+ The Creative Impulse

Every year gone by is another time, another opportunity, to look back and ruminate on what was and what could have been. Often, they are two sides of the same coin – it’s only when the coin comes to rest that you really know – and do you also get the feeling that both sides of the coin are the same?

So, here we are – another year, another grimace – as time and space shrink around us. It’s alarming.

I keep thinking of writing something – something substantial. Have never managed to write more than a few pages at a time. And, of course, there is never any getting back to it. There was a host of people who were in the same boat. Collaboration was the next idea – get together with a like-minded person moving along on inertia and write a book together. When was the last time that worked…?

After that, it was: “Hey, why don’t you keep writing something, doesn’t matter on what, and I’ll do the same, and let’s see if we can put it all together, tweak it a bit, and come out with something substantial?” [Smirk smirk!]

Then came the big online revolution. Suddenly, everyone was emailing (well, some of them) and instant-messaging each other. Idea No 3: When you are in the mood, chat with your would-be collaborator, archive all those chat transcripts, and at leisure cull the interesting stuff from it and weave a coagulator around it.

Hasn’t happened yet, but surely it isn’t time to smirk yet. This year, the chances look brighter than earlier. I have a lot many more transcripts. Now, I can really write that book, if only I can manage the time. (And don’t forget the inertia....)