Another Brick Wall

Introduction

While all writers want to write, sometimes they run into brick walls, and mixing metaphors, my keyboard fingers are tied in knots. So here is what is happening with my creative life.

The music is "The Thin Wall" by Ultravox because I always think that walls can be dealt with in some way.

These Vocal Challenges

There are two Vocal Challenges that I will not be entering. The first is the awards. This is entirely fiction and poetry and Vocal reckons that I am no good at either so this is a brick wall that didn't even enter my consideration. Many others will enter because they actually have a chance of at least placing because Vocal has shown that they consider those entrants to be good writers, and I am sure that I will see a lot of names read out that I know when the awards are announced. Mine won't be there, because you have to be in it to win it.

Many people have pushed me to enter, but I have heard the phrase "Why Didn't You Win?" many times so I won't be there.

I will still be writing, enjoying myself, berating Vocal for system failures, and slow payments, but enjoying the coffee that their money buys me.

Then there was the Great [Place of your choice] Novel challenge which I was sure that I could not write. Although it is meant to be any country of the creator's birth, the American Flag on the image, I think skews it. Given that the membership of the Vocal Social Society is based in the USA then the likelihood is that most stories will be related to America. That is no bad thing.

I have read "The Great Gatsby" which is considered a Great American Novel, I found it all right but tedious, much like "The Catcher In The Rye", but watching the film, which closely follows the book, is a completely much-improved kettle of fish. I haven't read "Grapes of Wrath" by Steinbeck but also feel that if there were a book of "It's A Wonderful Life", it would be another Great American Novel (with a good ending).

I was sure I couldn't do this but embarked on a Great European Novel, although I was born and raised in England. I wrote about fifteen hundred words but hated the way it was going. It was grey and depressingly miserable and getting worse, because it was taking threads from the country and society that have lived in for the last thirteen years.

I really didn't like it so had to bin it, like many attempts at novels over the last thirty or so years. How did I feel about it? It made me feel good. It was becoming a chore, like writing documentation or a school essay.

After I binned it I needed to write this.

I feel whatever I write needs to either be fun or hopeful or both, that is for my mental well-being as well as my audience.

I do write dark pieces but they are not meant to depress or upset readers, maybe just shock them.

I think people love most of my writing and enjoy the darker pieces, but never think that my writing is grim.

I like to enjoy writing and when I publish this, I will be happy to share my thoughts with you. That is why I am surprised that anyone wants to interview me, because I am so open with pieces like this, although they are a few interviews with me as a subject on Vocal by a few brilliant interviewers (I consider myself a difficult subject).

I may try another Mythmaker entry but at the moment the inspiration is not coming, and The Ode To Ordinary is not lighting my fire though I was considering taking my record player as a subject.

Conclusion

I think my Great European Novel chapter was actually getting me down. Now that it is binned I feel much better, and see the road is clear for more creations.