BenPaddon.co.uk

This year’s NaNoWriMo starts in little under a week, and this time I’m in the right frame of mind to actually focus my energy on it. Last year I started writing a story that had been on my mind for a few years only to realise that I hadn’t properly planned it out. I had no idea where it was going and I wasn’t able to stretch it out over 50,000 words. At the time I think I was also dwelling far too much on my then-recent break-up. This time though, I’m ready for it. I’m going to do it, and what’s more I’m going to succeed.

I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately. As well as writing Jump Leads, which I absolutely love doing by the way, I’ve taken to transcribing some of my dreams into what I suppose could be called a Dream Journal. My dreams over the past year or two have been remarkably cohesive. The world my dreams take place in appears to have continuity and geography. I started drawing a map of that world last week, and this week I have begun trying to describe it in words. It’s difficult because parts of it are rather mundane - there’s a street lined with identical houses, for example, and for some reason there’s also a branch of Toys ‘R’ Us there that I have visited numerous times - but the centerpiece of that world is the beach, and the road leading to it. In some ways it reminds me of Hemsby, back in England, but it’s very different. There are a couple of restaurants near the beach, for example, and only one arcade which is closer to the beach, but once you’re on the beach itself it’s a real sight to see. It almost makes me wish I could paint it so as to share it with you. Sadly that’s not one of my talents…

I believe that writing is my true calling, and that I can make a sustainable career out of it.