STEPHEN FRY

Thank you Nitro.
Since Chipmunka took the book on, I've spent a lot of time talking to myself about the value of this writing business. I’m left wondering if it’s all worth it? If you are on the wrong side of not great mental health, then certainly from the cathartic viewpoint, getting your thoughts down on paper can be tremendously valuable. Personally I did lay a lot of ghosts to rest, which was great for me, but it’s not for everyone. You have to be strong enough to stand back from what inevitably spews out when you open the small crack that is the first sentence. On the one hand it beats sitting down and emptying one’s head and pockets with a shrink. On the other hand, the writing can bring out a lot of stuff you might have thought was buried deep enough to keep it hidden, and that in itself can lead someone to seek the help of a ‘professional’ once again. All in all, I’m glad I did it. It also enabled me to declare myself to my friends, most of whom had no idea about my condition, but now they do know, my past all makes sense to them.

If I’m honest I don't think the book will sell well at all. At least it won’t if it’s sold as a book by and about a bipolar person. The subject matter is too much for most people. Although I tried to write it in such a way that it is a long way from being depressing. Certainly there are one or two chapters that would never get read out at a child’s birthday party, but we could say that of just about any of us, be they healthy, bipolar, MD or anything else. I’d love for it to stand alone as it where. I’m not suggesting it’s some great piece of literature, it isn’t, but then neither is a lot of the stuff we see in print today.

My plan, nay hope, is to have a go at adapting the book into a television screenplay. I think the style lends itself to a series. I did something similar many years ago, and the then head of drama at Channel 4 told me why it was pants! I’ve read a couple of books since then, perhaps this time I can give it a better go. It’s a long hope I know, but it might work. Besides, I have little else to do for the next five years except pretend to play at being an office boy. Every working day and week is the same, without any diversion to look forward to. I’ve exhausted Half-Life (the ‘puter game) so it seems to me not at all a bad idea to try to recreate what retrospectively seems a fantasy world that I occupied for so many years. It’ll give me someplace to step into at evenings and weekends.

Shamelessly regurgitating an old post in an attempt to garner interest in my book. Available from Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/22m6vc2 or Chipmunka Publishing - http://tinyurl.com/39pct9z

Nitro

I'm not at all put off by your directness. In fact, I welcome it. Your comments do make sense and you don't look silly.

My comments about whether or not it was worth it refer to the high anxiety I experienced while writing it (bear in mind my earlier post in this thread was written long before the book came out). My moods changed rapidly and I felt I would never finish it, which made my emotions go into overdrive. Now that it is done, and in print, I'm very glad I did. Yes, it could be improved by better editing (true of many books) but I couldn't afford the cost of that and don't know anyone well enough to do it for me.

I have had some feedback and it has been very complimentary, but then again one never knows if people are just being kind. I know it is not perfect, but I wanted it to be and that's really my point. There I go again (self- confidence has never been my strong point). I know that it is not at all a bad book, those that have read it tell me it is quite unique in style and structure, which is good to hear because that was my intention.

As for the TV version, incredibly talented screenwriters like Jimmy McGovern don't half make it difficult for anyone else, so I've abandoned that idea. Instead I'm going to try to get someone like him to read the book and perhaps be inspired to write the screenplay. We live in hope.

Regards
David

P.S. I'll buy you some hair straighteners for Christmas to get rid of those unwanted curls!