The Most Precious Currency

I have a pet hate which is a cardinal sin, an affront to civilisation, and a capital offence, all at the same time.

(Now that’s pretty bad!)

I was talking about it as part of an interview I did on my new book, The Editor, with the lovely Suzie Thorpe on Cambridge105 Radio last week. 

As a perceptive inquisitor, she asked where the ideas for my books come from.

The answer to that was simple...

Absolutely anywhere and everywhere.

Ideas are all around us, and can come calling at the most unexpected moments.

In the shower, whilst asleep, driving, cycling, eating breakfast, watching a film at the cinema, just any time and anywhere.

But if ideas are going to be so generous as to join us at the slightest notice, I strongly believe we should treat them with the greatest respect.

Because everything - just everything - starts with the idea.

Not only a book, but absolutely darned well everything.

From smart phones to Stonehenge, Saint Paul's Cathedral to Spitting Image, flying machines to fruit machines and fantasy role-playing games.

The idea is all. Without ideas there is no progress, no innovation, no hope, no future, no humanity.

(Yes, I am fond of ideas, to say the least.)

So back to that pet hate...

It’s losing an idea.

Having one visit you, committing to remember it, and then failing to do so.

I hate that so much, more than just about anything else, even more than lumpy custard, people not wiping down machines after them at the gym, and phone zombies.

But seriously, ideas are precious.

So my small insight/recommendation/attempt to do my little bit to help our society along for this blog is simply…

Always keep a notebook handy. It’s losing an idea. Having one visit you, committing to remember it, and then failing to do so.

I hate that so much, more than just about anything else, even more than lumpy custard.

But seriously, ideas are precious.

So my small insight/recommendation/attempt to do my bit to help our society for this blog is simply this…

Always keep a notebook handy.

I do, and it’s full to bursting of lovely ideas, for teaching, writing, even down to tweets.

I hate losing ideas and have made it my mission not to.

 

PS. If you're interested, you can hear the interview with Suzie here Simon on Cambridge 105 and more about the new book The Editor here.