I
know that this blog is supposed to be about writing but the film ‘Patrick’ does have
some relevance, so bear with me.
While
on the subject of Patrick, I urge you to watch it. Take the whole family.
Believe me you’ll enjoy it, perhaps in spite of many misgivings. It’s a
brilliantly gentle British comedy in the best tradition of all that’s good in
that genre. The sort of film that amuses, entertains and leaves you feeling
uplifted.
As
I said though, this isn’t a film review column, it’s about writing. So where’s
the relevance?
Here
it is.
I
have found that I possess an inherent reluctance to admit that I’m a writer. I
don’t think that I’m alone in this feeling. Perhaps it’s a fear of being harshly
judged. The response to an admission is usually something along the lines of ‘Oh,
really? Have I heard of you?’ or ‘Are you as good as Stephen King and have you
sold as many books as J K Rowling?’ At least that’s what I hear, even if the
actual words are less specific.
While
on holiday in cloudy Dorset, escaping the rigours of the harsh Lancashire sunshine, I met a lady who said she was a writer. I plucked up the courage to
admit that I was also a writer. She told me she wrote films. I said I wrote
crime thrillers. I told her my name and she went away and bought Due Diligence,
the first Jenny Parker book. Next time I saw her, she told me she was reading
it and enjoying it. Then she invited my wife and I to a special showing of her
latest film, Patrick, where she introduced the leading lady to an audience of
her friends. It was a very good evening and talking to her has given me a
valuable insight into the film world.
I’m
not implying that Jenny Parker is going to be gracing the silver screen any
time soon but I’m very glad I admitted I was a writer because otherwise I
wouldn’t have made this exciting connection.
It takes courage to admit
you’re a writer, I know it does. It takes even more courage to engage with other writers but I strongly advise you to do it.
Meanwhile,
enjoy the movie.
