WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? It's a highly pertinent question: I'm the only person I know who can sleep quite adequately most of the night, then (wishing to avoid the drug dealers of the day, admittedly) remain in bed and slumber the entire day through past nine a.m. and through to five!
This happened to me ~ yet again ~ today. And I was not out of it; I was not stoned. I drank 50mg methadone around five or six in the morning, which is a morning's supply (I save a bit on for the evening). Methadone, when you're a terminal junkie like me, does nothing to "intoxicate", it merely holds you "normal" ~ the idea being that no heroin is required. Though because methadone does not intoxicate lots of people on the programme do itch for something more and frequently find themselves using heroin on top. It's a depressing game and one I'm tired of, hence my casting around for some distractions that might carry me further from the drugs "scene", which is what I hope I might get from this novel scenario stewing inside me.
I've had all sorts of advice that's basically along the lines of not putting the cart before the horse, not worrying about what you're going to write next, get this one done first... which is all fair enough except I want to make a career out of this if I can and I know well enough what the publishing business is like. If you hit upon a bestselling idea they're going to push for more more more of the same. It's for this reason ~ not wanting to be known as a druggie writer ~ as much as anything else that I'm so happy with my present concept. It has nothing at all to do with drugs... And I'm far happier with fiction than autobiography (remember those memoirs I was (very slowly) attemptedly churning out those months ago. No matter how hard I persisted I never felt the idea catch light. Plus I had reservations about putting my own life in print. I didn't think it was fair on family or friends (who had been thrown into the blurriest focus possible)... and also, as I say, wishing to make a career out of writing and knowing the way the business views things, if I'd have made a name as a writer of misery memoirs, misery memoirs part 2, 3, ...10,427 would be demanded of me. Interesting my story might be but it does only really cover ONE book. There's far more commercial potential in fiction and that's always what I'd wanted to do: write the type of airport bestseller that has you so spellbound if you're not careful you'll end up missing your flight!
I'm adding great ideas by the day to my notes. Soon I'll be ready to tackle chapter one (again). The first version was so terrible an eight year-old child could have done better. I'm going to shut up about novelisteering now. For writing IT is my focus; not writing about it~!
Also: talk about "Glass Half Full" but have I set a Blogger record for losing the most followers? Nary a day goes past, after gaining one or two, that suddenly I'm one or two down ~ or the number of followers remains the same, only their faces are different! What's happening here? Am I honestly boring or offending people in such droves? Should I post about alpine rockery shrubs and daisies? I already to a Furry Saturday: maybe it's my roborovski hammies and harvest mice that are turning people off!
If heaven's so great
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Following my comment about being opposed to the assisted Dying Bill Stu
asked, "If heaven's so great why do you want to stop people going there?"
The sam...
1 day ago
12 comments:
I'm so glad you're getting into the swing of things although it probably helps to be conscious when you do! (I jest). Ah don't worry about the commenters falling off. I'm still here! It happens . . .people find other blogs and the blogroll gets so big it's hard to keep in touch with everyone. I'm not a writer but I know a lot. They tend to leave the 'editing' until last. Wack it all down on paper (or better still a PC which makes editing easier). Then double space it, enlarge the font and fine tune it. Good luck Gleds.
Perhaps people find out that you are not what they thought a heroin addict should be and quit. I don't think there's anything wrong with you that you don't know better than anyone out here. You are very readable and I think at a very interesting point in your life. Perhaps others disagree but you just can't please everyone. We all lose people and who can say why? And then others come on board.
People come and people go but some of us go on forever.
Good luck with the writing, Gleds. I want a signed copy when it's published...please. Oh, and I will pay for it, I don't expect you to hand out a copy of your hard work gratis.
I don't think it matters much who follows my blog. If they want to read it, that's okay. If not, that's okay too. I like to write so I do it for me. And if it helps a person, then that's gravy added. Just keep doing what you're doing.
Gleds, as long as you're blogging, I'm reading! Even when I don't comment, I read everything you post. I too, want a signed copy of your book - I will not only pay for the book, but the shipping to Canada as well!
So..you've already sold two copies, sight unseen. that's gotta tell you something!
Cheer up, my friend- you are too hard on yourself:)
Sold! Three copies!
I don't always comment either. I'm just dyin' to know what you're going to write about. You could, just publish this blog and make a fortune...
Hi Gled! I've had to turn my followers thing off for a bit. I'm trying to re-do my layout and will eventually be back, that's probably why my little icon disappeared. Needless to say, I still follow your blog.
I found this link today with Night Photography of London which I thought you might like to see.
BAINO: The manner that worked best for me re writing was to get a first draft as well-tuned as I could make it without spending literally an afternoon on one page (I've not the patience for that)... if I got stuck I'd either skip or power on through. Then come back and tidy up on a line-editing basis. One thing I'm not happy about is radical surgical cutting of the book, e.g. excising one character or adding another. I quite enjoy polishing my prose, but everything else ie the main gist of the story I hope to get right 1st time, else I'm at risk of being driven mad ...
JEANNIE: I would have thought "not what they thought a heroin addict would/should be" would keep 'em reading... but maybe not!
PUSS-IN-BOOTS: unless it's a 10,000,000 copy bestseller haha! Merle published something about friendship, something about friends for a day, friends for a season and friends for life. I know she was right but I hate accepting things cannot/will not last forever...
SYD: that's the best attitude to have. Strangely since I stopped even checking let alone worrying about how many visitors I got my hits meter's gone up exponentially (about x5 what I used to get in the beginning)...
DEADBEATEN: maybe I am
MDA: publish the blog?... I wonder though. Blogs HAVE been published but no-one in publishing seems to have noticed this one and I'm not feeling "desperate" or "businesslike" enough to bring it to their attention
I think the bits they want to read (the bloodstained horrors) are too diluted by talk of hamsters etc. It would take a v enlightened editor to take on the whole shebang as is... surely(??)
NICOLE: my blog got like this just as London got how it is... by no planning at all (and less good taste haha!)
I know what you mean about writing fiction vs. memoirs. I don't want to hurt anyone I know... I'm thinking fiction might be a way to write about memoirs with a fictional twist. I still think its important to tell the truth, even in fiction. Better emotional content that way, people relate to the truth, even if it's been diluted with fantasy.
Hi Gleds ~~ I hope you are feeling OK and things going along reasonably well for you. I woulf like you to read my last post about a Christmas Miracle. I found it very interesting
and thought you might also. Take care, my friend. Love & Best wishes,
Merle.
I surf around on blogs and yours has far more feedback than most. Addicts are such egomaniacs. Good luck.
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