300 Words a Day - #26: Allow Your Dream to Leave the Nest

When we find the courage, the motivation and the inspiration to go for something, we need to protect these attributes from outer and inner influences.

It’s so easy to let them slip through our fingers, and when that happens there’s a danger of us turning our backs on our dreams and aspirations for good. 

When I was a postman, I delivered to a lady who knew I had just published my first book, due to an article that appeared in the local newspaper. 

She confessed to me she had written a book of her own. A novel. 

I was surprised. By this time I knew her pretty well, as I did most of my customers, and never once had she told me she was writing a book.

“Have you tried to get it published?” I asked.

She shook her head, almost with a childlike innocence.

“I daren’t,” she said. “It’s finished, but it’s just in the drawer, next to my bed.”

This whole wanting to keep our creative expression to ourself was new to me. When I was making music, I would send off demo CD after demo CD, hoping that a record label, one day, would bite the bait. 

“What worries you the most?” I asked her.

“Them not liking it. And if they tell me it’s a load of rubbish then… well… it’s just safer in my drawer.” She laughed uncomfortably.

By them she meant literary agents. 

I admit, it can be daunting sending off a manuscript.

Our piece of work, whatever it may be, is like our baby. We want to protect it.

But like an overprotective parent we can end up not allowing our children to experience the world, to have a life of their own.

Send them on their way with a smile and wave.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

!Grab your FREE book here!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please visit and Like my FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you on TWITTER? Me too! Follow and get Followed
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Image info

300 Words a Day - #2 - Step Forward

I set off walking to the cinema. My wife was already there. She went straight after finishing work and got the tickets. It was a national holiday here in Taiwan, so all the cinemas were pretty much full up. Going to watch a movie on your day off proves to be a popular activity.

I was walking along the long bridge, towards the cinema. My backpack on and my earphones in.

The sky was clear and sprinkled with stars. The moon was out, too. Waning or waxing… I never can tell.

Straight ahead, in the distance, was Taipei 101. It looked to be at the end of the bridge, there to greet me when I arrived.

Scanning the urban landscape around me and looking at the city reflecting in the water below, I got a little nostalgic. I began to think about my life and all I had done and how everything had led to this moment, walking in Taipei to meet my Taiwanese wife.

What was I doing ten years ago? 

What was life like for me back then? 

How was I responding to it?

I was 23. 

Was I happy? 

I don’t think so.

I had just made what felt like back then to be the biggest decision of my life so far. 

I had quit making music after 10 years. 

I cried myself to sleep that night. 

It was tough.

I had strived for 10 years and then realized I wasn’t being myself.

I was trying to be someone I wasn’t.

So I trusted my gut and quit.

It was the right decision.

Is there a wrong decision? Can we make a wrong move?

Throw it all in the mix and it’s going to come out somehow.

And no doubt we’ll be wiser for it.

Be brave.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

!Grab your free book here!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please visit and Like my Facebook Author Page

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you on Twitter? Me too! Follow and get Followed
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Image from here

300 Words a Day - #1 - Let's Do This

Why do I find it so difficult to commit to writing a blog?

Is it because I feel I don't have much to say?

Is it because I feel that people don't care about what I do have to say, so what would be the point in saying it? 

Is it because I'm not passionate enough about the written word?

I thought I was...

Do I put too much pressure on myself to say something meaningful?

Should I just treat it as a writing exercise?

I'm reminded of Ray Bradbury in his book, Zen in the Art of Writing, where he advises the reader, to: 

"Relax. 

Just write."

So here I am, writing about the possible reasons as to why I don't commit to writing anything on here.

Are blogs a dying form now, like CDs and magazines?   

Let's try and care less about commitment and the expression that that commitment might or might not take.

Let's just write.

Write what?

Anything. 

Like, 300 words a day?

Why not. Do it. 

300 words a day about anything. Memories... stories... thoughts... poems... 

We all have a mind that likes to dwell in the past and anticipate the future - there's plenty of writing material to be sifted through there. 

You just have to do it.

Just write.

How about today, how many words have I written here, now?

226.

Okay. Not long to go.

It hasn't been that bad actually. I've quite enjoyed it.

A bit of a release, a venting.

I feel like I’ve achieved something. 

Nothing like life’s little achievements to put you at ease. 

What’s a big achievement, if not a group of little ones, all working in unison? 

I wonder what 300 words I'll write tomorrow... don’t think about it. 

Just relax.

And write.

And there’s my 300 words for the day.

Good.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

!Grab your free book here!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please visit and Like my Facebook Author Page

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you on Twitter? Me too! Follow and get Followed
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Back to the Blog!

Over a year ago I said goodbye to this blog, but then my website went down and I had nothing else, other than my Facebook author page, to write lengthy pieces on. And I don't know why, but there's something uninspiring about writing long posts on Facebook. Even when I'm on LinkedIn, I never feel that inspired.

So recently I've felt that maybe, just maybe, I'll start this blog up again. I've kept a handwritten journal for years, so maybe it'll just be an extension of that.

The thing about a blog is that you have to write stuff on it, or else it's just a... something that's not a blog.

