Sorry if I'm repeating myself here but I don't want to check back. It is time to write and move on...
Yet again I have been lax about writing blog posts, and that must change. I could make the excuse that it’s because I have been so busy I just could not spare the time but that would be bullshit. The reality is that I’ve had plenty of time at a laptop or my ipad and spent most of it on Twitter or Facebook. They are so easy; too easy.
So, where am I? I’ve been lazy still — on the writing front. All I have done this Summer is a scattering of interviews, some editing work, and made a few desultory attempts at starting a book. This is going to change. I’m thinking now that I need to get out of the box once again. I started a follow-up (maybe trilogy) to the Owner books. This was to be based on the short story I published called Owner Space. It was to be first contact Owner style. But no — maybe later. I think that what I need to do now is get seriously weird, let myself go, like I did when I wrote The Skinner. More on this when I get started…
But it is not like I’ve spent this Summer just sitting on my arse posting on Face Book. I’ve been continuing to fight a psychological battle mainly by pushing myself physically. Many of those who have suffered depression and fought it off will be aware that one of the best weapons in your armoury is exercise. Get out for a walk, run, swim, lift some weights… I started walking the day after Caroline’s cremation and since then my mileage must be up in the thousands. Here on Crete that activity is much more pleasant than in Essex (obviously) and until maybe a month ago I was doing plenty of walks in the mountains.
However, as the Summer progresses the activity becomes a bit less pleasant when you have to carry a cloth with you to wipe the sweat out of your eyes. At this point things had opened up in my local seaside town of Makrigialos and I displaced walking with kayaking and swimming. The result is that I am now the lightest and fittest I have been in 25 years at under 12 stone (75 kilos) and don’t have a scrap of fat remaining.
So, now I must aim to get my mind straight and start applying it. I have some editing yet to do on War Factory (the next Transformation book after Dark Intelligence) then … yes … it is time to open a new document and stare at a blank page until something happens.
7 comments:
Hello Neal,
Good to hear that you are OK.
As I am a non-Facebook person, your activities on it are invisible, so I have been keeping an eye on your blog waiting for 'signs of life'.
As far as your comments about where your writing is going, weird is good for me...
Cheers,
CB
Thankyou. An amazing insight to the life of a great Author. Being someone who is a Facebook person, it is illuminating to hear an overview of your masterplan and its successes and failures.
I would wish you good luck for the next step in life but I don't think you need it. You seem to have it all sorted. Thanks again. @Dark1tect.
Good to have the update. I look forward to War Factory but seriously weird sounds good as well. I have really enjoyed all your books. Thank you I wish you well.
Happy to hear that you are beating "the black dog" - it's not easy, and it's not fun, but when the time is right (and it appears that it is for you), that first step is a doozey.
Good luck on the editing, future writing, and keeping up with the keeping fit.
I too am a non facebook person but a avid follower. I enjoy reading the blog here very much. Hope all is well!
Glad to hear you're doing well Neal, and it looks absolutely gorgeous where you're at in Crete. Always looking forward to more of your work! Good luck with everything.
I'm with everyone here- keep well first with whatever things you need to do! Then comes the writing. Pretty much anything you put out will be a buy for us all. The weirder the better! Any chance you may take up that old fantasy story idea I read about a very long time ago? (The Yellow Tower (or Staff?) series)
The Crete pictures are always a great addition here to keep us all going too.
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