How do I manage to keep on writing a weekly ezine, daily blog and now create a weekly podcast – where do I find the material and how did I get to be a writer?
As far as material is concerned – that’s really easy – I just go out of my front door and travel, either personally or professionally. The world then provides more writing opportunities than I could cover if this were my full-time occupation.
I am currently reading Alan Bennett’s “Untold Stories”, a collection of memories, musings and observations drawn from his own childhood and his daily experiences. He writes brilliantly and is the only author whose work I read to the sound of his own sardonic Leeds accent inside my head. His real and yet unexceptional life is more gripping than many of the novels I entertain myself with – perhaps because his recollection of growing up in the working class North of England evokes so many of my own experiences.
As far as finding the time is concerned – that’s just a successful habit, no more, no less. Making sure that the ezine is written early on Monday or Tuesday morning, before “work” commences. Reminding myself to record the podcast straight after, reflecting each morning before I work on what has happened to me the previous 24 hours that would make a good blog entry.
As far as writing skills are concerned – I have none – I am a “high school drop out”.
On Sunday I was reading my only newspaper of the week, The Independent on Sunday, and what caught my attention was a brief interview with Frank McCourt, author of “Angela’s Ashes”.
I quote:
“I believe that as a writer you have to find your own style. Honesty is the best policy. And scribble – don’t try to write a novel. Just scribble and let it come.”