My new book is going well but I need to push the boundaries more. My last one was too safe, particularly in its use of language. I keep thinking of something John Ahearn, the poet, said recently about the need to be adventurous in your writing. I haven't written any real poetry since I was eighteen or so but I've been looking back at some of my early efforts and I can see how experimental I was trying to be then. Some of the stuff I can't understand now, but at the time that was the whole point.
In those days I believed I would revolutionise writing. One of my early heroes was Gerard Manley Hopkins and his sprung rhythm. I don't know if he's read much these days or not. Most of my contemporaries raved about Dylan Thomas but I'm afraid to say I had my doubts. Still, he could use language in wonderful ways and you can't argue with that.
Back then of course I was a hopeless romantic. My favourite quotation was, not surprisingly, from Oscar Wilde. "People say that love is an illusion. They're wrong. Life is an illusion."
I dunno, Oscar. Maybe life and love both.
Whatever, my new book is going to take chances, to push those boundaries until they burst.
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about pushing the boundaries. Good luck with your writing. I like your blog - it's very honest and vital. I've put a link to your blog on mine.
Well, Shameless, those are very kind words indeed - fair made my day.
ReplyDeleteI've visited your blog too in the past - I think I left a comment there a few days back.
Partly because I believe all aspiring writers should stick together I'm happy to reciprocate with a link to your site. But also because I believe you're indeed worth reading.