Thursday, January 17, 2008

Inspiration

It's funny how a little thing can spark off a bit in your brain that makes you want to do things. I met up with Grum, Yaz, and some hobo for a coffee last night. It was just a quick thing, but lovely nevertheless, although for me at least the evening was dominated by Grum shoving his doodle book into my face (not literally, that would've been rude). A few years back we were so determined to try to get something published in a graphic novel vein, and for some reason it's just petered out a bit over the last couple of years. I blame myself, because he can't draw something if I haven't written it, and I haven't written, well, much of anything in the last year or so.

So what happened to the mighty book I was writing? Well, I wrote loads of it in February, then gave myself a bit of time off, partly as a treat, partly to compose myself before launching back into it a month or so later. Tragically, I didn't launch myself anywhere; I think I've unwittingly allowed myself to stray into 'lost weekend' territory. Most people who do this usually go on massive drink 'n drug benders; how rock and roll is it that I just stopped writing a book? I say: 'very.'

Anyway, Grum's doodle book, while not literally shoved in my face nevertheless had the unexpected and not altogether undesirable effect of subliminally slapping me in said face. It was like a wake-up call. Because while he's been waiting for me to crack my knuckles and get back to writing, he's returned to my old horror story The Nightlies - y'know, the one that Skillz* kindly put online for me. This time around he's given it more of a stylised, less of a comic-book look - a bit like old etchings - and it looks fantastic. And these were only thumbnails - lord knows what the finished ones will look like.  I'd love to show them to you, but blogger won't let me link to a doodle pad. This, of course, made me feel a little bit guilty, because I've not written anything since October, which is lame, especially as I have two new ideas I'd like to work up and an awesome new computer to write them on. 

So, here's the plan: writing February is back for 2008 - bigger and more badass than ever. I'm going to finish the long awaited book (hell, I've even thought of a proper title for it now!), and then I'm going to crack on with the new ideas. 

I might even get a new writing pad to jot notes in!


*Where is Skillz? 

18 comments:

Miss Smuggersham said...

I wish I could say something more mature than:

FIRST!

and

hehee - you said 'doodle'.

But I can't, so I won't.

Dinah said...

Hee - I'm also loving the doodle. Dirty?

Also:

Look at you, all focused and driven! Every now and then I think I should get back to my nanonovel and start editing and polishing, but I haven't found that focus yet.

Also the second: Dora should come back, too.

Tara said...

Best of luck to you! It sounds like an exciting project, and you're skilled and talented enough to go forward with it with everything you've got! Get crackin'! Starting....now!

And yes, that comment was just riddled with exclamation points.

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Ooh! Ooh! I got a new writing pad the other day, especially for the ideas of 08.

Haven't used it yet, though. Maybe next week?

As for Skillz & Dora: Maybe they've formed a super secret club and we're all excluded?

missyandchrissy said...

you are SO driving the Shatwagon right now with this inspirational posting! he would be so proud that you are actually on your way to being better (or at least better at writing) in 2008.

WillowC said...

Yay! The Shat will be so proud!!

Tim said...

T-Bird - "FIRST!" and "doodle" are entirely appropriate comments. I would expect nothing less!

Dinah - Let's inspire ourselves! WRITE!! And I think Dora should come back too. We need to reunite the coven - kind of like getting the Justice League to reform. If they split up.

Tara - Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting some writing done - and the more exclamation marks the better. I mean 'the better!'

Inexplicable Device - Are you copying me? ARE YOU!? We should see if we can infiltrate this super-secret new club.

Missy&Chrissy - Holy crap, I never realised that I was following the rules of Shatner! I am being better - or at least I plan to be!

Willowc - I can only hope!

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Actually, when I said the other day, I meant two weeks ago. Which means you're copying me!

I'm writing ideas of how to infiltrate this super-secret new club right now!

Well, I'm not, because I'm writing this. And thinking a little bit about 'Nuke' from Dinah's post. but if I wasn't writing this, that's what I'd be doing. Really.

Miss Smuggersham said...

Mmm. Nuke looked like a very nice young couple, didn't they? Pity about their romantic interuptions.

Tim said...

IDV - Whatever you say! Humph! I bet your notebook is just full of childlike drawings of Nuke and Trip and plans for honey-traps anyway.

T-Bird - Well if they will keep trying to cop-off in busy locations what do they expect?

Dinah said...

The have no choice! The show is so cash-strapped they have like, three sets: Luke's house, the hospital, and a Main Street. Where are they supposed to do anything?

Tim said...

Can't they find a cupboard or something? Hell, just get busy in front of everyone else!

skillz said...

idv - we have started a secret club, it's called The No IDVs Club. We'd invite you to join, but we already have one IDV, and the club name doesn't allow any more :I

Tim said...

Who cares about IDV - what about the rest of us?

skillz said...

Anyone can join Timbo!

Well, except ITV.

Hey! Imagine if instead of being called Rambo, the character was called Timbo! How awesome would that be.

Tim said...

Genius!

Anonymous said...

* looks hurt then climbs back down tree *

Tim said...

Nyeh nyeh nee-nee nyeh!