As I sit here writing, I am listening to the London Symphony Orchestra play Carl Nielsen’s Helios overture, which is a wonderful musical experience, at least from my perspective. This is being played-out on my TV via streaming from Marquee TV. Thus, I am also looking from time to time at the musicians playing their instruments. And what I see on their faces as they play is pure passion for what they are doing.
I have also started reading more again, for pleasure, for study and also for curiosity. Some of that writing has been really striking and, again, full of passion and talent. In other instances, it has been diligent, fully researched, experimental, explorative or humorous. Some of the writing has been from new writers, and other pieces have been from seasoned professionals.
Within Medium, there is a broad spectrum of writing from many talented people, some of whom are boosted and greatly applauded and others making their way. And then, there are people like me, who are not looking to forge a career over the next 30 years or to make a ‘name’ for ourselves, but who just turn-up, sharing what we write, as and when we do so. And Medium allows us to survive and write on this platform, alongside all the big names and promising prospects for the future.
There can be many challenges being on Medium, but also many opportunities and freedoms. For myself, what I am saying is that I would like to focus on the freedoms and opportunities for ordinary people, whilst also appreciating the many talents of those around us.
I primarily use Medium as a blogging platform, and I write from an emotional centre based around Wellbeing, producing varied output across the broad genres of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. I am also engaging in formal study; and occasionally, there is some influence from that which appears here.
For the calendar year ahead, I am largely going to continue doing that, and to be blogging from a Wellbeing perspective on an ongoing basis. I want also to focus on the ‘ordinariness’ of writing, with the belief that any one of us can pick-up a pen and paper and start writing, or grab a keyboard, join Medium and start the journey of writing for our own wellbeing. Whether we stay on that path or become specialised in niche writing, or find ourselves becoming natural poets (not me) or talented in writing fiction (also not me) is something that will be determined over time.
My focus continues to be on the benefits that writing brings to wellbeing. Thus, my daily writing practice is more about exercises, freewriting and journalling than about working on a poetry collection, novel or great work of nonfiction. I do believe that there is room for all of us.
A large part of what I do as a writer is essentially have an emotional response to past, present or (possible) future events. I believe it is a natural part of the human condition, and the basis of our creativity, which began when we were playing as infants. For many of us, that was then largely suppressed until we picked-up a pen, a keyboard, a paint brush, a lump of clay, a musical instrument or started singing, dancing, acting, designing or cooking from scratch again, although some have always done at least one of these.
I am interested in this human condition, this creative urge to show our stories, alongside those who have gone before us. It drives us, channels our creativity and is not about fame or money (although some find that, too), but is more about us making sense of that which we have, are, and are going to, experience in our lives.
With that in mind, and looking forward to what I am going to be doing on Medium during this year, I should also say that I largely live in the past, even if that past was only a few seconds ago. I have been described as ‘dreamer’, ‘head in clouds’, ‘not on this planet’ (alongside some considerably more derogatory descriptions) since I was little. I am very slow and take lots of breaks. I recognise that it can be frustrating for others trying to work-out what I am saying, thinking or doing. I am sorry about the frustration, but I am probably not going to change any of my behaviours.
I believe that we all regularly think about the past, often feeling very negative about our poor experiences more than celebrating our joyous events. I do, however, believe that, for myself, even the poor experiences are worth re-examining.
I am not advocating that for everyone, as I recognise that professional help may be required, if the events of the past were traumatic in any way.
Again, for myself, I have found writing to be useful, whether using the tools of life-writing, poetry or autofiction to explore areas of wellbeing.
And so, I look forward to reading and writing alongside all of you, sharing ordinariness and passion, both; and in the meantime, I wish contentment for the year ahead in both our processes and outcomes, whatever that means for you, personally.
Fraser
January 2025