The Writing Coach

On visiting Derek Jarman's Garden

There are times, I think, in every writer's life, when inspiration feels in short supply, when everyday events take over and fresh input is needed if we're going to thrive creatively. I hit this point a week or so ago and we took a decision to get away. We are now staying in Rye, on the South Coast of England, a town I last visited as a child of eight years old, a place that held strong personal memories. My family is sleeping as I write.

I knew, when we set off, that I wanted to visit Derek Jarman's garden at Dungerness, a pilgrimage I've desired to make for some years (yet have always somehow put off). So it was a thrill, today, to finally visit the landscape that I'd first read about eight years ago when researching my novel 'Bluethroat Morning'.

I've long admired Howard Sooley's photos of Jarman's garden. For those not familiar with the garden, the British filmmaker Jarman called his garden 'Paradise' yet it was planted in a landscape that some might consider more of a hell than a heaven - in the 'flat, bleak, often desolate expanse of shingle that faces the Nuclear Power Station in Dungeness, Kent'. Spurred on by a true personal vision, his painterly eye and strong ecological conviction, Jarman tended the garden from 1986 until his death.

It is difficult to begin to express the intensity of my experience today, on visiting the garden. Suffice for the moment to say that it has strengthened my conviction in the necessity and power of art, of beauty and the individual vision of each human being. I am, I admit, in pensive mode right now. How could I not be? I've begun each day of the school Easter holidays by remaining in bed with Louis Fischer's 'Life of Mahatma Gandhi'. It is difficult not to question one's own motives, the values of one's own actions, when considering a life as meaningful as Gandhi's. The effect of Jarman's garden on me, however, has been to remind me that one does not have to change the world in huge ways to make an important impact. Jarman's faith in nature, in beauty, in the power of the human spirit, in love, in poetry - all these have a huge impact on anyone who visits this garden or simply reads Jarman's words and views Sooley's photographs in the book 'Derek Jarman's Garden'.

Lorna

I have been absent of late and I will shortly return, I vow!  But in the meantime, I want to tell you that my novelist friend, Lorna, author of 'The Chase' is blogging.  We first met at a dinner celebrating the Ian St James writing awards and our novels were both published by Bloomsbury around the same time.  Now we are both writing new works after a long break and have new agents.  You can find her here.  Good to find you in the blogosphere Lorna.

David Lewis cartoons is live...

I am SO excited to announce that David Lewis Cartoons is now live!  In case you don't know, David Lewis, a very talented caricaturist, is my husband and we've worked together on the launch of this website together with our wonderful designer Sarah of Saronyx Design.  I wrote the copy for David's site, so it's kind of my baby too... We're both thrilled that David has now entered the twenty-first century (only seven years late!).

If you think you recognise the cartoon image in the screenshot here, it's Posh and Becks from 2DTV on which David worked as a designer.   There's also a great link on the site which I'll repeat here to 'Shoot the Dog' the George Michael video, for which David drew the majority of backgrounds.  If you watch carefully, you'll see a row of terraced houses in the video (next to the messy house in which George plays the Simpson family) - one of those houses is the house we used to live in... 

David has also started up a newsletter and he's offering a free caricature to one new subscriber each month, so if you fancy a mug-shot of yourself or a family member, do sign up...

David and I work together at home, two artist-entrepreneurs occupying the same space and brainstorming constantly.  He works primarily in the corporate sector, focussing on business cartoons, corporate entertainment and caricature gifts although he is now branching out into newspaper and magazine illustration and has already illustrated several books.   Oh - and he recently worked as a caricaturist for her Majesty the Queen for her eightieth birthday party at the Ritz.

We both like to combine our own artistic pursuits with our businesses and sometimes the edges of the two blur...as a result, I've become increasingly fascinated with how artists and creative writers can mine their creativity and also make money and this conviction - that the two can go hand in hand - will be at the heart of my new business 'The Essential Artist' which will be launching in the next month or so... I've been absent on this blog for a while, for which, apologies.  But all that is about to change.  In the next few days I'll update you on what's been going on (there's news on the book front too...) and what to look out for.  This blog is most definitely back...

