TEN THOUSAND - AND COUNTING!
"Start small to grow big. If you can make one of something, you can make ten thousand of them." - JTR
I lay on my cobbled together with twine and drift-wood, wicker bed, gazing lazily at strips of star-spangled sky through the gaps in the corrugated roof of my tin shack writer's retreat. I reached ten thousand stars and counting before lapsing into what would be the final sweet sleep of my stay. As I fell into slumber, the sounds around me were of the relaxing swish of the Atlantic surf from one side and the electric chatter of frantic-to-mate crickets from the marram grass of the towering dunes on the other. My thoughts were of longing for the more refined comforts of home and sadness at leaving behind my ram-shackle heavenly hang out. Neither emotion prevailed. The fact was that four achingly sublime months of isolation had passed and the due time to return to 'normality' was nigh.
What of normality? For me it's not that far removed from the desert isle abandonment of my writing hideaway - notwithstanding mains power, internet and the electric and electronic gadgetry of modernity - none of which I had missed. My daily cooking of freshly caught sardines had been by open fire, lighting when needed by candles ... and the sun and the moon ... the beer was chilled in the sea. What more could one wish for? I had even returned to scribbling with pencil in shorthand the first draft of my next novel ... and I hadn't forgotten how to do it!
Rather, the languid days sharpened my imagination and with it my perceptions of reality and those things which matter most in the world. It became clearer to me than ever that the incessant chatter and clamour of society, far from being a manifestation of vitality and vigour, is in fact the wailing of lost souls, whole civilisations of confused beings lacking purpose and direction. Put simply, with a roof (of sorts) over my head, fresh fish of the best in my belly, adequate (if tatty) apparel and the sun and wind on my face, what more could I wish for? What more does one need? If the answer to the last mentioned is the company of others, then the scattering of local fishermen and other worthies, smarter by far and practically adept in their understanding of living, more than compensated for any lack of 'sophisticates' and their urban ilk. No contest!
So my writing went well. The follow up novel to 'Too Early For A Glass Of Wine?' and 'The Boy From Broughty Ferry' is well underway. I returned home with four, ten thousand word sections of complete texts for inclusion in the finished piece. That plus ten thousand words of sketched plot and characters and ten thousand words of rough notes and observations. As the second, and full, draft is planned to run to around one hundred thousand words, I am happy with my progress. However, let's not get over excited. The final manuscript will take at least three more months to complete after the draft, then many more months to fully revise and edit. Then my publishers will get their hands on it. They have provisionally fixed March 2026 for publication. Yes, still a year and four months distant!
The lesson for all in this is to see how projects require planning, time and patience ... as well as work. But also that you should plan your work in such a way that it is enjoyable and relaxing rather than a stressful grind. Whatever your occupation or leisure pursuit, plan it meticulously and plan for it to be fun!
A particularly fun part of my return home from my writing sojourn was to receive the news that my book sales have surpassed the ten thousand units - and counting - mark! Not nearly Grisham or Follett territory but impressive nonetheless for an 'indie' author such as I and a significant milestone in my journey as a novelist. Becoming an author was never going to be a quick fix nor a get rich quick pursuit, I planned it to be long term. So my patience is paying off. I work, rest, play, learn and improve each day - and income drips in quite nicely too! More importantly I'm happy and able to work as I choose. How many can say that?
Whether counting stars, counting words written or counting book sales, 'ten thousand and counting' has become my current motivational mantra. I say it aloud at all times. Each repetition of the words sustains my personal flame, refreshed by vivid images of balmy days and sultry nights in my rustic writer's paradise. My desire is that my novel when finished will do justice to the idyllic lifestyle and inspiring camaraderie of that blissful place.
I am Tom Riach. I live and write in the sunny south of Portugal.
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'TEN THOUSAND - AND COUNTING!' is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
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See you there! Regards, Tom.
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