Not including my doctoral thesis, my honours thesis, any of the assignments I did at University and completely ignoring all of the reports that I have written at work as a biological consultant for Animal Plant Mineral I have written close to 30, 000 words. That is 133, 000 key strikes (not counting deletes or rewrites) written of my own volition.
Why? Because I enjoy it.
I didn't do good in school, but I was good at catching reptiles. I never envisaged that I would spend my days sitting in front of a computer, but with blind luck as my life's liaison officer I ended up working for a biological consulting firm doing exactly that: Sitting in front of a computer entering data and writing reports documenting the field biological surveys I would undertake. As an aside, I found this (the first computer I ever used) in an eclectic little shop in Singapore.
In those early days (still now) one of the greatest gifts I ever got (more good than any other) was the opportunity to learn to touch type. I did (or tried to do) a week long touch typing course paid for by my employer. I sucked at it; really, I did! It was, in fact, Miss Mavis Beacon that saved me. If you want to learn to type good, check her out. Now as my fingers glide across the keyboard like Sally Whitwell (check her out too!! Australia's most amazing pianist) glide across the keys of her Stuart and Sons, writing has become a form of catharsis for me.
Does anybody read it? Not really, but I don't really mind. If what I write is interesting enough, I will slowly pick up an audience. As Kevin Costner once said "If you build it they will come" (actually, he did not say it, the voices in his head said it). And so I write. I write when I can't sleep: I write when I am travelling: I write when I have something to say: I write when I am bored: I write when I am agitated. I genuinely enjoy it.
But write here write now it is another writer who's work I want to share with you. Miss Eva La Demon (@orangebookworm).
She is only 14 - yes, fourteen. Eva also reads prodigiously; to the point that it causes her parents some concern. In her world Vitamin D is a fictional deity and outdoor activities are something that only people like Bear Grylls engage in.
Eva has just started reviewing books on Instagram and the way she captures the essence of the novels she reads is exceptional. For example, in describing her favorite character in the book Strange the Dreamer she writes "He is so well written that reading him watch paint dry would still be exciting." I simply love that line. What's more, she does it within the limitations of Instagram's interface.
Do yourself a favour when next you are searching for a book to read. Check out Orange Bookworm Reviews by clicking the link or searching @orangebookworm on Instagram.
