Ploughing the field

Writing is like ploughing a field. No, really. Well, that's what I was thinking the othe day. You see you start out with a bare patch of land. Then, as you write you begin pushing the plough through the field. Sowing the seeds of your imagination as you go. Sometimes the plough cuts effortlessly through the ground. And it's easy. At others it catches on stones, struggles and sometimes even gets stuck. Leaving your seeds to grow into a half-field or to wither and die. When you look back sometimes you see a endless field of gold. Othertimes you see the furrows aren't quite where you wanted and you have to go back. Realigning the seeds to where you wanted. It's hard work, it can by fulfilling. And sometimes you just end up covered in muck with very little to show. So that's why I think writing is like ploughing.

Ian xxx