Nicholas Breakspear Rc School

Scribbling For Bread: Writing In The Dark

Of course, when I say "write in the dark" I mean, it's really holding you, taking care not to spill the beans on the book you happen to be working. Because hacks we spend much of our lives struggling with characters and stories that will not stand still, locked away from the noise of the world (if you can shut the sounds damn), you might think that, as given half a chance we would be only too happy to discuss our ongoing work to anyone willing to listen. After all, we're storytellers, this is what we do, and part of the thrill of the job is seeing how others respond when they hear of the amazing things we've been cooking up in private for so long. You should've seen the faces of the kids at Nicholas Breakspear school when I read to them from Ministry of Pandemonium a little while ago; you have to love a job that gives you moments like that. So why isn't talking about something new but incomplete such a great idea? Well, the creative, artistic part of ourselves is a sensitive thing, easily wounded and very easily discouraged. And if your listener, who may be your agent or editor or partner, reacts to what you're telling them with anything but excited approval (open-mouthed wonder is even better), if their response is just the tiniest bit lukewarm or underwhelmed, then your bright idea suddenly doesn't look so bright; in fact it looks downright shallow, and before you know it, it's dying on the vine. I've set more than my fair share of unfinished stories aside after forgetting myself and saying too much too soon. Even now I have to keep reminding myself not to breathe a word even to those closest to me. But this isn't the only reason why letting your Great Idea out in public is, well, a Bad Idea.

School, the story of American public education

Nicholas

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