graemecummingdotnet

When I first set up this website, I wrote a post that clearly set out its purpose.  It’d be about sharing experiences that have taught me lessons in life.

A by-product of that exercise was to introduce people to my writing, which I hope it’s done in two ways.  The first was to demonstrate that I can string coherent sentences together.  The second wasn’t something I planned, but it became apparent to me as time passed.  By writing about very emotional experiences, readers would probably realise that I’m very interested in people and how we respond to situations.  And, if that was clear, it may also suggest to readers that this is reflected in my fiction.

Don’t worry, my stories aren’t introspective or navel-gazing.  What it does mean, though, is that, when I write a thriller, adventure or horror story, there’s more to it that a fast-paced plot.  Each of us is flawed, a result of life experiences.  Some people have learnt from those experiences, some are working their way through the effects, and some scarred for life.  So, entertaining as it may be to read about or watch James Bond or Dirty Harry, a story offers more of an edge if you sense that the characters aren’t fully equipped to deal with everything life (or a storyline) throws at them.

So, in viewing my posts, I hoped readers would sense my fiction would have more depth.

As time has passed, though, I’ve realised that, by focusing on a particular theme, I’ve constrained myself too much.

Occasional thoughts would occur to me that I felt were worth sharing.  They might be triggered by recent events or something that inspired my writing, but they didn’t quite fit the site’s remit.  I also realised I’m not supporting other independent authors as much as I could be, either by posting book reviews or sharing posts from bloggers that warrant a wider audience.

So I’ve concluded that I’ve been working within a self-imposed strait-jacket.  Which isn’t fun – unless you’re with the right person and they know the code word.

Having just gone through some major changes in my working life, I’ve not been able to write in recent months.  But I’m coming out of that now, and as I do I can feel the creativity coming back.  The need to write is getting stronger.

My intention with this site was to write an item every month.  I suspect that rate will increase over the coming months, though I won’t be putting up posts daily (was that a sigh of relief at the back?).  Among those posts there’ll still be life lessons, but there’ll also be more of the stuff I’ve not been doing – and, be warned, there’s one on its way in the next day or so.

So, to the purists who’ve enjoyed my writing to date, I hope you’ll not be deterred by the wider range of posts.  And to those who are curious to see what happens next….