Quillography

I guess, for me, writing and happiness will always be intrinsically linked. Without one, I cannot have the other.

I started writing when I was five, working on a blatant Star Wars imitation called ‘The Knights of the Wonga’ on an old green and black BBC computer. My mother was my chief editor, helping me with my grammar, syntax and vernacular, and indulging my exuberance. When she died, I was 14 and I felt I’d lost my talent to write. In its place I gained a desire to not waste a second. Don’t die wondering, die wandering… in wonderment.

So, I started writing about theories I had and ideas I thought would change the world, along with mystery stories about dragons and space; self indulgent drivel meant for no other purpose than to satisfy my desire to write and to fantasise about a world more exciting than my own. I convinced myself I wasn’t going to live to be older than 23. I knew there was a world out there, waiting for me, but I didn’t feel like I could reach it. I couldn’t write until I’d seen it. I wanted to have the stories to make my writing glorious and unique.

Then I joined a band. I was lead singer, and though I couldn’t hit a note to save my life, writing lyrics gave me a new medium in which to utilise words for expression. I became fascinated with how the words connected and related to each other, like people with personalities in a city where your dreams are the Empire States and your fears are the Sewers. Where do you let your words take you? My wonderment for life grew with each day.

I left home aged 16 to try and find adventure. I put experiences before all else, and so dropped out from two colleges. Somehow, despite this, I managed to find a way into university, and was given the opportunity to study the culture of the world and re-discover a medium in which to process this wonderment.

University was tough, and youthful arrogance made me think I was smarter than I was. I spent my semesters at university working full time to make the money to travel every summer, and then I spent those summers working for various media groups and NGO’s in South East Asia and Europe. I loved every moment, and knew then that a life of writing was the only life for me from then on.

After I graduated, I spent the rest of my early twenties experimenting, exploring and exorcising evils. I held down a number of successful if mundane jobs in bars, restaurants, social media and management, before stumbling across a career in teaching. It’s perfect for me, as it gives me the opportunity to hone my craft, indulge my desires of meeting new people and learning new things, and I get the freedom to develop my own story with travel and experience. The best part is now I have plenty of time to write!

Now, I live a pretty quiet life in Taiwan, enjoying the sunshine (but not the humidity) while teaching English to some of the countries coolest kids and working on my debut novel. It’s due out whenever, so watch this space. I hope you like Self Indulgent Murder Mystery Theory novels about Dragons in Outer-Space…

When not teaching or writing, you can find me reading, exploring and travelling.

Books and words captivate me in a way nothing else has ever been able to. Writing is my itch that I cannot scratch, no matter how hard I try. I write and I write, but I always want to write more.

I live to write, and write what I live. Life is a long journey, and I want you to join me.

 

 

© Itchy Quill and ItchyQuill.WordPress.com, 2015