Spinning the Yarn ©
By
Michael Casey
As
I just said I was wondering what to talk about today, when I found an
old piece and I’ve loaded it up so you can all read it while I write
something else. Then I was trying to find the right word, the right
title, and I looked back at my back list, 1300 to 1700 individual
stories or so now, and I spotted a few things, as I don’t want to repeat
myself too much. So then I thought of Spinning the Yarn which is a
phrase my dad used, I’m remembering it from 30 years ago, everything is
filed away in my head and events unlock the sea of words, wrapped in
Love.
I
am very Lucky as I had parents who believed in Total Love, I am a poor
reflection of them, but it means I have a treasure trove of memories and
ideas that lead to stories. Being part of a large family with lodgers
too, means we were a “family” of 13 plus a dog and a cat. Alcoholics
galore leaning on the back door, as they puffed away on a fag as they
paid their weekly rent, holding the lintel for support. Sometimes late
for the rent, and spinning a tale as for the reason why. These memories
go back 55 years maybe, including a struck off female doctor living with
us, my dad carrying down the piss pot to empty it in the outside
toilet. I can remember her and her hair held high like a German barmaid.
As
I remember this or that it is my turn to spin the yarn, I’ve heard many
a tale, and I did read all the Fairy Tales and James Bond when I was 10
or 11. I even put a paper bag cover on the James Bond to hide the
silhouette of a naked woman on its cover. I was still in Primary School
after all and a precocious reader. The sexy bits were boring to an 11
year old, maybe that’s why nowadays I write metaphors instead.
And
on life goes you read all 17 or so of the Alistair McClain novels, you
have a bookcase by your bed with 100 paperbacks in, this is in your
teenage years. Then you listen to Radio 4 and plays galore constantly,
not to mention watching at least 5 films a week. So looking back it’s
inevitable that I’d end up a writer. But you don’t know that at the
time, you just like reading.
So
this is background, you erupt onto the Front of House never working in
Hotels before so that is 3 years more practice talking,talking, talking.
Though in my case my first 3 books had already been written. Then the
irony/joy is that because you have 3 years talking experience this gives
you confidence to later become an Esol teacher. Excellent, excellent,
exemplary was what the assessor said.
Now
the choice of words is probably the only delay in what I say, shall I
choose this or that word, or is this cheap rhyming too absurd. The
choice of word does help spin the tale just as a spider spins a web a
writer a tale teller uses words to help the tell tale. Now here’s the
thing, if I was just sat here talking to you without the filter of
writing down these words then it may not be as interesting. Because the
filter of brain through fingers to keyboard and onto the screen for you
all to read does have an effect on what I say. I think its better.
In
my opinion when writers speak about their words on radio shows on in
the Press then they are diluting the force of their words. They are like
magicians explaining the magic tricks, they are like the big brother
telling their little sister that Santa does not exist. And yes I can
clearly remember my brother sitting on the stairs and sacrificing Santa
before our little sister’s eyes. I can even still hear our mum telling
him off. So I believe a writer should just write or talk as I call it,
and never explain anything. He should read from his book, assuming he is
a good reader, or get a professional reader instead, and that is all he
should do.
So
if you expect me to do book tours, if Rupert Murdoch ever discovers me,
then that won’t happen. Radio is the best medium,and besides the idea
of sitting in a drafty book store signing books, with my bad handwriting
does not appeal. Nor does making vacuous appearances on chat shows. Let
the Words out, let the Voice out, and for me Radio would be that way.
I’ve
just reread what I’ve put so far and it seem too technical when really
how I write is not. I stumbled over a way of describing my writing
yesterday, its writing with hidden SatNav. Because I have a general idea
where I want to go and at the end when I read back what I’ve written or
talked to you about I always seem to have got to where I wanted to be.
It’s like being a homing pigeon in reverse, who always finds a way to
it’s destination.
Our
drunken lodgers always found a way home, even if sometimes they locked
themselves out and we had to let them back in the lodging house. They
had SatNav back to their bedsit with us. So I hope when you all read
these stories you like the trip and like the destination. The good thing
is that there’s always another one the next day or so, depending on my
aches and pains, so that you can hope it’s a funny one or a more serious
one, but each one is always different.
Life
should be full of variety, and there should be no paper covers on
books, we should all should just enjoy uncovering the delights inside.
Life should be fun, and if it isn’t you should try another library. And
as you all remember in It’s A Wonderful Life Jimmy Stewart married the
Librarian, and don’t forget every time a bell rings an Angel gets its
Wings.
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