Dawdling Fish

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It’s time for Rory’s Garden Dawdler again — nine questions posed once a week for our answering pleasure. And now is as good a time as ever to introduce the new members of the fish crew. I’m afraid we had some bad luck and were down to our last four fish so we replenished. Hope they can do better this time.

THE GARDEN DAWDLER — Q&A

Do you think it helps or hinders a writer from having a big ego?
I guess both. I do think that it takes a level of confidence to put yourself out there as a writer and some aspect of an ego translates to confidence. However, I think great writing often requires empathy and understanding of the human condition. If one is too self-centered then they may lack the curiosity to understand and write interesting characters or from diverse perspectives.

How often do you read your blog from an outsider’s perspective?
Never. I consider the reader while writing my blog, but I almost never go back to re-read my blog work unless I’m pulling content for one of my books. For me, my blog is very much a place to write freely and I chose not to overthink it.

How do you view your blog (Rory views his as an allotment garden)?
A bit of a journal together with note/sketch pad.

What’s the first book you ever remember reading way back when?
It wasn’t the first book I ever read, but it was one of the earlier ones that left a big impression on me: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Jester. The protagonist, Milo, was so relatable and it felt like I was right there on the adventure with him. I loved the play on words throughout the novel as well as the simple, but compelling illustrations.

Were you ever read to as a child, and by whom?
Yes, I was read to plenty by my Mom before I learned to read myself. I recall mostly picture books like Where the Wild Things Are and Curious George. But if my recollection is correct, once I learned to read I mostly read to myself. I was an avid reader and often read late into the night under the covers.

Where do you like to read? At home on the couch? Whilst traveling? In bed? Where?
I like to read outside in the garden as long as the weather is favorable. As a kid I loved to read in bed, but now I tend to fall asleep if I try.

What are the most significant barriers to your creativity?
I can’t think of any specific barriers to my creativity from an idea point of view (I rate myself very curious and pretty creative). I definitely have barriers in terms of creative talent (e.g. writing/drawing technical skills) that hinder my ability to render my idea. But that just means I need to get creative on how to express my ideas even when I lack the specific skills.

Do you thing blogging is essential, and if you do, why?
Writing is very important to me. It gives me an expressive outlet and helps my mental health enormously. Is blogging essential? No, but I greatly appreciate having the opportunity to both create and share my work.

There are many benefits to blogging; however, what are the three top downsides of blogging, in your opinion?
The way I blog I would say the biggest downside is that I don’t work on my writing enough before putting it out there. I rarely sit on something in draft form and go through the level of rework necessary to truly develop my writing craft. Second is that I look for feedback/response (likes and comments) and if I don’t get any then I feel a level of disappointment. Third is that it takes a lot of my creative time and energy that I could be putting into crafting something more substantial (to me) such as my next book.

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Thanks Rory for the interesting questions as always. I look forward to reading everyone’s responses.

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Be well,

Monty

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• Horizon
• Wound Up
• Playful