It’s why I am slowly hating The Guardian more and more. So unbelievable out of touch with the actual world. Amazing investigative journalism but only 5% of the paper belongs in reality.
You and me both, my friend, as you know, and even worse, I had this whole idea I had to DO IT ALL MYSELF as that was the only authentic way, little realizing how much help and support many successful writers had. My only consolation is that if I'd married someone in the kind of profession who could support us both, I'd have probably become so bored by him I would have had to smother him in his sleep. (On the other hand, no worries in prison about rent and food, and plenty of time to write. Hmmm.)
Eek... I hadn't actually considered prison as a way to become a full time writer. Will have to think about my criminal tendencies now! I could have married someone rich, got horribly bored and murdered him, and wrote a novel in prison.
A couple of things leap to mind here… in the U.K. so surely it’s a skip fire??
And don’t get me started on this… as Phoebe Waller-Bridge has acknowledged, she had the luxury of being able to write Fleabag because of her circumstances. And it’s not just books - journalism is more and more middle class. You would not get started the way I did now, not when there are fucking dickheads willing to do three years of unpaid internship and publishers willing to let them.
Writing is less and less (fewer and fewer?) a working class pursuit. Because how can you when your every waking moment is devoted to not fucking sinking?
Excellent comedy in the shires. (Not so strong on UK geography so excuse any errors.) If you make it into a novel, Writer's Exchange, first text out in the fall, will publish it. Keep up the good stuff.
Georgina, I'm a yank so take that into account, but that was the most truthful and hilarious piece I've read in a very long time. Absolutely loved it. - Jim
Brillig piece. However I am middle class or once was, I certainly have a posh voice and there is no way I can afford to write either, unless I make my family homeless to stoke my vocation! It would be good to have been the sort of middle class that routinely bumped into agents and publishers at parties but somehow that didn't happen; the bumping or the parties that is!
You're clearly not posh or rich enough! Yes, would have been good to have been born into that sort of world. When I was growing up I was constantly embarrassed by the fact that my main interests were reading and writing. It was not cool and certainly not for the likes of me!
I know... I'm being all carefree with the categories of posh and rich, like I'm not even British or something! Unacceptable elision of the strict definitions of class and status that the King insists upon.
Actually u may be surprised, I know I was when I first played golf.
Apart from being completely, utterly exhausted having seemed to have taken days to trudge around 18 blinkin' holes, and trying vainly not to gouge giant non au fait holes, er, divots, anyone ?, I was surprised - to find the club reminded me of the last time I was in Jarrow, at a 'working men's' club, on a big '80's night out.
Crisps & a half pint, ultimately went down very nicely, the seats were comfy, and the view of the golf pitch, just cracking.
Even had a wildlife border, although I must admit, I didn't test the organic status of the turf.
As to the Guardian, how many designer hand bags does one need, I wonder.
You might be right, Nancy! I've nurtured this prejudice against golf all my life but maybe I should get over it and embrace the thrills it has to offer!
Yes! I'm wading through it all at the moment and getting distracted with other ideas and themes, but I will put some of my 'chapters' on here eventually, so they get an airing.
'I’ve often berated myself for not having made a plan for my life. But the truth is that I actually did have a plan from very early on. It just wasn’t a very good one'. Story of my life.
It’s why I am slowly hating The Guardian more and more. So unbelievable out of touch with the actual world. Amazing investigative journalism but only 5% of the paper belongs in reality.
Just my opinion, obv.
Oh I agree. The Guardian is virtually unreadable at this point.
Luckily they don’t like me much either so it balances out.
Their loss!
You and me both, my friend, as you know, and even worse, I had this whole idea I had to DO IT ALL MYSELF as that was the only authentic way, little realizing how much help and support many successful writers had. My only consolation is that if I'd married someone in the kind of profession who could support us both, I'd have probably become so bored by him I would have had to smother him in his sleep. (On the other hand, no worries in prison about rent and food, and plenty of time to write. Hmmm.)
