I have been non-writing (if there is such a word) this weekend, as my wife is clearing her late grandmothers house out, so naturally, being the doting husband that I am, I went along, as we do most weekends, hoping for a possible story or something story worthy. A conversation with someone en-route as we headed towards where my wife and I both grew up, reminded me of something someone said some months ago and it seemed relevant here, so thought I'd share.
Someone I hadn't spoken to for a while, actually told me I was a storyteller, (duh), that being a storyteller was a bad thing, like they were insulting me. But they were right, I AM a storyteller.
My stories are a part of me. They represent parts of me that I'm afraid of, parts I'm proud of. They are a way of me making sense of the world, whilst trying to help others do so, and they are an escape, as much escape one gets reading a book, I get writing one.
I am proud to be a writer, a storyteller, a creative. I'm not ashamed to admit, each time I walk past Waterstones and other book stores, like so many writers, I long to see my work there, pride of place. One day I'll get there.
I wonder, will they then use the term 'storyteller' as an insult, or a compliment?
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I wouldn't put any value towards that comment. It wastes too much of your precious energy and time which is better focused on what you enjoy.
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All I know is that telling stories is happy for me lol
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This resonated with me Phil Bridge because I only recently realised that even though I've been writing all my life, I've been telling stories too. My mother has dementia and mentally lives in a depressed and negative place. When I visit her I find myself telling stories from my own life, embellished and "embiggened" in order to make her laugh. Usually it works. My stories also help me make sense of the world and they are definitely an escape.
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Hi Ingrid Wren What an incredible thing to do for your Mum. I am inspired by your bravery and imagination, that's amazing. Thank you for sharing this touching story.
Yes, writing is an escape. My Mum was diagnosed as terminal in 2015, so I wrote my first thriller novels with her while she underwent Chemotherapy, as a sort of distraction for us both. Then, when that stopped working, I would write at her bedside. Sadly she never saw the first one published, but she urged me to continue writing the way I had done as a child. Now it is not just an escape, but an utter joy, and brings with it only one regret; that I didn't do it 20 years sooner.
We use all kinds of outlets to make sense of the world, especially lately. Writing Middle Grade Fiction was like that for me and my 12-year-old daughter. She was scared of Covid, so were we, so to take our minds off it, we wrote a book together, which turned into lots of books. Unfortunately, she tested positive yesterday, but she's virtually asymptomatic, but I named the main character after her, which she thought was awesome.
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Thankyou for your kind words Phil Bridge As you well understand, some days are tougher than others. I love what you did for your daughter, and I hope she's well on the mend.
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Ingrid Wren Some days are indeed tougher than others. But we strive to move forwards as best we can. Yes, first negative test this morning, so we're hopeful! Just one more negative and she can go back to school, which she'll love because she hates being off school. Fingers crossed!