I've read many books this year – several by women! — that made me pause and reflect on my own talent. (Don't worry, good reader, it was positive reflection, naturally.)

A book should makes you think. If it doesn't, then it isn't literature – at best it's a pamphlet with delusions of adequacy.

I've been in this business for nearly three decades, won numerous awards, been a bestseller on every continent, published my books in goodness knows how many languages, and become an icon to writers the world over, but there's one thing of which I never tire: seeing my books being read in public.

I'm told that some people (I will not grace them with the term "writers") are filling pages with drivel written by robots. The term, I am told, is Artificial Intelligence—you tell the robot what to write and it writes it for you, allowing you to publish this bile without doing any actual work!
(1/2)

It's not enough to write. One should bleed onto the page*. The reader must know your pain or you have been unsuccessful at your craft.

*Metaphorically, naturally. One writer once took this advice literally, and his manuscript was returned from the publisher, unread.

I see a new publishing venture has arisen: all men, the books they cite as influences are all from male writers, and they have exactly zero years publishing experience across the whole team.

I wish them well in this female-dominated industry. The world needs more of this type of endeavour.

Writers' block doesn't exist. That's a myth perpetuated by the lazy and the talent-free.

I do, on occasion, take longer to fully formulate the latest ideas necessitating extended periods away from the work, but this isn't writers' block - it's perfectionism. Very different concepts.

Last night a friend invited me to see a new musical theatre show that has apparently been making waves.

I'm a bit insulted that someone who claims to know me would think that I would lower myself to this plebeian form of "entertainment"—one goes to the theatre to be enlightened, not entertained!

Episode 2 of Words of Wisdom is now available wherever you find your little podcast things. Samantha has given me this to show you. I will assume you understand what they are:

open.spotify.com/show/29h5aM6...

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Or a web thing:
www.montywisdom.com/monty-wisdom...

I heard the term "influencer" for the first time yesterday, and I believe that term applies to me.

My work is oft cited by up-and-coming authors when asked who their influences are.

Apparently influencers also receive some sort of stipend. I must look into that.

I was at an award ceremony last night, and it went very well, indeed.

No, I didn't win anything, as I wasn't nominated. I attended through an act of personal charity.

That, and the £15,000 speaking fee (I agreed to a drop in my usual rates as it was quite local and I was able to get home early.)

I'm presenting an award at a rather prestigious gathering, tomorrow. While speaking engagements aren't de rigueur for writers, they do present the opportunity to observe humanity in its unguarded state, and while I object to writers actively researching* for their books this is a different beast.

A writing space should reflect the writer's ambition. I sit at a classic James Shoolbred desk, surrounded by equally elegant antique bookshelves. Behind me is a window that gazes out onto a copse.

Others may choose Swedish flat-pack or other modern monstrosities, but it is reflected in the work.

Editors are useful creatures, but not for editing. They are the funnel through which novel advances are paid and they liaise with other publishing depts.

Any author who uses an editor for the provision of *editing notes* should just finish the book properly before allowing their agent to submit it.

Monty Wisdom, the self-proclaimed finest writer of imaginative literary fiction* currently working, has a new podcast.

You should listen to it.

Note: I *do not* endorse any of the assertions made in this broadcast.

New episodes every week or two...

____
*definitely not science fiction or fantasy

The first episode in my new series, Words of Wisdom, can now be found wherever podcasts can be downloaded.

Here is a link to episode 1: Understanding Agents:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Some authors write part-time, holding down other jobs in order to pay the bills. I believe that to make it as a writer one must commit to it full time. Quit that job! Feed the subsequent pain into your manuscript; it will be all the better for it. Writing is hell. Lean into that.
#wordsofWisdom

You cannot separate the writer from the writing, in much the same way you cannot separate the musician from their music—except "their" music is often created by another, the musician merely *interpreting* the creator's intent. In this way, of course, the writer is the superior talent.
#wordsofWisdom