'Nothing will stop you'

 

“I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.” – Alan Garner

 

Born in Cheshire, England in October of 1934, Garner just celebrated his 90^th birthday by publishing a memoir called Powsels and Thrums.  And despite being a self-professed “procrastinator” it was the writer’s 28^th book to go along with dozens of short stories and essays.

 

There are few writers who wouldn’t agree with Garner’s take on research.  Gathering info. to utilize as the foundation for stories is generally gratifying and fulfilling.  And, of course, most writers are procrastinators by nature – knowing that they should put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard but dreading how things are going to start and where they might lead.

 

Born in the front room of his grandmother’s Cheshire house, Garner grew up in that northwestern English county listening to "the old tales" from his grandparents and choosing it as the setting for most of his books.  Best known for children's fantasy novels and the retelling of traditional British folk tales, his work is firmly rooted in Cheshire’s landscape, history and folklore.

 

While he is noted for his “slow, but steady” writing style his output has been substantial and has earned him almost every major writing award that honors or recognizes literature for young people.

When asked again about that “procrastination thing,” Garner said you have to work to get by it.  “ Look, if you are going to write, nothing will stop you.  And if you are not going to write, nothing will make you.”