In Four Days

In four days I have a big "zero" birthday. I may well never have another. It feels weird.

I'm a writer. I wrote five crime novels in the 1990's then started writing literary fiction, short-stories, and articles about creative writing.

But this big birthday (send me money) reminds me that on October 14th 1992, fed up with "playing at" being a writer. I mean playing at TRYING to be a writer I decided to go full-on and give myself five years. If I couldn't make it then I'd forever call it a hobby and stop worrying about it.

I swapped roles with Debbie and wrote when my son slept. A year later I got a three book contract with Headline and started placing some short-stories.

The point is, that five year drive WORKED. I went from unpublished to multi-published.

But since then I've judged competitions, edited literary magazines and anthologies, taught creative writing (after going and doing an MA in CW at Bath) run Boot Camp Keegan on the internet, and in parallel, wrote.

But could I say I was a writer first and all these things second?

I don't think so. Somewhere along the line, the core focus shifted.

I get a real kick out of helping beginning and intermediate writers to become better and get published. As "part of the gang" I bang out flashes, and the occasional story, and they place or win a competition... but nevertheless the idea "I am a writer" has slipped into being one-of-the-things-that-define me when I'd prefer it to be THE thing.

So my zero year is also going to be my Year Zero. provided my health and my family's health stands up, 2007-8 is going to be a writing year, the mother of all writing years.

This blog is MINE, personal, about writing, my writing, my influences, hits, publications, prizes, near-misses, the ups and downs of the writing life.

It won't compete with thebootcampkeegandiaries
http://thebootcampkeegandiaries.blogspot.com/

Instead it's about my year of focus, MY feelings.

It may not be all writing. It's just a year of my life.