Time for something different

And now for something completely different, as John Cleese used to say at the start of Monty Python’s Flying Circus (you have to be a certain age to remember this).

I think it’s a good thing to at least attempt something outside your comfort zone.  My first three novels have all featured guitars – heavily.  And that’s simply because I love them to bits. I hope these three books might be enjoyed by those who know nothing about guitars or anyone who plays them, but I’m realistic enough to know that you’ll probably get the most of them if you’re already a guitar nut.  Anyway, having now written three guitar-heavy novels, it feels like time to try something else.

So, what’s a complete contrast with the (usually) blokeish world of guitars?  How about a romantic comedy set in Cornwall?  Yes, I’ve already said it earlier on the website but I’ll say it again here – my next novel is a romantic comedy set Cornwall.  And there are absolutely no guitars in it at all, which may actually be a relief to some of you!

“A rom-com?  Why?” I hear you cry (I mentioned it to one friend and they messaged back a vast number of laughing emojis.  Rude!)  Here’s the thing.  I spent 20 years doing series and serial scriptwriting for television.  I’d have a go at pretty much anything as long as it would pay the mortgage but it could be hard work (and eventually rather dull) having to write mostly about police officers and/or doctors.

What’s cool now is that I get to write absolutely anything I want to write because it’s completely up to me.  I’m like the proverbial kid in a candy store.  This time around, I had the germ of an idea that I felt would be fun to write and all I’ve done is go with it to see what happens.  Turns out that it’s naturally and organically grown into a Cornish-set rom-com.  And that’s fine.

When I was a teenager, I took myself far too seriously.  Writing was a vocation, a religious calling, and I treated it as though I was training for the priesthood.  Now, I’m just an old tart who writes for fun – and the truth is that I’ve never loved the process of writing more than I do now.  I’ll never win awards or have a work selected as a GCSE set text or be invited to literary festivals or have a blue plaque put up anywhere I’ve lived.  And?  So what?  I loved writing that unofficial ‘guitar trilogy’ and now I’m loving writing my rom-com – and that’s all that matters. 

Which is why I often end my blog entry with the words ‘Happy writing’.  If it doesn’t make you happy, don’t do it!   Here endeth the sermon.