Something came to me this morning while listening to the sports news on the radio. It was one of those striking moments and here is the result…

EXT – DAY – Edgbaston

Kevin PIETERSEN stands at the crease looking up and preparing for the next delivery. He knocks his bat against the crease nervously. Scott STYRIS stands polishing the ball against his leg getting prepared for the run.

PIETERSEN
You are wonderful!

STYRIS
Thank you — I’ve worked hard to become so.

STYRIS starts his slow run toward the left of the Umpire. He quickly gets into his pre-delivery stride.

PIETERSEN
I admit it — you are better than I am.

STYRIS
Then why are you smiling?

Moments from defeat, PIETERSEN is, in fact, all smiles. STYRIS looks slightly confused as he moves into his back foot contact.

PIETERSEN
Because I know something you don’t know.

STYRIS
And what is that?

STYRIS Follows through and releases the ball.

PIETERSEN
I am not right-handed.

And with that he throws his bat into his left hand and immediately, the tide of the match turns. He repositions and knocks the oncoming ball easily for a six.

The CROWD go wild!

STYRIS shakes his head in disbelief.

I find myself at a strange position in my life. For those of you who know me, and those of you who know me well, I like to think of myself as a relatively creative person. I also think that I am somone whose creativity drifts in the wind of mediocrity. Right here, right now, I have two things going on in my head, two things that have presented themself as fact; I have a story to tell and I have business to build.

The business; there’s not much to tell about this at this stage, other than to say that, for the first time in a very long time, I am absolutley sure it is something I should do.

The story; this is something that has been in my head for some time now. It started as something that I wrote for my creative writing course a few years ago and then morphed into a story that I could tell to Rebekah. Together we have played around with ideas that have helped to shape the concept.

It started like this…

A single streak of daylight dissected the dim room through the curtains

Now, I’ve struggled with the story, not fully understood it, and thus not been able to write it down. However, over the last few weeks it seems to be becoming clearer. The more things I do, the more I read, the more I listen, the more I speak, the more I think, all makes it clearer.

For as long as I have been thinking about this story, there is a phrase that keeps popping into my head. I’ve never written it down, never known how to follow it, never kown what to do with it…

“There are things in this world that I don’t understand..”

It just comes to me, pops in my head, a nagging question that needs a answer, begs for one. if only I knew what the follow up was. I could just find the response needed to write it down. Maybe there are just things in this world that I don’t understand.

I sat reading my book during lunch, listening to my iPod. The statement once more popped into my head. I stopped, looked out of the window to the Candian Geese playing on the lake, and just knew that the book was something that I should do. No longer should, but must.

As I write this Hogarth is singing in my ear…

I have seen this face a thousand times
Every morning of my life
But I never saw these eyes so clear
Free of doubt and pain
Like the whole world has been made again

I don’t know what that means, but it feels like it means something to me, because I just nearly wept, had to take a moment there… Maybe it is so clear to me, maybe I am free of doubt…

I tune in to some friendly voices
Talking bout stupid things.
I cant be left to my imagination.
Let me be weak,
Let me sleep
And dream of sheep. - Kate Bush

I learnt something about myself today. It’s not often that happens. I have afterall been living with myself for nearly 37 years and have had plenty of time to figure me out. I know for example that I can be a little stubborn. I have a very small streak for exaggeration. I am generally shy but also have no small amount of belief in myself, a tad arrogance some would say, when it comes to things like work. I am creative but my talent isn’t well formed enough to see it all through. I have stories that I now people want to hear, want to see, want to read; I just can’t get them down. I have game designs that people will want to play. I’m lazy. I can be self absorbed. The list could go on.

I enjoy writing and I enjoy creative writing, but the thing I found out today is that I like the process. Actually the process isn’t right, it’s kind of hard to explain what it is that I actually like, but let me try:

When I write I talk to myself in my head, I hear one word just before I write it. If I am not writing it I hear the whole process. That is the bit I like. I like the rawness of what I can hear in my head. That is my best work. The words forming in my brain before anything can mess with them. I hear the dialogue of people. I hear the narrator telling the story. I hear my imagination working at its best and it is so refreshing, so inspiring. All I need is to be able to capture it in a way that I am happy with…

I noticed a disturbing trend this morning… I’ve started saying or writing movie instead of film… oh dear! Make it go away!

I’ve been working on a childrens story on off for a while. It is something that Rebekah and me have been throwing around. I’m about 4 or 5 chapters in and have the high concept in place, but have been struggling with some of the detail in my head. To be honest, I also struggle for time. Anyway, I think I have now found a good enough process to allow me to move forward and am hoping to get the provebial ball rolling ASAP. What I am now looking for is someone to draw pictures for me. It is not intended to be an illustrated book but I do think characters and places could do with imagineering. I also want to start the process of a website and blog to follow the process and images would be essential in this.

So if you are or know an illustrator who would be interested in collaborating, get in touch… comment here and I’ll email you back.