Creative Vision Writer's Group

Build your Creative Vision this Spring and make 2007 the year your Writing Dreams become Reality.

Dates: Wednesdays at 8.30-9.30pm UK time (3.30-4.30pm EST) from 4th April to 23rd May

I'm really excited to announce the launch of the Creative Vision Writer's Group. At last, I'm going to be able to work with many of you closely, for a full eight weeks on my most affordable course yet! Whether you're longing to dive into a writing project, need motivation to finish or are looking for help on the process of writing a book, this is the perfect group for you.

Joining this group will really kick-start your writing life this Spring. I'll be working with up to 16 people who are ready to commit to their writing work . You will be supported by me, as your coach and the entire group - fellow creative individuals who are equally ready to make their writing dreams a reality. We'll meet on a telephone conference line once a week and explore themes such as 'how to be driven by passion not discipline', 'how to grow your work organically' and 'formulating a personal Action Plan and Schedule for success'. Rest assured, I'll be there helping you keep to your writing schedule as you take your work to new heights.

If you're ready to discover deeper self-belief in your artistic capability and be more productive than ever before, take a look at the course details now. There are only 16 places and you get a fabulous discount if you book early!

In addition, every member of the group gets a free 30 minute consultation with me, membership of an exclusive Yahoo group, the potential for sharing work with a writing buddy and even, if you're local to Richmond-upon-Thames a regular monthly coffee meet in Carluccio's. I can't wait to get to know you and your work... Click here to find out more.

Cross-over

I recently finished reading Philip Pullman's 'The Subtle Knife' to my ten year old son and now we've moved onto the third book of the trilogy 'The Amber Spyglass'.  The experience of reading the book aloud has given the book a fabulous extra dimension for me.  We've read slowly, relishing the words, dramatising the scenes.  Pullman has done such a wonderful job of revitalising children's fiction.  I find myself more drawn to the idea of fantasy fiction as a result of reading this book and already - as I'm at that stage of wondering what the next book will be - I'm toying with the idea of a 'cross-over' book.  But then, toying with ideas is what I always do and although I'm not yet ready to commit, I have, I think, discovered a new possible avenue for research which may bear fruit.

Hmmm, that phrase 'cross-over' is quite an interesting one for me at present.  Of course, in Pullman's case we're talking about the cross-over between adult and children's fiction.  And it's a shame, in truth, that books don't 'cross-over' genres more often.  I have just written a 'commercial' novel, but am more often known for 'literary' fiction.  It may prove problematic.  We shall see.  However, what matters to me, most of all right now, is the desire to get to the heart of writing what I love.  When I think about my next book, I think about finding subject matter that I can truly dive into and become absorbed in.  I guess that's why I love writing historical fiction, it's the sheer pleasure of doing the research, uncovering new connections.  Rose Tremain, in a favourite essay of mine, 'The First Mystery' quoted Graham Greene as saying (in relation to research and experience) 'It's yours to remember and mine to forget'.

Refuse to Choose

I've recently begun reading Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher, as recommended on the blog of fellow creativity coach Cynthia Morris.  The subtitle is 'A Revolutionary Program for doing Everything that you Love'.  Well, I have to say this was too intriguing to resist and I simply had to get a copy.  The book is aimed at people who have many passions but find it difficult to commit to a single specialism.  These people, Sher calls 'Scanners'.  Sher argues that one does not have to commit.  You can 'do everything you love, freely, with passion, purpose, and real results.'

I wasn't sure, at first, whether I qualified as a 'Scanner' yet I had a feeling that I was one!  On the surface of it, I'm a writer, I've committed to the writing life.  I've published three novels and have nearly finished a fourth.  But then, there's that entrepreneurial streak I've spoken of, my desire to build my business further.  It's on hold, but it hasn't vanished.  There's my love of coaching too and my fascination for the work of other coaches.  Oh yes, and didn't I say something about wanting to study contemporary visual culture?  What about that little fantasy I have about auditioning for drama school when my kids are grown?  I also want to master the cello, the guitar, the sax and my own voice.  Wouldn't mind spending a little time studying fine art too...  Is Sher serious?  Can I really do all this? Might I not be better sticking with my specialism and getting the fourth novel finished?

