I once had a friend who called me a wordsmith. I was working in corporate at the time, had an official title, and besides, was used to being called all sorts of things – but never a wordsmith. Never mind what you’re doing here, he told me, that’s what you are really. I was more chuffed than I was willing to let on, and, as you can see, I’ve never forgotten.
Calling yourself a wordsmith is a bit of conceit until you’re in the biz properly. It’s a bit like watching from the stands and thinking, ‘If only’ this or that, I might have been one of those sporting stars, too. Or reckoning you might have been a great entrepreneur/politician/musician/whatever if only you’d had the chance. He called me a wordsmith on the strength of a few things of mine he’d come across and been impressed by, but while I had the craft, you’re not anything until you commit to it – and it took me many years to make that commitment.
Years after that episode, I’m no longer just a wordsmith; here I am, proclaiming myself as a writer. How do I justify that?
I can answer that in several different ways; take your pick. I write in just about every free moment I have, and when I’m not writing, I often think about it. That would probably come as a surprise to many people who know me because I don’t go around advertising the fact. That’s my secret life, though it’s not secret by design – it just doesn’t fit into the conversation these days. That’s one reason I’ve created this site as a forum for discussion.
I reckon I think as a writer does as well – creatively, without boundaries, constantly enquiring – which fits nicely in my day job as well. That’s my strength: to see connections and imagine possibilities, to see the bigger picture and bring creative solutions to it.
In the end, it all comes down to the work: you can’t be a writer without having written anything. Over the years, I’ve had a variety of pieces published and much more available in the public forum. I’ve written a novel, and I’m working on the second one now.
I was a wordsmith before when I dabbled in writing, as if it was no more than a cool hobby, Back then, I would write the odd story or essay just for fun. I call myself a writer now because I’ve moved onto the serious stuff and am writing with ambition. This is what it’s all about – and it’s what I’m about, too. And that’s why I’m seeking your support – to head full pelt down that path and find out where it leads.
As I progress, I’ll write a lot more about the novels in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, the first novel has been parked and stuck in the bottom drawer of my desk as I write the second. When I finish this draft of the second novel (I’m about 15,000 words off that), I’ll put that in the bottom drawer and pull out the novel to give it a final revision and polish – and then off the publisher, it goes. At this stage, I reckon that’ll be about November this year. Then, I’ll take out the second novel and do the same to that before starting on my third novel, which I’ve already mapped out in my mind.
Remind me to explain more about this process to you. And, as always, I welcome your questions.