It looks like being another lovely day today, but I shall have to discipline myself and get on with my writing at some point. When I’m feeling really lively I get up early to work, feeling that I can somehow ‘stretch’ the day by making a few more hours available.
I like to think I am pretty organised with my writing. At the moment I am in the process of researching my latest book and in spite of the fact that there are some great views from our house, I usually do this with my back to the window so I avoid unnecessary distraction. Or as Stephen King once described it, ‘Write with the door closed and edit with it open.’ In other words, until you have at least the first draft, it’s a lonely process. You shouldn’t show others your work until you at least have something substantial to show them.
You might think that writing books on paganism doesn’t require much by way of research. Just the occasional wave of my wand and a few magic words and all will be well. Oh, if only! I really don’t like making sweeping statement without any real effort to explain where the information has come from. I don’t mean writing a book with copious footnotes (although actually I quite enjoy these!) but at least a sentence or two of explanation sometimes wouldn’t come amiss! It’s what I wanted when I was setting out on my path.
If what I’m writing is largely based on personal experience, then the person reading it deserves to be told how you came to the conclusions you did. It’s no good writing ‘The colour of money is green’ for example if you’re not willing (or able) to explain why. Anyway, for those of us who remember ten shilling (50p) notes, the colour of money was usually brown!
It’s particularly bad with many of the pagan writers who target young people. Some seem to think that youngsters are an ‘easier’ audience who don’t deserve much consideration. The effect of this is that those who remain interested in paganism past their teens often come out with some very odd ideas which they proceed to quote as a ‘well known fact.’ It isn’t. It’s opinion. Just as this blog is an opinion. And so is much of what passes for newspaper journalism these days.
So I pride myself on my research. It takes time, it’s isolating, it’s also very interesting. Besides, it’s a matter of pride. There’s so much, magically speaking, that I’ve done and experienced that I want to pass it on in full, not as some gardbled version for others to decipher after me.
If I don’t, it’s going to be the pagans of tomorrow who will suffer!
Seeking the Green by Tylluan Penry, published soon by Capall Bann. For more info, watch this space!
