Before
After
Welcome to my last blog. I had intended to complete my scribblings on my antipodean adventures, but for reasons I shall explain I have changed my mind.
Writing the blog has forced a bit if discipline into my writing and I reckon I have a fund of about 150,000 words now to draw on should I complete my 75,000 word book. To date though there is little interest from the publishing world in a book about some middle aged bloke who takes a year out to do some exciting things. The rejection letters I receive from agents say roughly the same thing -' we feel it will be difficult to place a book of this kind given the current constraints of the market'. Without the hope of being published I need to use the time I have for writing to focus on projects that are more likely to bear fruit. For example, I am in the process of preparing a crime story for submission to a magazine called 'Crimewave'. Not all is lost though with regard to the book and a change of strategy is needed. I am now approaching publishers directly, or more specifically new publishers, as they offer most hope given their need to find new authors.
On a positive note, I recently published on here the first 10,000 words of said book. The same text was then submitted to Hull University as the final part of my Creative Writing Degree. The submission was well received and the mark I obtained was more than sufficient to gain me an award of First Class Honours. I'm not sure what doors such a degree might open, but it looks good on a covering letter when approaching publishers.
Apart from watching the dire World Cup, a lot of my time recently has been taken up with very pleasurable research. The terms of being given a place on their playwright course by Hull Truck Theatre are such that I have until the end of August to submit a play to them to consider and give me feedback on. Just as you can't write without reading so you can't create a play without going to the theatre. Thus, I have been cramming more theatre trips than usual into my schedule. The last was to see 'Cooking with Elvis' at Hull Truck. The advertising blurb didn't make the play sound very appealing, but it was one of the best and the funniest plays I have seen. A great script and a fantastic cast. If you live in or around Hull I urge you to catch this one before it goes. The play closes on Saturday 10th June.
I have also been paying visits to libraries and museums to research my own play. Originally one of the central characters was to be the spirit of a Native American. To create more local interest I have now set my play in Brough, on the shores of the Humber. In AD 71 the Roman Army crossed the Humber and settled in what was they called Petuaria. My new character is a rather randy old chap (well he's not had sex for nearly 2,000 years) called Marcus Ulpius Ianuarius, or Mikey to his mates. In real life Marcus was the magistrate for Petuaria. I am looking forward to bringing Mikey back to life over the next few weeks as I work on my play.
Looking back on the things I have been fortunate to do over the past year it is impossible to pick out a favourite. So many nice memories linger in my mind - the gentle mountain gorillas, the day on The Nile, walking up the Fox Glacier, climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge and of course doing the thing I always said I would never do - the bungee jump.
Do I have any more big adventures planned? Well, not on the scale of my trips to Africa, Australia and New Zealand. My cancelled trip to Hong Kong and Vietnam has left me 2 countries short of my target of visiting 10 countries that are new to me. To correct this I am taking a trip with my two sons next month. We are flying to Copenhagen, having a day out by rail in Malmo and taking the train for a stay in Hamburg. That way I add Denmark and Sweden to my list of 'new' countries.I also have a yen to travel coast to coast across the USA next year.
I am looking forward to cycling from coast to coast across England at the end of August. Following my collapse during the half marathon I have begun to cycle more and run less. It is really good fun and is so much kinder to my knees. I am drooling over a new bike in the local cycle shop.
I was asked recently what I thought was different about me following my year off. I concluded that I was less tolerant. The best thing about my life now is getting up in the morning and being the boss of me. I don't answer to anyone. In a perverse way, having more time has made me appreciate it even more. In the words of The Desiderata, I avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. I also avoid situations that I think will be boring or tedious. I seek out situations that are exciting or which I will learn from. That makes me sound very selfish and self-centred, but I would like to believe that I am simply focussed on making the most of my time on this wonderful planet. Twenty three years ago I had been married for just 5 months when my wife was involved in a dreadful road accident that left her scarred for life and forced her to give up nursing. I learned then that what seems important one second is irrelevant the next. Life can change in the blink of an eye. It is a lesson I have never forgotten. I don't need a heart attack or a cancer scare to remind me to cherish my life.
What has definitely changed is there is less of me and what remains is much fitter and active. I owe it mostly to Tesco Diets, an online slimming and fitness guide. Every week for 18 months I have been weighing in and leaving some comment about how the week has gone. In return I receive an email of support and advice from a nutritionist. Of course, there's more to it than that, but those weekly weigh-in have motivated me to keep going.
I lost a lot of weight and got fitter just to undertake my gap year. Since returning from New Zealand I have been able to lose more weight and train more often. I have reached my goal, which was to lose 3 stones. Tesco seem to be very proud of what I have done (as with most slimming clubs the majority of the clientele are ladies and male losers are rarer) and have made me a 'success story', which affords me free lifetime membership of Tesco Diets. They have also invited me for an all expenses paid day in London for a photo-shoot as one of seven big fat losers. I am quite stunned and thrilled by this.
Finally, thank you to those that have taken the time to follow my inane ramblings on here. If I have left any loose ends or you have any questions please leave a comment or email me at bryan.moiser@googlemail.com.
Live long and prosper,
Bryan and Wainwright.
