Friday 1 February 2019

Why do people write?







Hello Everyone,

Yes, Lady M here. Back at last. I would like to say that it is by popular demand but...
Anyway, a big thank you to Sofia and Donald for keeping you entertained during the last four months. I hope you enjoyed catching up with the family in their new Australian life. Now, S and D are probably enjoying themselves in all their favourite places.

I am resurrecting some posts from two years ago when I took on the theme of writing. One of the topics I did not look at was plagiarism. It is with great sadness that the Darryl Ashton's poetry  featured in this series has now been removed from all my blogs due to plagiarism. Alas, under these circumstances I have been obliged to sever my professional relationship with this individual. Plagiarism is a criminal offence, also unethical and immoral. It is simply taking someone else's work and claiming it to be yours. Darryl, allegedly, took at least one poem and just changed the title. I believe he is being prosecuted. It is so sad as he is talented  in his own right.

So, this is my first resurrected post originally posted in February 2017.
I have decided to take 'writing' as my theme for the next few weeks. After all, it is rather appropriate for someone who is on her ninth book. Twenty years ago I was not even sure that I was capable of producing one. Positivity and perseverance have been my allies and between us we have published seven. I really like the pic I have chosen today because  it has my first six books all in line and to me they are the most beautiful books in the world... yes folks... it is personal. All authors see their books as children. They can recall the point of conception or basic idea, the pregnancy or development of plot and characters, the long period of growth or writing and the final product for the world to read. If you are wondering about my seventh and eighth books... seven is on Kindle and number eight is looking for a publisher. So, how many words have I written over the last twenty years? Considering rewrites and editing I estimate between eight and ten million. Wow! A question I am frequently asked as I am sure many authors are is why do we write? My answer? I have no idea... it just feels right. I have done some research for this blog and found various quotes on writing which may interest you.


Kingsley Amis wrote, "If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing." I like his thinking!


Samuel Johnson wrote, "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." I wonder what he would say to the free downloads of today?


William Faulkner wrote, "The tools I need for my work are paper, tobacco, food and a little whiskey."  I prefer chocolate, caffeine and wine!


Sir Winston Churchill wrote, "Writing a book is an adventure: it begins as an amusement, then it becomes a mistress, then a master, and finally a tyrant." An obsession?


Clarence Darrow wrote, "Some day I hope to write a book where the royalties will pay for the copies I give away." I sympathise.


Jules Renard wrote, "Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money." Now I feel normal.


W. Somerset Maugham (attrib)  "There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." I like a profession or life style without rules.


John Steinbeck wrote, "The profession of book-writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business." I must take up horse racing.


Ferenc Molnar when asked how he became a writer replied, "In the same way that a woman becomes a prostitute. First I did it to please myself, then I did it to please my friends, and finally I did it for money." Interesting.


J.P. Donleavy wrote, "Writing is turning one's worst moments into money." Where am I going wrong?


Lord Byron wrote, "If I don’t write to empty my mind, I go mad,” I like it.


Truman Capote said, To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music that words make,” Definitely!


Terry Pratchett, “Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.” I agree. I just love playing with my characters... they are such fun. Escapism from reality is a fantastic experience.


F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say,”  Absolutely.

So readers just a few reasons why people write.

Until next week have fun,

Lady M















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