Bloomsbury author Rupert Kingfisher explains how to avoid the nebulous dangers that could befall you as a writer...
I‘m a writer and I have a son who’s 11 months old, so inevitably the question arose whether he might follow in my footsteps. This was after we found him one day, very skilfully dismantling a radiator tap, leading to speculation that he might become a plumber.
However, it may well turn out that my son has ink in his veins, since writing does seem to run in the family. My mother is the novelist Salley Vickers, and her grandmother, before her, was a successful playwright. Since my mother was so well established before I got published, people often assume that some kind of nepotism was involved. In fact, this is not the case, and nor would I have wanted her help.
But now it’s great to have a colleague who’s also part of the family and together we try to give each other collegiate support. By that I don’t mean that we read each other’s manuscripts, although we certainly do discuss ideas relating to things that we’re writing. I mean that during difficult times we try to boost each other’s morale. Writing isn’t the kind of thing you do in an office. That’s all part of its appeal but you can sometimes feel the dearth of a few colleagues. It can also be very hard work, however rewarding, and everyone has those moments (especially during a novel) when they feel like giving up and throwing their computer out the window. At times like these, we need fellow writers to help keep us going and generally to steer us away from the Vortex.
The Vortex is the name I give to a set of nebulous dangers that can befall anyone as a writer. Its true purpose is to stop us writing but it can take the form of doubt, fear, envy, pride, and also those pointless activities such as schmoozing at parties, which we do in the belief that they’ll somehow further our career. But a sympathetic colleague can help us to avoid these pitfalls, by reminding us what’s really important, which is simply to write the next thousand words. Best wishes,
Have you got a writing support system? Tell us about it in the comments below...
About Rupert Kingfisher: Rupert studied Philosophy at Bristol University and Playwriting at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His plays have been performed across the UK and on BBC Radio 4. Rupert grew up in Oxfordshire and now lives in Brentford, Middlesex with his partner and their son.
My parents are supportive, Dad especially, but I don't think they TOTALLY get it. A little while go, I was feeling tearful after a series of knockbacks and no-shows. When I told my mum what was up, she said: "If you can't take rejection, do something else." She has a point but, still... And, if I hear one more person say "Good things come to those who wait", I'll go bananas.
That Vortex is less nebulous and more of a well defined storm front for those of us trying to write outside of "normal" working hours. In addition to all those very apt dangers you mention above, (all good friends of procrastination), there is the acute danger of guilt that nags at us as we try to balance quality family time with quality writing time. I work in fits and starts when I can, but the lack of a continuous process is detrimental to keeping the necessary enthusiasm alive.
I could not agree more on the priceless aspect of having a fellow writer to encourage and provide feedback. I have used online writing sites to develop relationships that provide this kind of support through the writing process. I would encourage others to do the same. These virtual friends can help you fight the Vortex !
Doubt, fear, envy and pride. Without these feelings, where would writers be? Aren't these the very things which made us?