A WRITER'S MIND!

At our monthly Writer's Call meeting last Saturday i had an enjoyable and stimulating discussion with my lovely and literary-intellectual friend, Val, over a glass of French wine.
The setting at Bar des Amis was just ideal; The theme colours in the room were chocolate brown, deep plum and beige, the lighting soft and elegantly encased and yes, easy listening jazz music playing in the background. The walls took on the paler of the three colours, complemented by an array of classic artworks flaunting both conventional and contemporary ballet. Halfway down, the walls were lined by comfy chocolate brown seating positioned idyllically for little group huddles. Indeed the bar soon filled with groups of young men and women as well as older women escaping, temporarily, from the realities of the world outside.
Val and I were seated not too far from the entrance and just close enough to the bar which was positioned centrally in a traditional French style. As we discussed and compared works of her favourite writers, Charles Dickens and Jane Austin to modern writing and film we pondered over the essence of a good read and came to a conclusion that the success of a 'good read' lies in the balance struck between how much the writer refrains and involves the reader. By making their plot palpable and creating almost vivid scenery the writer manages to reel in the reader, but keeping back certain elements and not giving too much detail permits and encourages the reader to imagine and explore their own creativity, at least within the writer's setting.
I also learnt something about taking risks, especially with books. Val is a latent writer with a classic taste for literature; latent only because she does not nearly exhaust her writing skills. When she chooses a novel, she will pick a SAFE author, one whom she is familiar with or whose reputation precedes him/her. When i asked her why she was very clear that this is an investment of her finances. She prefers to buy her books. If she is buying, she needs to know what she is getting and it had better be something to her taste. I on the other hand told her that i like to experiment with authors and genres of writing. As i explained my reading habit i realised that my reason for my broad and slightly eccentric read is because i don’t make a financial investment on fiction. Like a typical student, i exploit the public libraries across Westminster, Barnet and Camden boroughs.
So have you ever considered what happens to new, up-coming writers (like myself and Val) not yet with a reputation but hoping to be read and maybe eventually replace the Jane Austins, JK Rowlings on the bookworms' home library? There is a war out there.

(picture by L.Orlando, 2003)

Today i realised that all those distinctive things about ourselves, we dont like to share,
making as cringe in embarrassment that others might ridicule us or deem us some sort of outcast, a land terrestrial of another level

are the very things that make us VALUABLE.

So maybe you know that already and i'm saying nothing new. Yup! But thats ok. I'll just say it again. The perfect illustration:

You see if "Bling" (the real deal) was so common in the market, being sold at every stall in Camden Town for just a couple of quid

then why would anyone make a fuss over it?? Both you and I, your grandma, my grandma, Uncle Steve, Aunty Ruth, Mathilda and Jack, the couple next door, would all be wearing a bit o' Bling.

Seriously thinking about it, that would give no reason for the Queen or Madonna, Puffy or Beckham to wear it with pride on the red carpet and flash it for the press and one and all to see.

If you have any interest in economics- too much money in circulation is not good for the country's health or wealthy- it devalues(weakens) the currency .

The idea is that when you have something rare, something unique to you or to so few others.........well that is your chance, don't bury it under the carpet in the hope it is never discovered (coz someone will anyway)

Let it be your bling bling .

I was at Henry's Bar about two fridays ago when i run into a pal of mine; actually he almost knocked over my table as he hassled in with his notorious rack sack hanging over his shoulder. Unusually positioned at a table for two right by the door, seated on a high stool and sipping on a glass of Rose wine, i was a little bit startled by his sudden presence before me, but quite frankly this was a welcome surprise. It had been some time since our last meeting and even then it was in the busy theatre hallway. If i recall well it must have been just a broad smile of acknowledgment before his tall lean form had drowned in the mass others.

Well after an awkward greeting he embarked on telling me about his imminent holiday trip before school recommences. He's chosen destination: Estonia.
"Oh lover of horses, Estonia " my brain exclaimed.

Naturally i did not hesitate to coarsely probe Why and How. He's response was equivocal and left me doubting, for a brief moment i wondered if this was just an Aussie thing, to go burrowing in the depths of Europe. Now you might be thinking "how opinionated is she?" , but i am sure a few of you are just as baffled as i am about this unspoken of geography.

At the end of this chat with my dear pal, little on Estonia had been achieved as he too, in the spirit of Christopher Colombus, is yet to discover this land. Nevertheless, curiousity now has me by the scruff of my dollar.
Does anyone have any impediments against camping in Estonia?

I have now given myself two weeks to get e- acquainted with this 45,125 sq km plot along the Baltic. I hope to get back to you on it.

As a human
I exist and try to forgive
As a woman
I care and try to bear
As a child....

As a child
Ignorance is my shelter
In limitation
I vent out
Unintentional is my anger
The situation
When Irrepressible
In frustration I surrender

As a human
I fight the good fight
As a woman
I hold fast to hope invincible
As a child....

As a child
My steps are bold
I know no fear
I live sincere
Just truly me

I say!
This must be
What it is
To be
Free

This is a first for me, having a blog. It's just one of those things that i have thought about, been suggested to, but just like paperwork at the office, has been laying there for some time.......awaiting to be addressed upon return from an extended coffee break (I'm sure quite a few of you office 'yobs' can ID with that).

This morning i was on the Northern line dashing southbound to work having just managed to remember to brush my teeth when i got madly absorbed in some writing, inspired by an odd litle chap engrossed in page 3 of the Metro and thats when i heard......yes the famous words " ........EUSTON STATION. THIS TRAIN IS ABOUT TO DEPART..." I jumped up, battling through the barrier of mortals rammed against each other, my rugby training did not help as i saw the last of the platform , the train once again entering the tunnel. late for work again!