Writing the blog has forced a bit if discipline into my writing and I reckon I have a fund of about 150,000 words now to draw on should I complete my 75,000 word book. To date though there is little interest from the publishing world in a book about some middle aged bloke who takes a year out to do some exciting things. The rejection letters I receive from agents say roughly the same thing -' we feel it will be difficult to place a book of this kind given the current constraints of the market'. Without the hope of being published I need to use the time I have for writing to focus on projects that are more likely to bear fruit. For example, I am in the process of preparing a crime story for submission to a magazine called 'Crimewave'. Not all is lost though with regard to the book and a change of strategy is needed. I am now approaching publishers directly, or more specifically new publishers, as they offer most hope given their need to find new authors.
On a positive note, I recently published on here the first 10,000 words of said book. The same text was then submitted to Hull University as the final part of my Creative Writing Degree. The submission was well received and the mark I obtained was more than sufficient to gain me an award of First Class Honours. I'm not sure what doors such a degree might open, but it looks good on a covering letter when approaching publishers.
Apart from watching the dire World Cup, a lot of my time recently has been taken up with very pleasurable research. The terms of being given a place on their playwright course by Hull Truck Theatre are such that I have until the end of August to submit a play to them to consider and give me feedback on. Just as you can't write without reading so you can't create a play without going to the theatre. Thus, I have been cramming more theatre trips than usual into my schedule. The last was to see 'Cooking with Elvis' at Hull Truck. The advertising blurb didn't make the play sound very appealing, but it was one of the best and the funniest plays I have seen. A great script and a fantastic cast. If you live in or around Hull I urge you to catch this one before it goes. The play closes on Saturday 10th June.
I have also been paying visits to libraries and museums to research my own play. Originally one of the central characters was to be the spirit of a Native American. To create more local interest I have now set my play in Brough, on the shores of the Humber. In AD 71 the Roman Army crossed the Humber and settled in what was they called Petuaria. My new character is a rather randy old chap (well he's not had sex for nearly 2,000 years) called Marcus Ulpius Ianuarius, or Mikey to his mates. In real life Marcus was the magistrate for Petuaria. I am looking forward to bringing Mikey back to life over the next few weeks as I work on my play.
Looking back on the things I have been fortunate to do over the past year it is impossible to pick out a favourite. So many nice memories linger in my mind - the gentle mountain gorillas, the day on The Nile, walking up the Fox Glacier, climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge and of course doing the thing I always said I would never do - the bungee jump.
Do I have any more big adventures planned? Well, not on the scale of my trips to Africa, Australia and New Zealand. My cancelled trip to Hong Kong and Vietnam has left me 2 countries short of my target of visiting 10 countries that are new to me. To correct this I am taking a trip with my two sons next month. We are flying to Copenhagen, having a day out by rail in Malmo and taking the train for a stay in Hamburg. That way I add Denmark and Sweden to my list of 'new' countries.I also have a yen to travel coast to coast across the USA next year.
I am looking forward to cycling from coast to coast across England at the end of August. Following my collapse during the half marathon I have begun to cycle more and run less. It is really good fun and is so much kinder to my knees. I am drooling over a new bike in the local cycle shop.
I was asked recently what I thought was different about me following my year off. I concluded that I was less tolerant. The best thing about my life now is getting up in the morning and being the boss of me. I don't answer to anyone. In a perverse way, having more time has made me appreciate it even more. In the words of The Desiderata, I avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. I also avoid situations that I think will be boring or tedious. I seek out situations that are exciting or which I will learn from. That makes me sound very selfish and self-centred, but I would like to believe that I am simply focussed on making the most of my time on this wonderful planet. Twenty three years ago I had been married for just 5 months when my wife was involved in a dreadful road accident that left her scarred for life and forced her to give up nursing. I learned then that what seems important one second is irrelevant the next. Life can change in the blink of an eye. It is a lesson I have never forgotten. I don't need a heart attack or a cancer scare to remind me to cherish my life.
What has definitely changed is there is less of me and what remains is much fitter and active. I owe it mostly to Tesco Diets, an online slimming and fitness guide. Every week for 18 months I have been weighing in and leaving some comment about how the week has gone. In return I receive an email of support and advice from a nutritionist. Of course, there's more to it than that, but those weekly weigh-in have motivated me to keep going.
I lost a lot of weight and got fitter just to undertake my gap year. Since returning from New Zealand I have been able to lose more weight and train more often. I have reached my goal, which was to lose 3 stones. Tesco seem to be very proud of what I have done (as with most slimming clubs the majority of the clientele are ladies and male losers are rarer) and have made me a 'success story', which affords me free lifetime membership of Tesco Diets. They have also invited me for an all expenses paid day in London for a photo-shoot as one of seven big fat losers. I am quite stunned and thrilled by this.
Finally, thank you to those that have taken the time to follow my inane ramblings on here. If I have left any loose ends or you have any questions please leave a comment or email me at bryan.moiser@googlemail.com.
Live long and prosper,
Bryan and Wainwright.
Wow Bryan you look bloody great - well done, many congratulations - for everything you've achieved in this last year: for your courage in decision making, courage in doing what you set out to do and having to cope with the death of your father as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your 'ramblings,' they have been educational, moving, entertaining, humourous, sad, honest and most of all, thanks for sharing a part of you.
I'll sign off with a famous literary quote from Milligan who sagely said, “I thought I'd begin by reading a sonnet by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.”
Kindest regards as always
Steve
Hessle, East Yorkshire
8 July 2010