I am writing this on the 23 August 2013, so apologies to anyone who has already been there or is yet to arrive. Not normally an auspicious day you might think. I beg to differ. The truth is that my first ever ‘Parable for the New Politics’ was written and uploaded, exactly one year ago today. That was my first tentative entry into writing some form of serious literature, with a political theme, and aimed squarely at those of my Celtic brothers and sisters who seek independence. I submitted it to a Celtic site here on Facebook, tentatively, for I had a nagging doubt that the imagery portrayed; poor, brave little fishes being confronted by a bigger fish, and being obliged to serve that bigger fish, was not original. I was however, pleasantly surprised to receive a few ‘likes’ and some positive feedback from readers of the story. It seemed that the symbolism had struck a chord. This seemed to set a template – yet, it soon became apparent, I had not (and I maintain, I still do not have, a template for my fables. Another three stories followed in quick succession, using frogs to illustrate Welsh history, a glass of whisky to illustrate the differences in outlook between Scots seeking independence from the Union and those English who sought to retain the status quo, and lastly, Scottie, a cute, talking West Highland Terrier who has to decide whether to seize the butcher’s bone and his freedom or remain tethered to the tight leash of his owner, Jon Bull. When this latest parable appeared (and by now I was emboldened to share them directly on pro-Scottish Independence sites and on the sites of a few ‘friends’ on Facebook) I felt that my stories had ‘arrived.’ People naturally seem to have an affinity with underdogs and maybe also dogs in general. That mix, coupled with the idea that Scottie was of course the representation of an unfree Scotland, increased the number of my likes and also increased the awareness of my tales. Nationalists, particularly, Scottish ones began to ask for more. Yet again, the die was cast. Previously, and as it later proved, my creative juices began to go into overdrive. The curious thing was that none of the 40 parables (that I now have) were planned in anyway, nor was there any research. A chance remark or a grain of a idea would form in my head. All I had then to do was to transmit the idea in a symbolised, creative form on paper. I would hear whole sentences, paragraphs, dialogues, in my head – I had no need of an initial rough draft. I only hoped that I could type as quickly as those phrases remained in my head. So, ideas involving books, clouds, suitcases, ships, wines, trains all came into my head, along with human characters personifying the nations of the United Kingdom. These characters and symbols manifested themselves to me out of some great mist, I know not where, often at the most inconvenient times – whilst showering or about to fall asleep. Yet they all needed to have their stories told, and so they were, and but for the help of Scottish friends in getting dialogues in the correct dialect, and the subsequent editing by other friends, the whole collection is as written. Everything seemed to fit, and the plays on words for human characters always seemed ‘just so’ – a pleasing symphony of sound to their creator, who has in the past year lived with Angus Alba, Catriona from The New Scotswoman magazine, Mrs Scott who undergoes an eye test to see more clearly, Alba Lassie the racehorse, Bunny the independence-minded rabbit and many, many others. I am loath to tell you my favourite story. Along the way, I have picked up more and more friends and readers – and of many and varied nationalities. It is, I feel a strength of the internationalism of my work that these nationalities (and doubtless they are patriots for their own areas too), welcome, approve and commend my stories. Yet for the most part my readership remain a total mystery to me – I know and have met so few of them ‘in the flesh’ yet still my writing is liked. I have been complimented by no less a person than the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, with an additional note that she looks forward to reading more of my work, after I ascribed ‘Angus Alba and his shirts’ to herself as the heroine of this story. The parables remain ‘free at the point of access.’ They are available for downloading, sharing, diffusing, supplementing and complementing any individual nation’s struggle to be free. I said before that I am writing as a Welsh Celt – I can do no other – but it is pleasing to note that Scots, Quebecois, Kosovars, Bretons, Romanians, Americans and many others have signalled their approval for my work. The group is also open so my readers (both current and potential) can pop in at any time and read my parables in any order. A small point may be to some that these stories are not really parables – rather they are stories, or fables or some such. I do not wish to dispute terminology. I would only wish to plead the artist’s defence: I actively sought assonance in my title and also attempt to convey my intention and goal as succinctly as possible. ‘Parables for the New Politics’ suits my purposes admirably in this context. As an anniversary present to myself, I intend to upload anew my stories onto my wall so as to alert new readers as well as remind older ones of my work. In the nature of things, I anticipate feedback. That is, after all what someone typing into the ether craves, and then sees that his or her work has not been in vain. The group itself will continue – the link is at the end of this piece. At some stage, I hope that other media (artistic, animation, film, whatever) will take on board my stories and spread them further. I live in hope that they will be published in book form and in e-book form. I would be delighted if an illustrator were to commend him/herself to me with a view of further promoting my work. But I am getting a bit selfish now. I want to thank my readers who have supported my venture over the past year. I trust I will meet some of you ‘for real’ in the not too distant future. New readers, as previously mentioned are always welcome and their feedback invaluable. Having reached 40 parables, I have entered a state of semi-retirement. But, and knowing how ‘the pull of the ether’ is a potent force, I feel sure that more stories will follow in due course! Keep taking the parables! Onward to freedom!
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:07:37 +0000
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