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Motivational matters
After Diana Cambridge answered
two questions about motivation in the same edition of her Helpline
(Writers’ News, June), subscriber John Cosgrove,
Troon, Cornwall, stumbled on another suggestion of how a writer
forced himself to buckle down.
The Bill Naughton society website (www.
aghamoregaa.com/society/naughton.htm), reproduces recollections
by the author of Alfie and Spring and Port Wine of coming to writing
late and without the preparation for writing life which ‘even
working-class writers may get a touch of in London’.
‘There was no question of making big decisions, being full
of determination or much of that sort of thing for I was still by
nature lazy, and not given to summoning up that obsessive effort,
which most writers find necessary to get a thing done,’ said
Bill.
To teach himself to love writing, or at least make the daily practice
of it second nature, Naughton filled his life with ‘numerous
minor disciplines’ – such as laying out writing equipment
on the bedside cabinet, in case his muse should visit during the
night – which left him with a sense of emptiness on days when
he hadn’t written.
He went on to advise young writers starting out: ‘Do not give
them your all.
‘Do not pour every drop of yourself into some medium for immediate
use, such as journalism or the like.
‘Always put aside some special offering of writing for God,
a writing that will never be read by others whilst you are alive,
and which may in its way contain your simplest yet purest and fullest
thoughts – or better still your words and deeds.’
Closing date is 2 September and prizes are £200, £130
and £65 in the annual Bill Naughton Short Story Competition,
which is open to stories up to 2,500 words, on any topic. Entry
fee, £5, E7 or US$8; three entries for the price of two.
Details: Bill Naughton Short Story Competition, Box No 2005, Aghamore,
Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, Ireland. |
