Chasing Shadows

Enough of the music, damn you, Pete! Well, actually, I can never get enough of the music, just I need to begin the writing again. Writing must take centre stage. I'm there with the second chapter - I know where it's to be situated, and who is within it. I just needed to sort out a couple of things in my head. One of these 'things' was the lack of movement, something so apparent I missed the fact that it wasn't there! I felt its absence, though, and solvey confirmed it in his appraisal. A writer needs readers, but readers have to be chosen carefully; Noel The Ultimate Proofreader is one, and Solvey is another. I will call on Rich for his opinion, too, if he could give it and Maria, if the publishing world can spare her for a mo! Like music, you can't get enough of the good stuff! And the beginning is so important - it must be right. But time is everyone's opponent, and maybe this just can't be done. The very reason I'm not reading anyone else's may be the same reason everyone can't read mine! Writing life...
It has taken me quite a while to get in the right mode to revise chapter two, but I feel I'm just about ready to begin it. And once chapter two has been completed, my readers will be allowed to tear me to shreds! Yep, I'm very much aware that I'm not the complete writer I thought I was. Growing up, in a way. Growing better, though, is quite another matter!
But it's fun - I'm enjoying writing this book. There's more freedom in it than there was with Sword. Freedom to kill myself off, if I'm not careful, which is why I was in no rush to write when what was needed was thought.
So: writing very soon.

C'est Chic!

Just caught an advert on tv which carried a guitar riff from the absolute master of disco stomping music - Nile Rodgers. He of Chic and Sister Sledge - and, of course, Bowie's Let's Dance album. The song was Thinking Of You, and God did this bring back memories!
Suddenly I was on a magical mystery tour of youtube, flying through Le Freak, Good Times (my personal favourite), I Want Your Love, He's The Greatest Dancer, Automatic from The Pointer Sisters, Let's Groove from Earth Wind And Fire and I just went on and on, like some kind of demented butterfly flitting from song to song. Was there ever a better bass player than Bernard Edwards? RIP bro!
These were just such joyful tunes from a particularly happy time in my life - it was all parties and laughter, having a good time. Good Times was the phrase, and the song is just a dream from the time itself. (Hey Maria, can you imagine salsa-ing away to this kind of stuff? Le Freak really cuts it.)
Nostalgia got to me tonight, and it was great. Flashes from the past. Memories from the future - as I will always remember these times many years from now.
I've posted up a video of Thinking Of You from youtube. To everyone I've known, who I know, and who perhaps I will get to know, I'm thinking of you. Turn it up and listen!

Stardust and Dreams

Things happen. They take over your thoughts. They wander through your head, and like moonbeams they flicker before your eyes in the darkness of the night. Images of who I am, who perhaps I want to be, and who I may become. And I found myself listening to a Michael Hedges recording of Baby Toes on youtube. A typically odd title from someone who had so much soulful meaning in his work.

Spacial, beautiful, challenging.

Tonight, the world has changed.
Autumn falling with the rain.
Dreams wishing inside your heart
In a world full of Stardust and Dreams.
Elusive illusions:
I am
And I am nothing.
Elusive illusions,
Burning a hole in the ground
Where I may fall

Go listen to it. It's the one that lasts 3mins 10secs.

A day in the life of a fantasy fiction writer. This one, anyway! :-)

The Answer's Out There

Guess I've been pretty quiet, lately. You can blame my writing for that - though there's nothing to actually 'blame'. I've just had my head in the clouds, dreaming of the future, and trying to unlock that huge door in front of me to see what's there, beyond. I've got enough, now, to write the second chapter again, and I've removed from the opening page of the book the quote from Eleanor Rigby (the song). Putting the little nursery rhyme at the beginning changes the whole complexion of the tale - it is more personal now. A problem this caused me was the very real question of 'who is the story about?' In the end, I have conceded that it is about more than one person, though the true hero is the hero, not the heroine. I get a feeling that the heroine will steal the show - if I'm lucky. I still feel that I can write parts of the other chapters better - I guess I will always feel that way. But it's fun, and I don't feel as serious as when I was writing Sword. I am, perhaps, not as intense a person as I was, but who am I to judge that!! I hope it reflects in this story, anyhow.
Huh, me relaxing as a person is about as real as a chat room. But then again, chat rooms exist, so where does that leave me? Thinking again!
Oh, and I've joined the Michael Hedges facebook group. Take a trip!