Osmosis

In January 2016 I loaded a large, messy clump of writing (If I'm being kind) onto my Kindle and read.

And it struck me, as it never has before at that stage - this book could actually be good. In it's current state, it really wasn't, in fact, it was terrible. But the potential was noted. There was just enough of a tangible plot and just enough passable dialogue amidst the cliches.

Two months on from this realisation and I am finally giving my writing the room it always needed. I am feeling my way around in the dark for what it could be, and the brief flashes of light which illuminate it all, give me hope.

Better still, I finally have enough thoughts (wrong or right) about the all-consuming, torturous, wonderful pursuit of trying to rescue a good novel from a shaky body of work. I have absolutely no idea if I'll make it, if my confidence in this book is ill conceived, or even if, true to form, I'll invent another life-ending obstacle.

Be what may, I'm going to keep going. And I'm going to share my approach, mistakes and hopefully (and however small) victories here. Perhaps like me, you produce your best through osmosis, soaking up every possible source, ensuring you're surrounded, before tentatively trying it out for yourself.

Who knows, this just might serve as a blueprint, be it a limited personal one or also one which can be useful to others. Or maybe each one of the novelly little bastards requires a different treatment, which will continue to flummox and challenge us during every attempt. What a delightful prospect.