Got Beef?

  My best friend in the whole world has recently started a blog detailing his attempt to pass a year as a vegan.  Having previously been vegetarian for a year, he has now upped the stakes (or perhaps the steaks).  He pointed out that my previous two blogs were filled with a lot of “hate”.  I wasn’t aiming for so much griping and atheism when I began the blog – it was just those issues were on my mind at the time.  Alas, who am I to ignore the advice of a newly baptized vegan (head dipped in soy milk for those that are questioning the metaphor)?

  Please visit my friend’s blog and follow his vegan-adventures here –

http://the-vegan-year.blogspot.com/

  Here is another link to a friend of mine who is one of the most wonderfully talented illustrators ever, Dan Morley.  He has launched a new website this week so please pay it a visit and support him if you can –

http://www.danmorley.co.uk/

  You see now I’m spreading the love.  I have another friend who writes an intelligent blog but he hasn’t written anything for months now.  Ritik, if you want a mention then you need actually write something.

  As for myself, I am doing my best to write and write and write.  I am currently working my way through my latest attempt to write a novel.  Although I have tried on countless occasions, this is probably my first earnest attempt to climb the mountain.  I have thought the idea out well and researched to a reasonable level.  The only danger is in the novel spiralling out of control with new elements that I keep adding.  On the other hand I would rather have too much to write than too little.  I will edit the piece when it is finished and trim away the fat with a little help from a few friends.  I have outlined the story to take approximately thirty chapters; I am currently writing chapter seven.  So, not bad going but I do want to pick up the pace and get further on before Christmas.

  I already have a sketch for the next story I want to tell.  At the moment it is very basic but with some powerful images that came right out of a dream (one of the few I remember).  It just needs fleshing out and then for my friends to do a cliché check.  For now it will have to remain as a sketch, burning away at the page.  It’s just a seed in the back of my mind where it can grow and become something a little more developed and special.

  I think I’m trying to re-train my brain to behave creatively on a regular basis.  Since leaving university and not being in a band, I haven’t really had a regular creative output.  I have been lazy and on occasion I have been too busy.  Sometimes I’ve just been too low emotionally to bother.  So my little creative centre is a bit rusty but I’m oiling it and polishing it every day like a vintage car engine.  It is ticking over just fine but grant me a little more time and I will be racing Le Mans with the best.  I have even started playing guitar again; dusting off the case and getting familiar with my telecaster once more.

Right, that will do for now.  Spread your love like a fever.