Eek... I hadn't actually considered prison as a way to become a full time writer. Will have to think about my criminal tendencies now! I could have married someone rich, got horribly bored and murdered him, and wrote a novel in prison.
A couple of things leap to mind here… in the U.K. so surely it’s a skip fire??
And don’t get me started on this… as Phoebe Waller-Bridge has acknowledged, she had the luxury of being able to write Fleabag because of her circumstances. And it’s not just books - journalism is more and more middle class. You would not get started the way I did now, not when there are fucking dickheads willing to do three years of unpaid internship and publishers willing to let them.
Writing is less and less (fewer and fewer?) a working class pursuit. Because how can you when your every waking moment is devoted to not fucking sinking?
Yep! Yes to all of this and you're right about the bin fire 🔥
Excellent comedy in the shires. (Not so strong on UK geography so excuse any errors.) If you make it into a novel, Writer's Exchange, first text out in the fall, will publish it. Keep up the good stuff.
Thank you, James!
Georgina, I'm a yank so take that into account, but that was the most truthful and hilarious piece I've read in a very long time. Absolutely loved it. - Jim
Thank you, Jim! That makes me happy to hear, even taking your yankness into account!
Solid work 🙏
Brillig piece. However I am middle class or once was, I certainly have a posh voice and there is no way I can afford to write either, unless I make my family homeless to stoke my vocation! It would be good to have been the sort of middle class that routinely bumped into agents and publishers at parties but somehow that didn't happen; the bumping or the parties that is!
You're clearly not posh or rich enough! Yes, would have been good to have been born into that sort of world. When I was growing up I was constantly embarrassed by the fact that my main interests were reading and writing. It was not cool and certainly not for the likes of me!
This is brilliant Georgina. I was going to pick out a favourite bit but there are too many!
Thanks, Wendy! That's awesome to hear!
Golf is a game for the wealthy rather than the posh. Bruce Forsyth rather than a random earl.
I know... I'm being all carefree with the categories of posh and rich, like I'm not even British or something! Unacceptable elision of the strict definitions of class and status that the King insists upon.
On the other hand your dad was right that it’s largely for cunts.
Haha I have always taken my dad's advice and avoided golfers so for all I know they could be lovely!
Actually u may be surprised, I know I was when I first played golf.
Apart from being completely, utterly exhausted having seemed to have taken days to trudge around 18 blinkin' holes, and trying vainly not to gouge giant non au fait holes, er, divots, anyone ?, I was surprised - to find the club reminded me of the last time I was in Jarrow, at a 'working men's' club, on a big '80's night out.
Crisps & a half pint, ultimately went down very nicely, the seats were comfy, and the view of the golf pitch, just cracking.
Even had a wildlife border, although I must admit, I didn't test the organic status of the turf.
As to the Guardian, how many designer hand bags does one need, I wonder.
Not nearly enough, it seems. 🙃
You might be right, Nancy! I've nurtured this prejudice against golf all my life but maybe I should get over it and embrace the thrills it has to offer!
Love this! Reminds me of this summer as I spent two weeks in Primose Hill ‘writing’. I felt like a character in a Richard Curtis film.
Love to Quentin
Oh thank you! And that sounds like quite an experience! What were you writing?
Well ostensibly a memoir, but that's before I discovered Substack, which I'm finding to be more fun :)
Substack is great fun! Lots of memoirists on here too, as I'm sure you've found.
Yes! I'm wading through it all at the moment and getting distracted with other ideas and themes, but I will put some of my 'chapters' on here eventually, so they get an airing.
Excellent :)
This was hilarious - and devastatingly accurate.
Thanks so much!
'I’ve often berated myself for not having made a plan for my life. But the truth is that I actually did have a plan from very early on. It just wasn’t a very good one'. Story of my life.
How were we to know? Lol
🤣👏🤣👏
Thank you!
You're welcome😊
An opinion shared by many, for a while now, starting, I suppose, with their betrayal of Assange and embrace of the B Gates legacy empire project.