Ronald McGowan
I'm old school British. I'm afraid I don't go in much for inspiration.
The oldest manuscript that I have published, 'The Golden Apple' dates from my teaching days, and was based on stories I told the pupils in my Latin and Greek classes to keep them quiet. You don't need much in the way of inspiration when it's a question of finding something to keep thirty-odd little tearaways out of mischief. There are a couple more in the series lying around which I must dig out and put on Kindle one of these days.
"What I did in my Holidays' was written for a competition, hence its odd length, and, like most things I do, at the urging of she who must be obeyed, my ever-loving wife.
'Barset Revisited' was the nearest I have come to anything I would call 'inspiration', although it was more like frustration really. I just couldn't stand the way Trollope had left the Barsetshire sequence dangling at the end, even though he had continually signposted what was going to happen all the way through. As far as I can make out, he either lost his bottle or just lost interest, and moved on. I found this just too, too annoying - like most things these days - and decided to do the job for him. I liked the outcome if nobody else did.
As for the Austen series, they were started for a bet ,and have since rather taken me over. I came very late to Jane Austen, but the more I read her, the more I find in her.
No doubt the above will be just as useless as most of the drivel I turn out, but I wish you well in your striving. Just remember that inspiration is a contrary beast. The more you look for her, the more she will hide away, but ignore her and she will come looking for you.
Margaret has quite a bit to say on the subject in 'Miss Dashwood's Dilemma' actually. I might see if I can send you an extract if you haven't got the book.
Ron.
The oldest manuscript that I have published, 'The Golden Apple' dates from my teaching days, and was based on stories I told the pupils in my Latin and Greek classes to keep them quiet. You don't need much in the way of inspiration when it's a question of finding something to keep thirty-odd little tearaways out of mischief. There are a couple more in the series lying around which I must dig out and put on Kindle one of these days.
"What I did in my Holidays' was written for a competition, hence its odd length, and, like most things I do, at the urging of she who must be obeyed, my ever-loving wife.
'Barset Revisited' was the nearest I have come to anything I would call 'inspiration', although it was more like frustration really. I just couldn't stand the way Trollope had left the Barsetshire sequence dangling at the end, even though he had continually signposted what was going to happen all the way through. As far as I can make out, he either lost his bottle or just lost interest, and moved on. I found this just too, too annoying - like most things these days - and decided to do the job for him. I liked the outcome if nobody else did.
As for the Austen series, they were started for a bet ,and have since rather taken me over. I came very late to Jane Austen, but the more I read her, the more I find in her.
No doubt the above will be just as useless as most of the drivel I turn out, but I wish you well in your striving. Just remember that inspiration is a contrary beast. The more you look for her, the more she will hide away, but ignore her and she will come looking for you.
Margaret has quite a bit to say on the subject in 'Miss Dashwood's Dilemma' actually. I might see if I can send you an extract if you haven't got the book.
Ron.
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