This Writing Life

The challenge?  Write 750 words a day EVERY DAY.  
That means no time off.  Which is all good and well on papier but, when your work suddenly gets busy after a quiet Summer period; or you're on holiday and need to get up half an hour earlier than the others just to get those words in; or you have an IT meltdown and the new chicken coop needs building and the foxes out there are h.u.n.g.r.y... 

It all began so innocently.  The decision was made that a creative writing qualification is only worth the time afforded and the deadlines set.  So, find a website, app or 'widget' that provides you the same impetus but without the financial pressure of actually Needing to need this thing.  But, rather, to train oneself to want to need this thing.  And that is where 'seven hundred and fifty words dot com' came in (see what I have done there (and again in writing 'I have' instead of the more informal and more usual "I've") just to use-up words when I've only about twenty minutes spare at the end of the day and I will not see a computer again till tomorrow evening); this named website has been an inspiration to me so far and I have churned out some relatively good quality missives based solely on the need to put seven hundred and fifty of the little critters down in black and white every single twenty four hour period.  

I recall an ex telling me, she based most of her life on the teachings of various self help books, that it takes twenty one days to form a habit.  Well, this is my tenth day of taking  part in this epic endeavour and I am fair enjoying it so far.  Sure, last night I panicked about eleven thirty and rushed to the bedroom to bash one out. But my partener said she didn;t mind sitting there whilst I did it and would turn the TV off, so I sat on the sofa instead and got off an epistle about weather and aliens and tortured emotions and such.  Today, a Friday, I have been swamped with workload and it is only now, with eighteen minutes remaining of my shift, that I can sneakily tap away at this and just GET IT DOWN.  But this is good.  It has helped me to plan, it has given a purpose to my craft that I have been lacking recently.

Two years ago I had considerable success with some publications, some professional bodies, some invites to read at launches and festivals and soirees.  And then nada. Not that I was complacent particularly, it is just that life gets in the way sometimes. And that is fine, it happens to us all. It is what you do next that marks success or failure (relatively and subjectively so, I mean.)  I languished, made excuses, sat back and worked ninety hour weeks or bought a house,  or embarked on ridiculously difficult projects with local authorities and arts organisations that made my eyes bleed and my heart, heart skip a beat as I tried to sleep at nights.

And yet, even after all of that, I have finally managed to do what I want to.  I am reaching an age where one realises that life is not inifinite and that pursuing your own pleasure - so long as it imparts no harm on another - is one of the purest forms of being.  That, and helping others, #obvs.  

And now, here I am, ten days in, seven minutes from the deadline of the building going into lockdown for the weekend and it is all fine and dandy, I am just over 100 words form my target.  But, next Sunday I go to the French Riviera for a while (not as fancy as it sounds: budget flights, budget accommodation, cheaper than a trip to Centre Parcs actually by half!)  I am tempted to keep going and write longform while there; I hate taking electronics on holiday.  But there is a nagging fear that I won;t be racking up points on this website whilst I am doing the handwritten version.  but then another part of me sings that the result is what matters not the medium, surely?!  Another part, perhaps the imp on my left shoulder, whispers cruelly that mebbes I should relax on holiday?  I have a good book to read, culture to soak up, awfully rusty French to revise.  

Only one thing remains certain: That's me completed my tenth day. Hurrah!