The Evolution of Fennel's Journal - Part 4
The Fennel's Journal series of books began life as handwritten letters. This series of eleven blogs tracks the development of the letters into what we know today.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
1999-2001: Fennel writes in private
The late nineties and early naughties were difficult times for me. I was reeling from the shock of financial 'challenges', which resulted in a workaholic career drive that didn't accommodate gentle persuasions such as creative writing. I was also battling intense shyness following Chris Yates' request for me to write a regular column in Waterlog magazine. I'd bottled it, declining his offer, but couldn't hold it in. So I decided to write in private, proving to myself that I could 'produce the goods' as a writer if required.
3.8 million words written in three years
I wrote intensively during this period, writing 3,500 words per day without fail, amassing more than 100 notebooks of ideas and over 1,000 completed articles. Some of this has sinced formed three fishing books in the Fennel's Journal series: Wild Carp, Fly Fishing and Traditional Angling. And there's a lot held in reserve.
Here's one of the final things I wrote as Fennel, before circumstances encouraged me to write about other things and forget myself. It would be 2006 before I could write in this vein again.
If you like this blog, you'll like Fennel's book A Writer's Year.
You might like the video of The Fennel's Journal Story.
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