And seen as though I'm going through the testing process of writing a new book, I thought hey! Why not try the whole blog thing again and record all the blood, sweat and tears involved, so other writers can feel better when they've got sweat in their eyes?

It stings, I know. 

I'm with you. 

So I'm just going to roll with it, no pressure, and see where it takes me.

See you soon.

Gavin

Follow me on Twitter and I'll follow you back.

And please Like my Facebook Author page and I'll Like yours too.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

A friend of mine was visiting Taipei this week and asked if I was free for a coffee.

We first met in Okinawa, last November. After a brief discussion, we learnt we were both writers. He was working on a non-fiction piece, and I, fiction.

It's always good to see how other writers work. I would often see him when he got back to the hostel, laptop under his arm, with a look of achievement on his face.

I would ask him how many words he had done and his reply would be anything from 3000 up.

Until very recently, I had always harboured the feeling that the term 'self-published' carried a sense of failure with it. I don't think I was aware of this, mind. It only occurred to me after the aforementioned coffee.

Publishing your own work was the road you went down if you couldn't get the attention of a publisher and/or agent. Therefore your work wasn't good enough to sell. I'm sure I'm not alone with this view. Chances are, the majority of people still hold this view when they see or hear self-published author.

But the difference being is, I am a self-published author and I still held this view.

(Get the start gun and shoot yourself in the foot, Gav, why don't you.)

I remember when I was making music and I refused to download albums, because, well, it was a sin.

It my mind it was disgusting - yes, that's right, disgusting.

Why on earth would you want to download a dirty FILE when you can have a CD and an album sleeve and all that?

I just couldn't/wouldn't adapt.

Now I don't think twice about downloading an album from iTunes.

Look how much I've grown!

(I still don't download music illegally... for one; I don't know how, and two; expressing yourself is hard, whatever your medium is. By paying for the artist's work, I feel like it's giving something back to them; a little bit of gratitude for their dedication to their craft.)

And here's the thing... people still buy CDs! There are some who are adamant that vinyl is still the best sound source available!

Vinyl!

And I don't doubt them... get a great needle and all the rest and I bet the sound quality is amazing. My point is, even though it's legal to download music, and the majority of people nowadays are doing just that, CDs and vinyl are still living and breathing amongst us.

With that in mind, let's get back to meeting my friend for a coffee... (whose website is moritzdressel.com) I told him I had just finished my new novel and I was in the process of sending it out to agents. It had already been rejected by one agent... so naturally I had instantly sent it off to another. I won't forget the look he gave me (the exact same look I would've received if I had turned up wearing a tank top that said I Love Taiwan on it), which was then followed up by a deep, 'Why?'

'Why what?' I said.

'Why are you sending it off to an agent?'

'You know, I just thought I'd go down the 'proper road' (I actually said "proper road"), and try and get an agent, and then for them to get me a publisher, and then for my book to be given a chance in the world.'

'But why?' he persisted.

'Erm...'

'You don't need a publisher,' he said. 'You can do it yourself.'

He had mentioned this to me the first time we had met. He went on to tell me the title of a book to buy that he was sure would sell the self-published way to me. The book was APE by Kawasaki & Welch.

But I didn't listen. Or I should say: I put the title on the high shelf of my mind, forgot about it, and continued to work on my novel, and then went looking for a publisher and agent once I was happy with it (a creature of stubbornness and habit, I admit).

Baring in mind that I was already a self-published author, I lacked all faith in it. Three of my books were (are) sat there doing nothing - gathering metaphysical dust. What a shame! Not only did I lack faith in The Way of the eBook, but my attitude towards it showed lack of respect and faith in my own, already published books. What a bigger shame!!

Now here's my mate, telling me once again, 'You don't need a publisher, do it yourself.'

This time I listened.

And I feel driven, to say the least.

I've just finished reading a book called Be the Monkey by authors Barry Eisler & Joe Konrath (that actually inspired the book APE that I mentioned above). I highly recommend it if you're thinking of going down the self-published route.

My attitude towards downloading music was the same regarding downloading books. I love paperbacks. One of the very joys of reading a book comes from holding it (or is that just me?). You just don't get that same comfort from an eReader (plus, they don't smell the same as a book. Wait, you mean you've never smelt a page before? No? Well... this is a tad awkward).

But I love my Kindle! Having come to Taiwan, it has been a huge blessing. I now have nearly 200 books on that little bad boy and they all fit in my hand.

I've adapted now. Buying books on the Kindle is so convenient. So quick. So easy. And surprisingly it hasn't taken any of the joys out of reading. To be fair, if I prefer the physical aspects of reading a paperback more than I do the book (the book being the story), then chances are it's not a good book.

Eisler and Konrath point out that eBooks will not kill paperbacks. That chances are, like vinyl, paperbacks will become a niche and people will still be saying, "You can't beat a good paperback," yet they'll have hundreds of eBooks waiting on their eReader to be read (because it's so damn easy to click Buy!).

My approach to being a self-published author is going through a revolution. I can feel it.

