onto the next thing. All the crap I enjoyed purchasing at the time subsequently clogs up the spare bedroom so I really was being a bit precious at getting the hump over her surprise.
My writing is different. It's got to be hasn't it? How could I spend nearly three years on various bits of writing and mainly the wip not be serious about it? That's a heck of a lot of social and TV time sacrificed to write.
I'm guilty of giving my very first (i.e. atrocious) draft to my mother and she politely battled her way through the first few chapters of utter dross before I told her to stop as I'd a brainwave which was going to make it the next bestseller and required a dramatic re-write. I suspect that in her mind she's wondering why I'm labouring over something that was so poor.
I've not given her any other drafts to read though will brave it for the next one. I'm sure she's intrigued as to whether there's been any substantial progress since those first few pages she read ages ago (god, I hope so!).
The other problem is that I've taken it almost personally when she's been disparraging of books that I've recommended to her and also thought were very well written. She'd probably hate the novel I'm writing and dismiss it as frothy and girly.
It hit a bit of a nerve.
I want all my nearest and dearest to think that my work is wonderful. Even if I get published the fact is that some people won't like the type of book that I've written and that may well include critics. Arghhhhh!
Clearly I need to grow a thicker skin if I'm to become a writer. Also need to stop worrying about such things and focus more on finishing the wip. Now that's a good place to start!
5 comments:
I love Barcelona! Great place.
Your mum's viewpoint might be understandable, but I can imagine it still stang!
That does worry me, that my parents will be expecting something earthshatteringly intelligent if/when I finally get published and that it will be commercial and they will think less of me for it. One of those things I just put to one side until I have something to worry about!
Anyway, get writing :)
(Haven't popped by in ages. Hope you are well!)
I know that my younger son occasionally enters sit-com scripting competitions. I have never read what he submitted, but will be pleased to so so if he does well at some point.
I don't know if he has a blog but I wouldn't read it unless he invited me to do so.
B - it did sting but I need to get over the notion that my nearest and dearest will love what I've written when the fact is that it might be brilliantly written for its genre but simply not once that an individual enjoys.
P - I guess that all (or at least most!) parents want their children to do well regardless. Hope your son has success!
I love Barcelona too. It's an odd business, this writing lark - we need huge amounts of emotional intelligence and sensitivity to be able to tell good stories, and skin as thick as the planet's crust to be able to cope with everything else about the craft. Not an easy balance to strike.
it definitely isn't an easy balance to strike Zinnia. Wise words as ever!
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