February 10th

Should we shun the siren's song of social sights?

Sirens from Greek history were beautiful half-woman, half-birdlike creatures who sang such sweet songs that listeners forgot everything and died of hunger. The Sirens are mostly mentioned by Greek poet Homer in his Epos "Odyssey", where the Sirens encounter Odysseus and his companions on their journey back to the island of Ithaca. The Sirens were expecting Odysseus’ arrival and immediately started singing. Odysseus prepared for the situation by telling his companions to put wax in their ears and bind him strongly in the boat’s mast and to not free him despite his begging. This way, Greek hero Odysseus was able to escape from the temptation and continue his long journey to Ithaca.

I loved that book Odyssey as a teenager. I wonder how many teens read it now.

---

Yesterday, someone commented on the 'siren song' of the internet dragging them away from writing. I must admit to the same thing happening to me ever since I began a two-week long blog tour with four other authors. Torn between reading the forthcoming schedule for that, several groups' activities and writing my blog, the morning is nearly over before I've resumed editing my current novel.

And yet, we are advised to create an online presence to draw attention to our name, which should affect book sales in the long run. Well, I haven't reached the end of the road. So far, I've seen no results. I hold on to the hope that, by remaining true to my goal, I'll achieve my aim.

Meanwhile, a comet is heading for Earth. The asteroid with the destructive power of a hydrogen bomb will hurtle past Earth next Friday. It will come within 17,000 miles, 14 times nearer the Earth than the moon. I hope it will be a near miss.

I've written a draft on a new novel set in 2027 where a comet hits our planet and changes England's future. I pray it doesn't happen. Best if get on with writing so I finish the final draft before the fantasy comet hits in only 15 years time. I should lash myself to the helm of a ship like Odysseus or the Captain's daughter in the Hesperus.

Partial quote from the Wreck of the Hesperus:

"He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat
Against the stinging blast;
He cut a rope from a broken spar,
And bound her to the mast. ~~

"O father! I hear the church-bells ring,
Oh say, what may it be?"
"'T is a fog-bell on a rock-bound coast!" --
And he steered for the open sea. ~~

"O father! I hear the sound of guns,
Oh say, what may it be?"
"Some ship in distress, that cannot live
In such an angry sea!" ~~

"O father! I see a gleaming light,
Oh say, what may it be?"
But the father answered never a word,
A frozen corpse was he. ~~

Lashed to the helm, all stiff and stark,
With his face turned to the skies,
The lantern gleamed through the gleaming snow
On his fixed and glassy eyes. ~~

Then the maiden clasped her hands and prayed
That savèd she might be;
And she thought of Christ, who stilled the wave
On the Lake of Galilee." ~~

The advice I give to you as well as myself is to concentrate on the target. It may be establishing a presence, selling a product, developing writing skills or sharing ideas, recipes or knitting etc. Whatever your aim, resist the siren call and remember your goal.