It's time to take things to the next step, and that requires me to get a little bit more serious about what I want and expect as a writer.

www.gavinwhyte.co.uk

Source

 

Keeping Busy

I've been disciplining myself to finish my new novel... hence the reason why I haven't written on here for the past four months or so.

I don't know about other writers, but I'm inundated with unfinished ideas. Or, to be more precise, the ideas are complete as they are, but they're not fully expressed into what we call a fully fledged story.

In 2013 I booked myself into a small cottage in North Yorkshire, UK, with the simple mission to write, write and write.

It's not a simple mission...

I realised that going about the writing process hell for leather isn't the way for me. I burn myself out and the stuff I end up writing just starts to feel spiritless and tired of itself. So other than writing, my time was spent, reading, watching films and going for walks.

It was great... I had a blast.

Highly recommended.

I managed to develop one of those unfinished ideas I mentioned by adding to it an extra 20,000 words. Then, when I returned home, the ideas dried up and the idea, which now sat at a comfortable 30,000 words, came to an abrupt stop.

Whatatodo!?

An ideas has a life of its own. It will be expressed when it is ready to be expressed. Maybe it's waiting for you to go through an experience so you turn into a worthy medium for its completion.

We do not choose ideas, they choose us. Watch yourself closely and you will see what I mean.

That said, this specific idea was brought back into my awareness when I came to Taiwan. I had forgotten about it, and was going about the groggy affair of looking through all of my unfinished stories (WARNING: TO AVOID PAIN, DON'T DO THIS WHEN YOU'RE FEELING UNINSPIRED).

I read and re-read the whole thing several times and decided to re-write it. It might sound like a daunting task, and if the instruction had come from, say, a publisher, and I didn't agree with them, then re-writing it would've been like a wisdom tooth removal, but the decision came from me, and because of that I really didn't have choice - artistic integrity and all...

If you're a creative person, you will know what it's like. If something doesn't feel right then you go about correcting it. The idea is your baby. It's a part of you. Unconditionally, you just do whatever it takes to bring it into this world, even if it means you're left kicking and screaming, covered in blood and other undesirable body fluids.

Plus, the idea doesn't leave you alone until it's out and about anyway! So you either do it or go insane.

So, to come full circle, that's what I've been doing for the past several months; preventing myself from going insane. That, plus learning Chinese, reading, meditating, visiting Bangkok and Okinawa, eating good food, drinking good coffee, and watching ancient people in the park, practicing Tai Chi and Chi Gong, which is always a pleasure to watch.

www.gavinwhyte.co.uk

A Happy Prince

I didn't realise it had been two months since my last post.

Time really does fly when you're keeping yourself busy.

And how have I been keeping myself busy?

By finalising and releasing my new book!!

It's called The Girl with the Green-Tinted Hair and is available on Lulu.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=gavin+whyte&x=0&y=0&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=

It follows a friendship between a boy and a girl (who has green-tinted hair . . . ) over the course of four seasons. Each seasons contains within it a lesson.

It's a pocket-sized book, containing 79 pages, so it's easily read in less than an hour. But it is my hope that its message(s) will stay with the reader for some time to come.

I touched on the underlying subject of the story in my first book, Waiting for Wings.

The idea of somebody aging with the seasons wouldn't leave me alone.

Just over a year ago I was in the Dr's waiting room and I looked around at the other people who were waiting to be seen. Beside me was an elderly man - flat cap, walking stick -  and sat in front of him was a young lady with her young daughter, who was running around frantically.

And that's when something happened - I saw them as leaves. And each one of them could be slotted nicely into the seasons. The young girl was spring. Her mum was summer. The elderly man was autumn.

This was one of those experiences that followed me everywhere.

Sometimes, when certain people come into your life you just know that they're going to play a significant role in the unfolding of your story.

Six months after moving into the Buddhist Centre, a girl called Monika moved in (she designed the cover for the book and also drew the leaves which begin each chapter). We became good friends from the start, sharing a love of music and nature - and tea. One day we got talking about hair colour (I was probably mentioning that my mates take the piss out of me for being ginger - which I kind of am - but not really) and she said that she dyed her hair to match the colours of autumn.

I will never forget when she said that because I was taken straight back to the experience I had in the Dr's waiting room.

I told her my idea for the story and she said that I should read one of her favourite tales, The Happy Prince, by Oscar Wilde.

What a huge effect that story had on me.

I loved it.

Without that, I can guarantee that The Girl with the Green-Tinted Hair would not be the story it is.

It's true, people come into your life to help your story move forward. Sometimes it's a challenge and you may end up wishing you had never met them - but sometimes it's as if you've been waiting for them to come along, and when they do, it's almost like a reunion between souls.

I sincerely hope you enjoy reading the 'Miraculous Fable' (as is the subtitle to the new book) and you end up benefiting from its content.

Once you've read it, pass it on to someone who you think will also attain something positive from it.

Thanks for all of the support I've received up until now and for all the support in the future that I'm sure I'll receive - even from the people who say I'm weird - I use that as proof that I'm being myself.

Signing out . . .

A Happy Prince

www.gavinwhyte.co.uk

Post track: Waterways by Ludovico Einaudi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEZw8om3Vao