WHAT MAKES A WRITER? BLOG 3

I was reminded recently by two things about becoming a writer.  One was the image of my grandaughter’s and grandson’s pumpkin carving their fantastic daddy had done for them for Halloween and the other was seeing A Star is Born.  Hearing the Lady Gaga quote of in only taking the ‘one’ opportunity with someone believing you can do it, I thought it only takes one publisher to give a chance….in whatever format that comes. That’s what Austin Macauley presented to me for my ‘Troublesome Tom’ series.

I mean I’ve always been a writer, a writer in my mind, with and for my children and for the hundreds and hundreds of children in my previous life as a teacher and then a Headteacher.

Writing underpinned my daily routine – so think about that for a moment.  Yes writing all those policies as a Headteacher (of which there were many), were just as creative as the stories and projects I developed for the children, nurturing their souls and growth therein.

Now, in this phase of my life with my beautiful Troublesome Tom series, I am writing for the absolute love and pleasure – but still have that ‘something to say’ in each and every story.

The message in ‘TT OUT LIKE A BULLET’ is, the older generation have lived, lived through what you are going through right now with that newborn.  Yes, many years ago they learnt what could, what might just help with that little screaming individual you call your son or daughter.  The wisdom in experience that you are living, but that they have already lived.  It’s a message of a bond being formed between grandfather and grandson.  An act of love.

All this prompted me to remember when our father carved a similar head out of a large turnip to put on top of my brother’s Guy Fawkes.  Dad put the candle in the carved head to set it flowing and my brother took it and stood outside the Mistletoe pub at the ‘top of the bank’ (hill) – our home was at the bottom.  “Penny for the guy?” he asked over and over as the people came out.  Did brother make some money?  Oh yes!  This was the same pub our grandfather spent his well earned money as a coach painter in the Victorian times on a Friday night!

The image in my mind of my brother with the guy formed the basis of my story, ‘TT AND THE FIREHEAD GUY’ in my series.

I guess I’m saying that becoming a writer is about connections and things you want to say.  Weaving magic.

Herszenhorn November 2018.

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