“Poetry is to prose as dancing is to walking” – John Wain –

Writing is writing, but there are so many different kinds, it’s easy to forget how differently you have to treat them. Like this for example, writing a blog is so different to writing fiction. Whilst most of you know me as a writer of novels (and that’s generally what I aspire to be known as), I can’t forget the other forms of writing that I still love. In this week’s blog, I’m going to be talking about just that.

So, let’s start with poetry. I love poetry and have always been fascinated by it’s deeper meaning and the clever way it needs to be written. As the quote at the start of this blog says, it’s like dancing. You need to choreograph it and give it a proper structure. It’s where you take language and make it into something really, extraordinarily powerful because it’s so beautiful. However, poetry is hard work. The other day, I was writing a non fictional poem, and I realised just how much research has to go into it, even this little eight line poem I had to do. The rhythm, the rhymes, the meanings…it all needs to come together and, not only make sense, but sound and read really nicely. That’s something that needs a certain dedication, and you have to be in the mood for it. Especially if you’re planning on writing something emotional. Sometimes, you can’t just roll it off the top of your head, sometimes you really need to be in that zone where you can research a way to make it sound just right. I love writing poems, and haven’t done it for a while, but would love to get back into it and publish my poems someday.

Similar to this, is songwriting – another type of writing I’ve always loved. I suppose, songs are very similar to poems, but maybe more repetitive and much more musical. However, I’m not a musical person and that meant I could never write proper songs, as music usually becomes before the lyrics. However, I always appreciate the really clever song lyrics that you hear which are so unique, and I don’t think song writers really get the credit they’re due. It takes a lot of talent to do something like that, especially when there’s music involved!

Finally, non fiction writing – which is also now a big part of my life. Trying to write in a completely different manner to fiction is something that’s tricky to do, especially because when it comes to fiction, you can write whatever you like as long as it’s necessary, with non fiction you can’t, it’s more restrictive. However, you can still make beauty in your words because they’re a way of persuasion and informing people and I still really enjoy it, even though it can at times be a lot less creative. There are many more rules that need to be followed, but the power of words is immeasurable, and if you can get your message across (maybe not in the same flouncy, subliminal way as in fiction), then you’re still doing your job as a writer.

For me, the easiest style of writing is prose (what I do in my novels) but only because I know my characters so well. I suppose it’s because there are no rules and I can do whatever I want, but I love the feeling of writing a long section which either has deeper themes, or some kind of pay-off later, or is full of so much emotion it just bursts from the page. Getting completely absorbed into a story that is your own, and it all just fits together when describing a scenario. That’s what I really love. I think that’s what comes most naturally to me, and what I pride myself on. It’s just writing in general – putting words on pages and seeing what comes out is something that I just have a huge passion for, and thankfully, some talent for too! I’m hoping 2019 will be a year where I can expand the kinds of writing I do, so watch this space and let’s see what’s been created by the end of the year!

Atlantic Split and At Liberty To Live, the first and second books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K.