The writer laying a trail of breadcrumbs to the themes in his book too! I thought it would be fun to try and create some parallels … I’ll see how my drafting of the actual manuscript goes and maybe nest some other extracts into another chapter of the writer’s story! I may send myself dizzy marrying it all up!
Thank you so much … I have been struggling to get myself to write a new version of ‘Against the Tide’, though it needs a rewrite desperately! I had a notion that if I was advising another writer, it’d be easier … so, invent another writer! I’ll see if it works. Thanks for the encouragement.
You’re welcome, and I hope your writing starts to flow. I understand how difficult it can be. I hope your creative idea manifests into something you’ll be pleased with.
A very Auster-like piece of writing! One writer looking to and reaching through another for help. I hope it did/does (help). I'll try and send you some words of editing inspiration soon, I promise. x
As ever, your words of encouragement mean a lot, Matt … the stirrings of the tale are there. I have five chapters opened in Reedsy, which is an easy-to-use writing aid. Dipping in and out of the story is working fine; words and ideas are appearing. In some ways, it makes it less of a ‘big thing’, a less daunting proposition. That helps me. The fragments I keep suggesting other folk should use … I turned the idea back on myself! Bx
You should make yourself a badge that says ‘Encouragement Is My Superpower’.
Your words of encouragement mean a lot. I’m super confident with the whole encouragement thing, but with fiction I need more convincing!! You’ve helped.
I, personally, have no problem with "tell , not show". Keep telling I say and keep up the amazing internal dialog of this young man. It makes us as paranoid as the man himself. Paranoia is chilling. Fear is even more so. I would love more of these random fragments, Barrie,during your re-ordering and organizing of this piece. I admire the alternating between dialog and narrative. You are certainly in the right/write world for 2025. Go!
Love this encouragement, Sharron, thank you! Just what I needed … it’s funny how I am writing this version in fragments, while trying to resist looking back the manuscript - I think I’d be too tempted pinch bits and bring them into the redraft and it feels a bit early. Must put some time aside after today’s cycle for some more scribbling.
I'm not sure how this one slipped past me this week but I am thrilled to have scrolled back and found such dexterity of idea and words! I had a feeling the moment I began reading, these words would somehow incorporate others from your manuscript. I wasn't wrong and how clever of you to weave it into another story of another writer struggling to sew the stitches as he would like! Barrie this is fantastic, I hope to read more very soon - two stories in one!
Ah, thank you, Susie. A way of tricking myself, I suspect, into exposing the work I’m doing in the background without having to polish it into a finished product. Thanks so much for the encouragement 🙏💛
This was a wonderful read, slipping back and forth in perspective, as well as weaving in the actual words from your own manuscript. It totally works.
"Maybe they were stamping down on the creation of dystopian imaginings." -- hehe, excellent.
And I absolutely LOVED this. It's so ... real! I'm in there, within your perspective, imagining myself doing just the same.
"Every time he glanced up, distracted by the need to add another line to his draft, her fierce green eyes bored into him. He found himself thinking random thoughts. Does a nose ring hurt? Why purple; isn’t that an old person’s hair colour? Tattoos. Maybe he should get one. What would it be? Would she let him look at hers? Can she tell what I’m thinking?"
Also, "He watched the watcher." ... A coincidence in "The Watcher", given our conversation that led me here.
And, The Watcher … spooky. My tale is of watched and watchers … a man keeping his head down in a world that picks out and punishes the different folk and a watcher - the regime’s security apparatus … unknown to them, there’s a connection, deep rooted.
I like that sense of connected ‘disconnectedness’ (now I think of it).
Coincidence, indeed.
Thank you for reading it. I’m uplifted. I’ll get back into this weekend … but first, these apple trees won’t prune themselves!
I loved reading this, the writer reflecting their take on the world in the writing. Look forward to the next iterations:)
The writer laying a trail of breadcrumbs to the themes in his book too! I thought it would be fun to try and create some parallels … I’ll see how my drafting of the actual manuscript goes and maybe nest some other extracts into another chapter of the writer’s story! I may send myself dizzy marrying it all up!
