Overbooked

So, in a bid to motivate myself to achieve more, I’m officially announcing that the book is now being written. I’m working on the basis that if I tell people I’m doing it, then I’ll be more likely to actually get on and do it.

Time is the biggest problem though. I planned to get a whole swathe taken care of when I was on holiday, but instead I got drunk and spent my days chasing the locals and climbing waterfalls. All good experience though, which has no doubt helped crank up the creative juice machine. Two chapters did get written and they’re currently being ‘touched up’ by yours truly.

Blogging is great for finding a writing style, for getting into the habit of writing regularly and for finding out if what you write is read (and enjoyed) by others. But it also encourages me to write in short sharp bursts – and in a language and style more suited to newspaper columnists than to Booker prize-winning novelists. It’s taking me some time – and not inconsiderable effort - to get out of this ‘habit’.

But, as I say, time is the biggest problem – and the question is where to fit writing next years award-winning novel into my already hectic schedule? There’s going to have to be a big old shuffle of priorities, me thinks.

I’m heading back to Paris in less than three weeks time. Back to a bit more time to myself and a bit more space for thinking. I hope I’m also heading back to big creative moments, to clarity of thought and to a newly found confidence of style.

Only time will tell how the whole thing goes.

Don’t go asking your local bookseller to reserve you a copy just yet.