W is for...

Writer

Could I have chosen anything other than this? Honestly? I don't think so. I think I chose it because, well, I am trying to improve my written communication and hence I got into blogging. I have a tendency to just write  as a conscious stream of thought. My writing is pretty much identical to my speech. I want to tidy it up a bit, so that it makes sense to people other than me. They say practice makes perfect and that is what brought me to the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I did as a child want to be a writer, mainly I think because I was such a prolific reader, and would constantly have my head in a book. I would be at the library every week getting myself 7 more books (that was our library limit). I wont even mention the books I read in bookshops and in the library whilst selecting ones to take home. I really miss it and do try to read when I can. I had a conversation yesterday and a friend made the statement that...

"I don't think you can be a good writer unless you are a prolific reader"

Do you agree? I disagree with this statement but not entirely. 

Anyway, the romantic in me (I may have mentioned this personal characteristic, maybe once or twice or a hundred times already) has visions of me whiling away my days in a little secluded cottage, views over hills and valleys, the scent of flowers drifting through the window and a cat purring by my side as I wrote THE most amazing socio-political historical romantic saga of ALL time. That's the vision in my head but if I was to write a book, I doubt it would be that. I can't say that I have 'realistically' considered what I would write.

Now yesterday with the thought of writing this post whirring around in my head I tried to think about the Whys and Why nots of me being a writer. Grammar is probably a strong contender for the Why nots! But as  fate would have it by the end of the day I had become the recipient of two books from World Book Night. 

World Book Night was on April 23rd 2012, and today I was given a copy of a YA book called How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. Now, I tend to read mainly Old Adult. So I am intrigued to see what it is like. Although last year (a friend and I decided to have a two-woman book club) I read two YA books. The first was Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. I really enjoyed this book. I like how she handled discrimination, although it was about racial discrimination in the book, it was applicable to all types. The second YA book was slightly more morbid and was called Before I die by Jenny Downham. This book was about the final months of a teenagers life as she dies. I really liked this too. Again it dealt with a subject that is not always discussed so openly. The first book was recommended by my friend the second I stumbled across all on my own. 

Anyway, the idea of world book night is that you read the book (log where you are in the world on the website with a special number) and then pass it on. When I have read it, I shall be passing it on - so let me know if you would like it next, we can track it around the world apparently! Providing I send it further than my town or we can track it around town! lol 

When a friend heard of this, she said that she had a couple of books from last year that she hadn't handed out (she was a giver) and is also giving me a book - Alan Bennetts memoir 'A Life like other people'. Alan Bennett can be quite sad but I do like his work. Again I will read it and would like to send it on, so if you want it next, then let me know. How great that he was the voice of Owl in the TV version of Meg and Mog (love those books!).

OK to for those of you who hate change....

Why I would be good at this job.

I can type pretty fast, and have no problem with regards to word count. I do still love to read. I get quite involved with my creative endeavours and can be very intense and passionate, which might or might not help with the writing. I persevere for a good while after I should probably have given up. I am imaginative. Erm...I cant imagine what else I could say!

Why I wouldn't be good at this job.

Writing as an aside to everything else could lead to my enthusiasm going off the boil. I have all or nothing tendencies :). Too much imagination and creativity could end up with a convoluted mish-mash of whatdoyoucallit and thingymajig. Focus - I may also have said before (stop me if I have - hehe) that I am easily distracted.

Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you sift through all your ideas? I am always mind-mapping even before I write a list (don't judge me!). Do you have any quirky habits to help you focus?