Obiter Dicta

Thursday , November 3^rd

Some days later this week with the old bloggeroo. I have actually been writing like … whatever the appropriate simile is for writing. A typewriter? Bob Cratchit? Or just  ‘like fuck’, which is what the guys in the pub would say. Towards more picturesque speech!

I have been working on a piece that is, at the moment, called Grand Guignol. It started off as a short story – well, it started off as a poem , many years ago – but it has sprouted wings and taken off, and I’m rather hopeful of its being a novel one fine day. Or a novella. Or a nouvelle. Whatever the difference between those is. It is different; that much I will own to. We’ll see how it progresses. At the moment, it’s taking up all of my writing time. And enjoyably so.

Other things on the go –

Well, the 26 poems arrived that I have to judge for the Mulgrave Trophy, presented by an Edinburgh writing club. I have to say, with no little astonishment – and sheepishness – that the overall quality is staggeringly good. Even on the first reading, I could see that. The subject matter shows remarkablevariety, and the styles no less so. One or two in Scots. Most in free verse. But two in terza rima – and one sestina! On first perusal, they seem to be handled skilfully too. I have to append  a short crit to each one, so there’s a fair bit of work to be done there. And a speech to be drafted too. They’ll get their fee’s worth from me, I can promise you that!

My first published prose work, The Locked Ward, will be published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on January 5^th, 2012. It is a memoir of my seven and a half years as a psychiatric orderly in a secure unit. There are many funny stories, as well as one or two sad ones. And what I hope is useful information about serious mental illness and how to help people who suffer from it. Initially, when my agent suggested I write it, I was reluctant in the extreme. Ethical considerations, matters of confidentiality and the like, made me think it was impossible to do.

But there are ways and means. None of the patients in the book would be recognised by anyone. I have changed names, ages, gender, nationality – anything you can think of, to render the patients anonymous. Some characters in the book are composites – amalgamations of several different people. One patient might be spread around five different characters. Similarly, with staff. I have used ten or twelve names and stuck to them over the seven years, despite the many comings and goings of staff over the period. I wanted to write the book because it was by far and away the most interesting job I ever had, and I thought others might find it interesting too. And I wanted to celebrate the patients: a band of people who, despite the most catastrophic illnesses in some cases, showed stunning bravery, humanity and resolve.

The book written, the audio book voiced, I now have to assist with the publicity for the project. The PR people at Cape have taken over and a very affable guy called Chris is dealing with that for me. He’s been on email to check what I’d like to do. Write? Yes. Public apearances? Yes. Radio and TV? Yes. Those rich old Caledonian tones might be broadcast far and wide yet.

He has also dangled a very exciting possibility before me. But I’m not going to mention that yet. Because, although I’m not superstitious (touch wood) I am very wary of The Unspeakable Law. Which states: ‘As soon as you mention something, if it’s good, it goes away; if it’s bad, it happens.’ I won’t risk that at the moment.

But, rest assured, as soon as anything transpires, you’ll be the first to know.