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 sales of 'The Boy From Broughty Ferry' 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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Comments
Every since I have known you your approach to life has been simple and fun. You know what you want and aren't afraid to work towards it. Like you I enjoy my time with few interuptions from the "real" world. In my case I am on call 24/7 365. One thing I know is if those 10,000 who have read your books take them to heart you will have helped 10,000 people.
When I think of you, I always think of the Chinese saying, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish he will eat for a lifetime." Thanks for taking the time to teach so many how to fish.
Fishermen, like farmers, are among those most in touch with reality - as you and I both know from actual experience. Your point is well made Dennis. Thank you.
Come on now, living landlocked where the only place to fish is in a river, creek, or lake, I have heard many fishing stories that I don't believe. Local fishermen have a tendency to stretch the truth, some quite a ways. About the only thing I have seen a farmer stretch was his fish story.
Haha - point made Dennis! :-) I shall clarify by adding 'deep-sea' fishermen, hardy souls who risk their lives daily. As regards river fishers, a village worthie in Scotland, who I only ever knew by his nickname of Boko was given to delivering apparently enriched tales of his fishing prowess at the local Feughside Inn, much to the merriment of all .... until one night. He came in to report that he had spotted a particularly handsome salmon which many locals had been pursuing in a pool near the Bucket Mill at Finzean (pronounced Fingin)! Myself and several other sceptics followed him to the spot, where we watched by torchlight as he waded into the water and proceeded to guddle (tickle by hand) a 25 pound salmon from under the boulder where it sheltered. The inn served up the finest poached salmon ever and Boko drank free on the back of his verified fisherman's tale for ... well just about ever!
This brings up a very important point. The point is trust but verify. There are too many who can't or won't verify.
A hard-earned lesson for me. I was too new and too naive, yet that is still a poor excuse, I should have known better. A little verification can save us a lot of trouble later, well said, thanks, Dennis.
Between 2000 and around 2015 many on the internet were learning this way. Some still are today. Then there was a lot to learn, strangely now more people than ever are learning first so they are not so naive.
Yes George, we plan our activities meticulously, plan for them to be fun and let the rewards of accomplishment look after themselves. Thanks for reading and for your kind comments.
Congrats on the 10K milestone, a small step for an author of your caliber. Thank you, Tom.