WHAT IS THE POINT OF BLOGGING?

I've been asking myself the same question about writing today. One of those 'never get off the starting block' days where I had great plans and they all fizzled out into nothing. It's not writers block, I can write, but it's just not coming together. Which got me thinking about my blogs. I try to make sure I do them regularly and for me they are quite cathartic and a good thing to look back on.  I do wonder if they just exist in the ether along with hundreds and thousands of other blogs, gathering a kind of space dust of some kind. 


Maybe it's just me. Maybe its because I write a lot and I write a lot about writing.
Maybe I should try something different. A diversion. 
But then I have enough of those. Tomorrow will be different...


Don't Think Just Write

WRITING RULES

 Words of Writing Wisdom

'Do it every day. Make a habit of putting your observations into words and gradually this will become instinct. This is the most important rule of all and naturally, I don't follow it '

Geoff Dyer

I like pondering the odd quote or two. Mostly writing quotes, but they could be about anything. It's just words that people have about a particular subject, in this case writing. This one caught my eye because of the last sentence. Writing rules are everywhere;  rules about how much, when, how, who with, what with and what on; but the old adage remains true even for writers. Rules are meant to be broken but also rules are a very personal thing. Rules that work for me, may not for any other writer. In fact I don't have many writing rules, apart from one. That is to read and write - perhaps two rules then.  Writing isn't instinct. 


Writing is tough, writing needs to be worked at and it certainly doesn't come naturally. If it did, everyone would be a winning writer and there wouldn't be any bad writing to compare the good with. At least I feel I'm contributing somehow to the writing process.

Don't Think Just Write

BOOK REVIEW - THE SNOWMAN

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
This is not a tale for the faint hearted. If you liked the Stieg Larsson trilogy, you'll probably like this. This is part of the 'Harry Hole' series and the seventh novel by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo. 
It's a thriller and it's about death and of course about snowmen. I loved it the suspense and the twists and turns which make these Norwegian crime thrillers so readable. And scary!


Harry Hole is a guy you can't help but like despite his problems with communication, relationships and alcohol. He is drawn as the typical tall, lean and blonde Norwegian so I suppose he can't have it all. His preference would be to go solo but as part of a detective squad (many of whom he struggles to get on with) he has to sometimes toe the line. 
The story begins with a strange and mysterious letter from 'the snowman' which takes us on a journey beginning on the day that the first snow falls and leads us to a number of women who have gone missing over a number of years. Harry soon discovers that the snowman in fact is a serial killer and he has now become part of his deadly game. The race is on before he kills again and Harry realises that he is closer to home than first expected.

It's a great story, a page turner and a good old-fashioned scary experience - in fact so scary that as I'd reached the concluding chapter late one night had to wait until next morning to finish it when I felt safer! 
A gifted writer and a great talent, can't wait to read the next. I don't know what it is, but it's a winning formula.


Don't Think Just Write