A while ago, I published a conversation that I had with my now friend/acquaintance Christopher Ransom. The general gist of it was that I considered blogging an essential part of not just writing, but my everyday life. I like weaving random thoughts together but then, that's kind of how I started all of this with The Language of Thieves & Vagabonds, so it's partly a second nature. Mr Ransom on the other hand considered that any time that he may spend blogging was actually better spent actually writing. As I sit here struggling to make the ends of time meet everyday when it comes to finishing "that book", I agree that he has a point but then, he also has a publisher breathing down his neck for another book. The pros and cons of having a deal on the table huh? I don't know how Mr Ransom has addressed the situation since we last spoke at any length but I hope I am getting better. I now have a plan. Yep - a plan.
I have always resisted plans in the past. It all seems to be a little bit well, 'planned' and therefore, clinical. I write when I write - period. But for somebody who professes to be smart, I can be pretty dumb sometimes too. Not having any schedule at all means that I've not got as much done as I wanted to. The plan is pretty simple - a long list of projects, when things have to be done by, in what format etc and accompanying this is a list that's just as long of other things that need doing. I have my cohort Mr Downes to thank for this. He's a good planner. He can't get anything done himself mind, but regardless, he is excellent at seeing things from the outside and pointing out the obvious.
Everybody should have a friend they trust that points out the obvious. Most invaluable.
Anyway, all this planning has resulted in me having to instigate something else to. Nothing at all. Everybody should also have day when they do nothing at all. I know myself well enough to know that I do my best work when I'm not doing anything. This preferably involves being outside. Sea is good. Woods are good. The downside of this is other ideas. If that list gets any longer, it will become very worrying to look at, but hey, that's the thing I've chosen to do. No doubt the next thing around the corner will be learning how to say no to myself, but I'll deal with that later.
COMMERCIAL BREAK:
(Best TV theme ever, best detective partners ever. best TV show of all time. Game over.)
Today has now turned into 'cut the blog short Friday'. I am going to write stuff. I don't know what, but let's see what's asking to be finished around here...