Manifestos and Muses

Manifestos and Muses.

My novel ‘Bricks’ is a story that has been a long time coming. First novels are, perhaps, like that. The most amazing thing about them is that you ever get them finished. But it is full of things that I wanted to say. Underdogs are good people.

Yes I had things to say. But I didn’t want to labour these things. Like Sam Goldwyn said about messages. They are not for stories. They ‘should be delivered by the Western Union’ (a telegram company). I think if you are telling a story then that is your first responsibility and it is as a story that Bricks should be judged.

But there are things in it that I feel need discussing. As already mentioned, the role of the underdog is one. The ease with which one can develop a hugely destructive alcohol habit and not notice it oneself is another. And for those millions of us who are just men and not heroes yet, another is the ending of our automatic route – masculinity - to respect. Just being a man is no longer enough. Not that it really ever was but…

Gender stereo typing very much needed to change. And the automatic high respect given to males was very wrong and much abused. But for many men, the recalibration process has been brutal. I think that it is probably up to men themselves to sort this out. My two anti-heroes ‘Bobby’ and ‘Bricks’ give it their best shot. Eventually.

So this is an adventure! To e-publish, to self – publish is a fairly new thing. The good thing is that you get to be your own publisher and put your own belief into the promotion of your work. Whatever happens to this edition of Bricks it won’t be remaindered at ‘Bargain books’! Myself and my editor (and very good friend) Andy Lees will be taking advantage of all the extra tools that the internet can provide the modern publisher with, and blogs like this will be a key feature. My novel is first and foremost meant to be an exciting ‘buddy movie type road movie’ romp through Scotland seen though ‘underclass eyes. Though quite how sophisticated that sometimes is may surprise you!

And blogging gives me a wonderful opportunity to outline something of a manifesto without clogging up the storyline with undue sermonising. I once heard the magnificent Sandy Moffat R.S.A.( who painted the ‘Poets Pub’ which hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery) say that it might be helpful if artists published a manifesto to help us better place their work. I agree. And writers too! And so I hope that I can use aspects of ‘Bricks’ as starting points for further discussion, while leaving the story to tell itself.

Of course the modern publishing tools also allow you to get some analysis out there, prior to any (if there is to be any!) other criticism. So there we go! I’m getting my retaliation in first!