New year, New Novel

Well, first of all, a very belated Happy New Year to you all!

The first couple of weeks of 2007 have been, for me, a time of contemplation, hence my absence.  I guess, for all of us, this is a time when we look ahead to all that has happened in the previous year and consider what we want from the year ahead.  At the beginning of January, I was thinking a lot about what it means to have a personal vision - a very clear sense of what we want from the year ahead.

Now I could get very side-tracked and talk about what I'd like to see happen politically in 2007, but for that I will divert you to this website. 

Instead, I will stick with the personal.  For me, this year is about facing the truth; about getting real.  As you may know, coaching has become a large part of my life; nurturing others has been immensely important to me.  I have entrepreneurial vision too and a large part of me is simply longing to launch a new business.  Doubtless, this lies in the future.  But what about the writing?

What I know is that 2007 must be the year when I get back to my roots as a writer.  At our writers' group the other evening, one of my friends quoted the author Beryl Bainbridge as saying 'you have to have a clear mind to write'.  It struck a chord.  I need to think very carefully about the my business and the balance between the business and my writing.  It is
time to be brave and get back to what matters.  The work itself.  Time to write the big one.

Eat the Frog

"If you get up every morning and the first thing you do is eat a live frog, you can have the satisfaction in knowing that it is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day."

I found this wonderful quotation and related wisdom the other day on the blog of my first ever coach Nancy Morris.

Nancy says,

"You see, your frog is the task or action that is the next step in creating your success. It is your real priority that often gets shoved under day to day schtuff.

Most of us busy our day with legitimate but non-frog activities. So at the end of the day, we often feel frustrated or discouraged. Even though we may have done a lot of things, we have not spent time with our primary priority that contributes to our long-term success."

And you can guess what the frog is for us writers, can't you?  Hmmmmm

The Garden Party

Now, it may seem to you as if all this doesn't have a lot to do with writing.  But you know, I haven't been here for a while and a lot's been going on, so we'll get to the writing - mine and yours - quite soon.  But, first we have to talk about chocolate. My latest recommendation is this:  Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles.   
I promise you, chocolate does not get better than this.  They might cost ten quid for a small box but when you eat one you will believe you have died and gone to heaven.  Truly.  And if you don't want to get fat, you can always reward yourself with one truffle a day, once you've written your thousand words.

On reading 'On Photography'

Last night I settled down to read the second essay of Susan Sontag's book 'On Photography', entitled 'America, Seen through Photographs, Darkly'.  I was drawn to read Sontag for several reasons.  I'll shortly be applying for an MA in Contemporary Art Theory and know I have a lot of reading to do, if I'm to convince the University that a literature graduate and a novelist is now serious about shifting her attention to art history - and I do want to go in at MA level, rather than doing a BA in art history.  But why get into the reading with Sontag?  I saw a spread in the Observer recently, photographs of her, taken by her partner Annie Leibovitz, photographs that chronicled the decline of Sontag's health.  And I was reminded of Sontag's vibrancy when she visited UEA to give a lecture about her novel 'The Volcano Lover'. 

So I guess these facts led to me, eventually, picking up the book and beginning.  I love it, of course.  I'm learning so much and so fast, it's intoxicating.  This second essay focussed particularly on the  Jewish American photographer Diane Arbus.  I was drawn in, reading about the difference between the work of Alfred Stieglitz and Arbus.  Both photographers attracted huge crowds when they exhibited at MOMA.  Stieglitz, according to Sontag, made concrete the ideals of Walt Whitman - the aim was to show that all humanity is "one" - yet the images of people from sixty-eight countries were all "beautiful".  Arbus's work however, defied that ideal.  She photographed "monsters and borderline cases - most of them ugly; wearing grotesque or unflattering clothing; in dismal or barren surroundings".   Arbus, formally a fashion photographer, photographed 'freaks', "a hermaphrodite with a dog, a tattooed man, and an albino sword-swallower".