Do you sometimes find writing hard?
I find good writing hard – and I'm sure that's the case with nearly all professional writers. It's relatively easy to throw words onto the screen or a piece of paper. The hard bit comes when you try to make them the best words in the right order, to include everything that's important, and to exclude everything that's not! That takes time and effort.
And sometimes it takes time, too, to find out what you really want to say. Writing is discovery. That can be exciting – and frustrating. For me, the writing process is often akin to bobbing about in a small boat in the middle of an ocean, looking for an island. I know that the island will appear eventually, if I'm patient – and prepared to revise and rewrite as part of the journey. It's all worth it and very satisfying when it comes right in the end.
I find good writing hard – and I'm sure that's the case with nearly all professional writers. It's relatively easy to throw words onto the screen or a piece of paper. The hard bit comes when you try to make them the best words in the right order, to include everything that's important, and to exclude everything that's not! That takes time and effort.
And sometimes it takes time, too, to find out what you really want to say. Writing is discovery. That can be exciting – and frustrating. For me, the writing process is often akin to bobbing about in a small boat in the middle of an ocean, looking for an island. I know that the island will appear eventually, if I'm patient – and prepared to revise and rewrite as part of the journey. It's all worth it and very satisfying when it comes right in the end.
Why does John Parker write?
Simply, because I want to write and need to write.
I know many people who could be fine writers. They have enviable intelligence, a witty way with words, and plenty of interesting or useful things to write about – but writing stories or poems or plays or articles isn't important for them.
But it is for me. I think it was the American farmer-poet Robert Frost who said that writing is a "stay against mortality." That is, words on a page live on even though the writer is no longer living.
So that is mostly why I chase those thoughts or ideas and try to pin them down in words on paper or on the computer screen. With luck, those words will speak to some reader, even though their writer will have passed on.
And even if the words aren't published, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I wrote about that thought or developed that idea as well as I could.
And, hey, that's worth writing about!
Do you have to write novels or publish books to be called a writer?
At the moment of writing, we are all writers.
The words may not end up in a JK Rowling novel, or be published in a magazine for money, but they're still important. They might be a letter to the editor, a scribbled note in class to a friend, an email, a text message, a note on the fridge door about putting out the cat. They might be a shopping-list, a notice on the dairy window about your stolen bike, a delivery address for the courier, or an ad on TradeMe. That's all writing – and the world is a happier and better place when the words are as clear, helpful and useful as possible.
At the moment of writing, we are all writers.
The words may not end up in a JK Rowling novel, or be published in a magazine for money, but they're still important. They might be a letter to the editor, a scribbled note in class to a friend, an email, a text message, a note on the fridge door about putting out the cat. They might be a shopping-list, a notice on the dairy window about your stolen bike, a delivery address for the courier, or an ad on TradeMe. That's all writing – and the world is a happier and better place when the words are as clear, helpful and useful as possible.
How did John Parker become a writer?
I began at the beginning. I learned to spell and write sentences. And I learned to read.
Good writers - especially professional writers - are almost invariably people who read widely and often. Reading gave me an instinct for the bones and structure of the English language – the rhythms of a sentence and a phrase, the importance of punctuation, the sting and smell and sound of a word.
And the sooner the better. If you want to be good at a sport, start early. Look at Tiger Woods!
It's the same with reading. It doesn't have to be Shakespeare. I read anything and everything: comics, plays, newspapers, magazines, novels, poetry, articles. Some of it's serious. Some of it's fun. The important thing is to read – because it will help you so much with your writing.
Remember, reading and writing go together like fish 'n' chips!
I began at the beginning. I learned to spell and write sentences. And I learned to read.
Good writers - especially professional writers - are almost invariably people who read widely and often. Reading gave me an instinct for the bones and structure of the English language – the rhythms of a sentence and a phrase, the importance of punctuation, the sting and smell and sound of a word.
And the sooner the better. If you want to be good at a sport, start early. Look at Tiger Woods!
It's the same with reading. It doesn't have to be Shakespeare. I read anything and everything: comics, plays, newspapers, magazines, novels, poetry, articles. Some of it's serious. Some of it's fun. The important thing is to read – because it will help you so much with your writing.
Remember, reading and writing go together like fish 'n' chips!
I've scratched my head till it hurts, but I still don't know why you ask John Parker questions about writing. He's just a guy who's mean with meat. I, on the other hand, am a fascinating feline. So here are some answers to all the questions I know you're dying to ask me.
Does John Parker give you enough to eat?
He only feeds me twice a day! The cruelty of it! As a result, I'm forced to sleep all day. I'd write a letter to the SPCA but he hides the pens.
He only feeds me twice a day! The cruelty of it! As a result, I'm forced to sleep all day. I'd write a letter to the SPCA but he hides the pens.
Can John Parker swivel his ears like you?
From my observations, I don't think he can swivel anything. Hopeless!
From my observations, I don't think he can swivel anything. Hopeless!
Does John Parker reward you for being such an inspiration to him?
Don't make me all bitter and twisted. The man hasn't a grateful bone in his body.
Don't make me all bitter and twisted. The man hasn't a grateful bone in his body.
Do you find John Parker irritating?
He has this habit of going out every now and then and having a cup of coffee with some writing mates. He then has the cheek to pick me up and put me outside - usually when I'm on my favourite sofa and dreaming about being in a butcher's shop. Unbelievable!
He has this habit of going out every now and then and having a cup of coffee with some writing mates. He then has the cheek to pick me up and put me outside - usually when I'm on my favourite sofa and dreaming about being in a butcher's shop. Unbelievable!
Is John Parker any good at writing?
Are you kidding? The man has as much talent as a dead mouse. I tapped away on his keyboard the other day and guess what came out? Flambangpicklypoo! Anyone can do it!
Are you kidding? The man has as much talent as a dead mouse. I tapped away on his keyboard the other day and guess what came out? Flambangpicklypoo! Anyone can do it!
What do you think of John Parker's wife?
Wonderful! She calls me 'Cuddly-wuddly cheeky-chops!' She's sooooo nice! I don't know why she married him.
Wonderful! She calls me 'Cuddly-wuddly cheeky-chops!' She's sooooo nice! I don't know why she married him.
Anything you think John Parker's readers should know about him?
Hey, I thought this was about me? But since you ask, he sneaks spoonfuls of honey when he thinks I'm not looking. Plus, he wears beanies on his head in the winter because his cranium has no fur. Pathetic!
Hey, I thought this was about me? But since you ask, he sneaks spoonfuls of honey when he thinks I'm not looking. Plus, he wears beanies on his head in the winter because his cranium has no fur. Pathetic!
