Writers Attachment National Theatre Studio

I’ve started my writers attachment at The National Theatre Studio, This is my first week of eight.

I’ve arrived late and disorganised. I can’t find a pen to sign in and my bag strap breaks with the weight of all my crap as I dig around for one hiding underneath old tissues and receipts and notebooks and papers. I’m handed a pen.

I’m shown around by Lucy. I have an office. With a window. And a computer which I try to sign into for the first hour of my day before finally giving in and phoning for help.

And then I sit and look at the screen. And the wall. And the window.

And the wall. And the window. And then the screen.

I have a chair, with wheels so I twirl around a bit in that. And then I look at the window. And the wall and back to the screen.

I chew a bit on my pen and then realise it’s the one I was handed at reception. I put the pen down.

Opposite my office is another office. It has a light on and the back of a person in it. The person has a guitar. Again I’m twirling in my chair.

My screen has gone to sleep.

I notice a button on the wall in my office that has no sign around it and I have no idea what it is. I want to press it. I know I should leave it but now I’ve noticed it I have to press it. Nothing happens.

I hear the door open of the office behind me and I turn and see the back of a cardigan leaving the room.

I have a wander. Make a cup of tea. Lots of people are milling around.

The two spaces are full of artists developing ideas. A writer whose plays I’ve bought from Amazon smiles as she passes me. I pass the War Horse office, nose around the archives room, take in the pictures of familiar artists.

Back to my office and look at the screen. I start to write.

P.S. Dirty Protest meets Artes Mundi Thursday 10th Jan

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Comment by Katherine Chandler on January 11, 2013 at 16:21: Thanks Louise, It is weird isn't it. Now I've got my bearings a bit I'm going to walk it out! Lovely to hear from you, we need to do that coffee.x

Comment by Louise Osborn on January 11, 2013 at 14:33: I loved this blog. I'll do almost anything to avoid the blank page - clean the fridge, pull up weeds - before Christmas I even found myself clearing the gulley in the street of leaves... then somehow the time is right and it's possible to start. Weird old business the writing thing.

Delighted that your career is going so well Kath. x

Comment by Katherine Chandler on January 11, 2013 at 12:26: Yes! I'm extremely well fed! x

Comment by Sarah Argent on January 11, 2013 at 10:51: Delighted that the end of this is "I start to write" - and hope the lunch recommendations were useful!!

Comment by Katherine Chandler on January 9, 2013 at 19:05: Will do (March sometime I think) x

Comment by Iain Robert Goosey on January 9, 2013 at 14:43: Sounds like the creative juices are flowing. Hope you enjoy! Let me know if there's any showing : )

Comment by Katherine Chandler on January 9, 2013 at 13:37

Thanks John x

Comment by John McGrath on January 9, 2013 at 12:41: not sure why that turned into number 1 in a list! will have to come up with a number 2 thing to say now!