I enjoyed reading this, and I love your writing. Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much … I have been struggling to get myself to write a new version of ‘Against the Tide’, though it needs a rewrite desperately! I had a notion that if I was advising another writer, it’d be easier … so, invent another writer! I’ll see if it works. Thanks for the encouragement.
You’re welcome, and I hope your writing starts to flow. I understand how difficult it can be. I hope your creative idea manifests into something you’ll be pleased with.
That’s very kind. Thank you.
A very Auster-like piece of writing! One writer looking to and reaching through another for help. I hope it did/does (help). I'll try and send you some words of editing inspiration soon, I promise. x
As ever, your words of encouragement mean a lot, Matt … the stirrings of the tale are there. I have five chapters opened in Reedsy, which is an easy-to-use writing aid. Dipping in and out of the story is working fine; words and ideas are appearing. In some ways, it makes it less of a ‘big thing’, a less daunting proposition. That helps me. The fragments I keep suggesting other folk should use … I turned the idea back on myself! Bx
Fascinating approach. Keep at it Barrie. The world needs more of your words.
You should make yourself a badge that says ‘Encouragement Is My Superpower’.
Your words of encouragement mean a lot. I’m super confident with the whole encouragement thing, but with fiction I need more convincing!! You’ve helped.
I, personally, have no problem with "tell , not show". Keep telling I say and keep up the amazing internal dialog of this young man. It makes us as paranoid as the man himself. Paranoia is chilling. Fear is even more so. I would love more of these random fragments, Barrie,during your re-ordering and organizing of this piece. I admire the alternating between dialog and narrative. You are certainly in the right/write world for 2025. Go!
Love this encouragement, Sharron, thank you! Just what I needed … it’s funny how I am writing this version in fragments, while trying to resist looking back the manuscript - I think I’d be too tempted pinch bits and bring them into the redraft and it feels a bit early. Must put some time aside after today’s cycle for some more scribbling.
No need to rush anything, right? The words will come - often at the most bizarre times. Carry that notebook!
I often come running in from a cycle to scribble a notion down!
It is handy to leave a small notebook on the back of the toilet, too. Just saying.
✍️🗒️
I'm not sure how this one slipped past me this week but I am thrilled to have scrolled back and found such dexterity of idea and words! I had a feeling the moment I began reading, these words would somehow incorporate others from your manuscript. I wasn't wrong and how clever of you to weave it into another story of another writer struggling to sew the stitches as he would like! Barrie this is fantastic, I hope to read more very soon - two stories in one!
Ah, thank you, Susie. A way of tricking myself, I suspect, into exposing the work I’m doing in the background without having to polish it into a finished product. Thanks so much for the encouragement 🙏💛
I am certain you’ll get there Barrie, I admire the fact you’ve even got this far, I know from trying it is no easy feat!
This was a wonderful read, slipping back and forth in perspective, as well as weaving in the actual words from your own manuscript. It totally works.
"Maybe they were stamping down on the creation of dystopian imaginings." -- hehe, excellent.
And I absolutely LOVED this. It's so ... real! I'm in there, within your perspective, imagining myself doing just the same.
"Every time he glanced up, distracted by the need to add another line to his draft, her fierce green eyes bored into him. He found himself thinking random thoughts. Does a nose ring hurt? Why purple; isn’t that an old person’s hair colour? Tattoos. Maybe he should get one. What would it be? Would she let him look at hers? Can she tell what I’m thinking?"
Also, "He watched the watcher." ... A coincidence in "The Watcher", given our conversation that led me here.
That’s very generous.
And, The Watcher … spooky. My tale is of watched and watchers … a man keeping his head down in a world that picks out and punishes the different folk and a watcher - the regime’s security apparatus … unknown to them, there’s a connection, deep rooted.
I like that sense of connected ‘disconnectedness’ (now I think of it).
Coincidence, indeed.
Thank you for reading it. I’m uplifted. I’ll get back into this weekend … but first, these apple trees won’t prune themselves!