Starting with a blank piece of paper is like coming from nowhere. Coming from nowhere implies a journey, a destination, planned arrival time, schedule of stopovers.

You’re going from nowhere to somewhere.

But the difference with writing is that somewhere could be anywhere. And nowhere is actually somewhere because a starting point is just where your life has taken you so far.

So maybe writing is going from somewhere to anywhere.

But maybe I am getting too philosophical.

Maybe it is not about the destination but about the journey.

But maybe that is a terrible cliché!

The truth is the best type of writing is starting with a blank piece of paper and just writing, like improvising on the guitar or singing a silly song you’ve just made up, letting what is inside tumble out with only just enough discipline to ensure it is readable, translates into a damn good story.

So where does this ‘coming from nowhere’ concept come from? Well, I’m not known as a writer but that doesn’t make me any better or worse than the next writer in line. Some poor authors get very well known. Don’t ask me who, because I don’t want to make any more enemies, but you probably have your own ideas.

Likewise, I expect some excellent ones stay in nowhere all their lives, either happy with their lot or frustrated, angry at the system.

My first book, just released, ‘2024: A History of the Future’ made it into the top five thrillers most requested on a recent Goodreads giveaway. It is self-published, like many are, so no help from a fat marketing budget. It ‘sold’ on its appeal, its racy and topical story lines and the great cover by Bookbeaver, which encapsulates the themes and essence of the book to perfection.

I think that is going from nowhere to somewhere.

I just don’t know where.