Journal: The alcove and the idea

“… something in the region of two hundred eyes looking at me, and that was the most intimidated I had ever felt.”

- Let me finish

We’ve all been there, right? The best man’s speech. Well, my first steps into that battlefield inspired a book…

Though let’s breifly rewind two years or so, to a feisty November evening, as we pushed open the doors to enter London Bridge's Southwark Tavern. 

After descending the 360-degree spiral staircase to the basement, we turned left, and sat in one of the exposed-brick vaulted alcoves. Where we stayed for the next couple of hours.

And now, that particular evening, deep in the pub’s basement will forever remain the scene of a personal landmark. As it was where I announced to my friend Jane, one of the biggest ideas of my life.

It started with some menial chit-chat but the conversation had steered towards my enjoyment for writing. 

A declaration then followed, concerning my desire to write something again — as I had not done so for some time — though I confirmed that it needed to be something of real substance. 

“I want to write a book.”

The delivery of my six words resonated with Jane — albeit six words infused with beerish bravado.  

As she sipped her vodka lime and soda, her eyes widened with astonishment on hearing my, quite frankly, ballsy proclamation. 

But there was nothing off-the-cuff about this.

At the time, the idea had remained close to my chest for some weeks, if not months, but I had never detailed the idea aloud with someone in the same space. 

My desire had been inspired by the occasion of my first best man’s speech (many years previous). An anecdote of true self-deprecation in a tone which ultimately formed the underbelly of the book. And so I reeled it off, to Jane... 

And her reaction was perfect: a concoction of giddy encouragement and genuine interest — as litmus test’s go, it was enough. I started to write the book almost immediately. 

Fast forward eighteen months and my book, Let me finish, was accessible to everyone. 

And so, around about now (June 2020), is the one year anniversary of my debut book being published. And I just wanted to take a moment.

So, moment taken. And let’s look forward.

As that act of publishing my book has wet my appetite. 

But I since wanted to inject diversity into my output, so my time has been filled with writing short stories and freelance copywriting, and by having recently started a new project co-authoring a second book.  

And then, the world stopped, as this heinous pandemic rocked-up. Saying that, the ensuing lockdown has offered grains of positivity: more time, for one. 

Hours that were once devoured by a commute, for example, can be thrown into another pot.

In a few years it may be one of those questions, ‘what did you do during lockdown?’ and my biggest fear is of wasted downtime: “ah, ya know... not much, completed Netflix...’ 

Essentially, taking advantage of this disadvantage is my goal. 

As it is unlikely that we will ever again, face such an abundance of disposable hours, as has been created by this strange new reality.

And now, as a personal vice, writing has grown in stature. So I wanted a new digital home to pull all my words into one place — which is where you find yourself, on my new website.

So this post was about briefly taking stock, while also considering what looking ahead actually looks like. As much as anyone can.

Anyway, for me, it will simply entail putting more words in the right order.

And hopefully one day, re-visiting that brick vaulted alcove…

Let me finish is available on Amazon (paperback or eBook)