Repetitive Strain Ramble

Have you noticed that you tend to revisit ideas in your writing? Maybe it's a similar theme or particular words. Is this a good or bad thing? Some and some, methinks

I know, without a doubt that I have an obsession with fabric. It makes sense - I studied fashion design in the 80s but didn't like the bitchy or practical side so ended up making my own ball-gowns, costumes and tutus to wear to the pub. I've been making costumes for decades now. Love a ribboned, bony corset - easy-peasy.

There's a mercer in London's Berwick Street called Borovicks where I bought the taffeta for my four bridesmaids' dresses - I'd roll around in fabric in its thin corridors if only they'd let me.

Demons

Since I started writing in earnest, a sense of the demon has frequently manifested itself. I can observe this from afar, detached - and am enjoying the eruptions. May they continue - although I have felt compelled to dole out some conditions.

I've never forgotten an evil blighter that plagued me in the 1990s. He called himself 'Malcolm' as if that wasn''t earthly and tawdry enough - he/it was a nasty beast that used to descend my staircase and laugh right in my face. I learned to push him back; you can do it with your eyes you know. But - you do have to give as good as you get, 'cos they're feisty buggers.

Lovely Words

So. Words - I've done this before on The Feardom, but I'm asking again, What do you like? For me its fleshy words:

• flesh
• pulpous
• fat
• pale
• gorge
• skin etc

Reality

Today's observation is that people can surprise you. I met the world's most natural father today. Big love to him.

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In Absentia

She's not been around much over the last couple of weeks, that Muse of mine. I wonder if I have angered her in some way, or unwittingly ignored her teases. Truth be told I, like many other writers and artists have been so busy lately trying to deal with the snow (for non-UK readers - we're useless over here, can't cope with the lovely white stuff), worrying about poorly children and poorly friends, being abysmally bad at organising and preparing Christmas cards and presents, and of course, getting bogged down by the day job - that I realise all I am is a victim of time. But the Police don't have a Support Service for that.

Tonight, I took out the ghost story I wrote for a national newspaper competition - which didn't get shortlisted - and rewrote some of it. Is it any better? I don't know. I still love it. It still made made me cry, still scared the hell out of me. I want it to find a home - a well-paid home - so I am on the hunt. But picking the story back up has set the sparks off again, and she is back. I'm so glad.

I've now jotted down a disturbing story about unbeknownst love. I have made notes concerning a judgemental and unbidden shadow. There are poems in my head that - not deliberately - break all the rules. And now I am also inspired to write something on Persephone, Dread Queen consort of Hades. The latter will, of course, require me to vacation in Crete again - which will be such a hardship.

This is more of a private ramble than a public display. I don't mean to sound pretentious or up myself; I just needed to clear some cobwebs.

Over now, to judge last week's astounding Prediction entries. Thanks for letting me drone on.

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In a word...

What type of words do you enjoy using when you write? I just love a 'fleshy' word:

• Bulbous
• Wobbling
• Pink
• Skin
• Pores
• Ripe
• Pale
• Pulpous

Flesh itself is just... oooh.

And fat - used out of the context of body flesh:

• Fat mascara
• Fat teardops

Don't get me started on 'wet' words:

• moist
• juicy
• salivate... No, don't get me started.

So which words make you tingle as you write them?

Back to life...

I am... well, not WELL, but definitely on the mend.

Went back to the (Eastbourne) Towner's Dark Monarch exhibition today. Actually paid to go in this time, and it was still well worth it (apart from Damien Hirst's unicorn).

My 6-year-old daughter's been talking about targets and achievements. I have a built in defense mechanism that makes me uncompetative but when she told me her achievement target was to "not fall over in the playground" I thought, I can do do that! (we're a clumsy family).

Bit sloshed

Nothing interesting in me being sloshed. But I'm having a Mod revival evening and oh, there's so much I love. The Action, Ken Boothe (first record I ever bought was Everything I Own - in Boots - upstairs in the Eastbourne store (upstairs isn't there any more).

We've gone through Prince Buster, Geno Washington (to die for - SO cool), Marvin, Patsy and Derrick, Shangri-Las (go beyond Leader of the Pack - you will quake in your boots . If you don't wear boots then you're probably not welcome here).

This is all trivial - Northern Soul is unchartered territory for some, even for (Michael, the...) lovers.