I've spent a good part of my life writing to command. Not so much commissions, more like coursework. News stories (with accompanying full colour crayon drawings) about what I did at the weekend, 1000 words about the role of loyalty in King Lear, 2000 words about spaces of 19th french society.. Stories, though allowing an obvious freedom, were sometimes more difficult - what to write, how to open, how to end.
I like words. Really long words like 'antidisestablishmentarianism' and short words like 'fuck'. I've definitely been shallow enough to form an opinion of someone on the basis of the success or failing of a pun. Even though my job involves 'communications' as a central tenet, I never find myself being able to get further than a variation of the same 3 line emails (invariably starting with 'hope you're well' to people I've never and will probably never meet) . writing long tracts about anything is definitely novel.
I think this is a roundabout way of working this out.
That's not to say I can't write, and that's entirely the point. I can, but when presented with the opportunity for 'no holds barred', I'm drawing a blank. It's like when someone asks you to name your favourite films and your head instantly empties at that precise moment.
An article the other day said to write about what you're passionate about. For me, that includes an almost fascist attitude to correct grammar, cruz beckham's fancy dress outfits, the right amount of pillows to ensure maximum sleep, the slow walk of London tourists, Dan Flavin, the perfect Earl Grey tea, ensuring I have a different striped t-shirt for every day of the rest of my life, Paris, the Hayward Gallery and many things that fit (awkwardly) in between, if I put my mind to it.
Um, I guess that's solved then.
the bad: I came out of another frantic meeting to discover I'd drawn the above. 