Why did I go?
Beyond nurturing a few wild – and frankly, totally unrealistic – hopes and dreams, why did I go to the Frankfurt Book Fair this year? I promised, last year, that I would not go again, and have renewed that promise following my visit in 2018. But my mother knows me better… Now, perhaps I should just say, We shall see…
But beyond witnessing the sheer scale of the event, what conceivable reason would I have for bothering? Why not just stay at home, put my feet up and have a well-earned rest?
Firstly, planning to go to Frankfurt, making the effort and paying for it all, I have been forced to take my work seriously, and work hard to present it, effectively and in such a way that someone else might actually enjoy reading it. The focus of having a fair to work towards has been essential, to force me to write, get organised and plan efficiently. Without that discipline, I would probably still be dreaming about finishing Book 1 in my fiction series. As it is, I have finished Book 2 and am now well on the way with Book 3 which I hope to have completed as a full working draft by the time the London Book Fair 2019 rolls around in March. Going to book fairs is, I realise, my work equivalent of a business deadline or a demanding boss, which I need to give my work focus and clarity.
Secondly, I am forced to deal with people in what is in other circumstances a fairly isolated and lonely occupation. I am forced to make myself understood, to ask for what I want and to explain my reasons to doing what I do, to a bunch of otherwise fairly hard-headed individuals. All of which helps to thrash out my real motivations, and to hone my self-belief. Belief is the mother of reality.
Thirdly, there are times when I really need a rest, and if going to Frankfurt will allow me time off to get away from the hamster-wheel of my life – which, I fully admit, it is up to me to make more exciting – then it’s worth doing. I come home and immediately my appreciation for the comforts and companionship of the joys of home also gets a welcome boost. Sometimes a thing is too close to see properly. Perhaps, three days of almost total silence in the midst of a veritable hive of activity – as strange and at times unsettling contradiction – is useful to remind me what matters.
Please share:
October 29, 2018 @ 5:06 pm
And that means you should go again, Fran. It must be exciting and energising to be there, despite the silence amid the bustle. Good for you! You go, girl! It’s a great experience, a reason for an away stay that could, possibly, bring rewards, and at the very least, new ideas!
November 7, 2018 @ 2:05 pm
Val, thank you so much for this comment. Yes, I may go again. We shall have to see what the next few months bring. (After the London Book Fair in March next year, I’ll know whether I’m going again, and shall book then.) The main concern I have is to reduce the weight I carry, so I’ve a while to ponder that! 😀 Take care! xx
October 30, 2018 @ 6:06 am
So, you are going again. One needs a break from everyday routine and doing something for a change and give it not only three but all that are there in the world.
It was good to read your this article of your. Enjoyed it<
November 7, 2018 @ 2:06 pm
Dear Wadjih, thank you so much for your comments. These are so encouraging to me. I shall see, next year, whether I am going again to Germany. It depends on what else might be happening. I’m so glad you read my blog post and enjoyed it. Thank you.