The Writing Life

Thoughts along the Writing Journey:

“It took me 15 years to find out that I had no talent for writing, but by then I couldn’t give it up, because by then I was too famous to give up.”
– Robert Benchley

from

https://craigswritingjourney.wordpress.com/

and

https://wanttowriteabook.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/it-took-me-15/

Just published at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012TW7NEM

and the paperback is at  http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Life-Thoughts-along-Journey/dp/1515269027

A book, a “shortie” being written “on the go”

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”

– Ernest Hemingway

from http://www.hemingwaythoughts.wordpress.com

 as “this quickly forgetting total non-techno-geek” has to keep practising on the publishing process

…to make “purrfect” (within his  limited limits)

“I’d like to tell you how wonderful I am. I’m an excellent writer. I’ve won too many awards to list. I’ve sold a bunch of books. I can do 10 push-ups without a break, and while I can’t run a four-minute mile, I can drive it in about a minute and a half…”

from https://craigsbooks.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/id-like-to-tell-you-how-wonderful-i-am-im-an-excellent-writer-ive-won-too-many-awards-to-list-ive-sold-a-bunch-of-books-i-can-do-10-push-ups-without-a-3/

“Life is far too important (a subject) to be taken too seriously”

“Do not go where the path
may lead, go instead where there
is no path and leave a trail.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”

–           Colette

Story of my ‘little life’!

from http://www.craiglockbooks.com

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://goo.gl/vTpjk (and/or http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock)

https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=%22craig+lock%22&sitesearch_type=STORE (paperbacks)

and http://www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/books

All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children –

MINE!

“Together, one mind, one life (one small step at a time), let’s see how many people (and lives) we can encourage, impact, empower, enrich, uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials…and strive for and perhaps one sunny day even achieve their wildest dreams.”

Don’t worry about the world ending today…
as it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand

“A writer’s dreams”

http://www.awritersdreams.wordpress.com

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Craig’s first books. Early (“baby”) steps on the writing journey

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from https://craigsbooklist.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/craigs-list-of-books/

and

http://www.craigswritingjourney.wordpress.com

Pictures (above) Craig’s first five books. Early (“baby”) steps on the writing journey (from 1993)

CRAIG’s BOOKS (Where it all began!)

Posted on February 1, 2011by craiglock

If you want to follow the “long writing journey”, click on https://craigswritingjourney.wordpress.com/

the New Rainbow

BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS BY CRAIG LOCK

Dream on.”sonny boy”!

from http://kiwiswhodaredtodream.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/craigs-books/
Tags: Authors, Craig Lock, Books: Hard copies and e-books:fiction and non-fiction

* Hard copies and e-books: Fiction and non-fiction books, self help, novels on South Africa, “faction”, travel, humour, inspiration, words of encouragement and empowerment, motor racing, Formula 1, Grand Prix drivers

I’ve been writing about my passions since 1993.

1. HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVAL IN THE NINETIES
(now retitled and updated: ‘How to Survive The New Millennium’)

This is Craig’s first book: A collection of writings on various subjects to help every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing, uncertain world… after the “easy living and prosperity” of the seventies and eighties. An introductory look at the concepts of success, motivation, attitude, goal setting and stress

2. THE END OF THE LINE

This is Craig Lock’s first novel. A short novel set in “the beloved country”. A passionate and heart-breaking tale of South Africa, a true story of the bad old days, but with the hope of the new. THE END OF THE LINE “The End Of The Line” could be described as a “faction”, a fiction with a serious factual grounding. It is simple, and therefore moving. It gives yet another highly individual portrait of that troubled land, and it does so through a believable and sustained narrative form.”

3. HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

Craig Lock is an extensive world traveller and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his life’s savings on airfares. He is still ‘sliding down the razor blade of life’, stuck on a deserted (other than a few brilliant rugby players) island at the bottom of the world near Antarctica, where he is ‘trying to throw a double six’ to get off and go out into the real world – but he doesn’t know where!

In the style of Bill Bryson, HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE tells tales of his hilarious hair-raising adventures in his younger years through ‘Grate’ Britain and the Continent

4. THE MAD MONEY BOOK

An introductory guide to make the most of your hard-earned money. This work covers the basics of good money management to helping guide the more serious (and sophistocated) investor.

5.. HOW TO MAKE A MILLION
(even if its only Italian lire!)

We’ll see whether the principles DO work, or whether he’s merely dreaming!

6. DROPPED OUT IN GODZONE

Craig Lock’s humorous travel book about his adventures in provincial New Zealand…
One man and his family – and their experiences “Down Under”.

A new immigrant’s impressions of life in provincial New Zealand (after coming from a large city in South Africa) … and there were one or two rather funny adventures, nay escapades in “Sleepy Hollow” from time to time.

The author and his wife contrast life in colourful, vibrant South Africa with calm and kindly New Zealand – and with large dashes of humour offer much understanding of, and sympathy with the social attitudes of the two worlds.

*

REVIEW:

“DROPPED OUT IN GODZONE is an original and agreeable piece of work. The picture it gives of New Zealand- to one who has never been there- has a ring of complete authenticity. The feeling of the country is relaxed, and perhaps rather unstimulating, but we get an overall impression from the writer that he views his time there with some affection, and above all with tolerance.”

This book breathes a natural humour and kindliness, which is what gives it the individual character that is so appealing.

Autobiography has a particular value as a literary form. It is a shared kind of writing and I’ll continue to bang the drum. It is unusual to encounter two such different manuscripts from the same author. Both (THE END OF THE LINE is the other book) have quality and share an easy and assured writing style that is a pleasure to read. These short books are of first rate quality.”

7. THE NEW RAINBOW

A tale of the many colourful and diverse people in the rainbow nation of New South Africans

*

All these books are available at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock

)    http://goo.gl/vTpjk

(and/or

https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=%22craig+lock%22&sitesearch_type=STORE (paperbacks)

and http://www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/books

All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children –

MINE!

Craig’s first Books (in order of writing)

First steps on “the writing journey”:

“A Long Walk to Freedom and Peace (inner)”

Thanks, Madiba….

your immense generosity (and nobility) of spirit lives on

Making a Writer out of You: How to Get Started in Writing?

Making a Writer out of You: How to Get Started in Writing?

The Writing Journey: Where Did It All Begin?

The Writing Journey: Where Did It All Begin?

from

https://craigswritingjourney.wordpress.com/

and

http://writingcraig.wordpress.com/tag/craigs-letters-to-newspapers/

 

 

 

While he was still manager at NZI Life, Craig decided to fill in some of the long and boring days by doing some research and writing on stress, goal setting, motivation etc. He also wrote a short book on how he became politically aware, which his secretary typed for him. He certainly had a way with words and a real talent for writing. Shortly after this, he was made redundant and just before he left the life insurance company, we purchased a word processor. Doing this was a bit of a gamble, seeing that neither of us knew the faintest thing about word processing. However, his secretary assured us that it would come in extremely useful for his writing. History proved her correct and the word processor is one of the best investments we have ever made.
-m

“Hope springs eternal”

from

An Open Book: My Story, My “little” Life