Finding Your White Whale

 

My most recent distraction from writing comes in the form of short videos, mostly from the USA, which chronicle the success or otherwise of trips to thrift stores.  Women with more time on their hands than myself record their trips to these outlets and allow the viewer to share their treasure-hunting expeditions.

It so happens that I am a big fan of trawling the UK charity shops for bargains and gems.  Truth to tell, while there are treasures to be found, there is also a vast quantity of tat.  Nevertheless, it only takes one prize to make you forget all that other rubbish.

In one particular ‘filmet’ (seems a reasonable term for a short reel), a lady claimed to have discovered her ‘white whale’.  I was intrigued, wondering how she would not only fit it in her trolley but how she would cram it into her car (granted these are significantly bigger across the pond), and where in the world she would put such a thing once she managed to drag it inside her house.  Perhaps it would remain outside as a novelty garden feature?

 It turns out that she was referring to an item she had been eagerly searching for over the past two years: a cut glass punch bowl with matching cups that hang around the edge.  There it was, all carefully wrapped in clingfilm and priced at a mere $8. I won't tell her I found the set below myself in a Goodwill store in California in May.

The only reference I had formerly had of a ‘white whale’ was that elusive marine mammal for which the notorious Captain Ahab searched for for so long in Moby Dick.  To this day, it is the absolute worst novel I have ever read and was completed only by gritting my teeth and determining that I refused be beaten and would get to the end come what may (the result of tenacity and perseverance or bling rage and stubbornness?  I leave that to you to decide).

All that brought, and indeed brings, me to wondering what that ‘one thing’ might be for any of us when it comes to our writing.  

Are you hoping for a script-writers’ Oscar or are your sights set on a more lowly prize?  Maybe to simply (note: not necessarily easily) complete a manuscript you’ve been working on for eons.  Perhaps it’s to have your work included in an anthology, a letter printed in a newspaper or an article in a magazine.  While we’d all love to produce a JKRowling-type of earth-shattering, fan-gathering, block-busting novel – or preferably a series to ensure maximum royalties and the chance that Hollywood comes calling too – reality calls and gently whispers that that may be a whale too far.  

White whales are all very well, but there are dozens of other species which are far more prolific and easier to locate.  It’s great to dream, in fact I encourage it, but rather than self-flagellate to the point that we lose interest as well as heart as the cold water wave of disappointment smacks us in the face, more realistic goals may be the order of the day.

Let’s take heart that ACW provides a good crew of encouragers regardless of where our writing lives have sailed to. I’m still considering what my ‘white whale’ might be but I’d love to hear about yours.  

Jenny Sanders has spent the last twelve years living between the UK and South Africa. She writes faith-inspired non-fiction: Spiritual Feasting (2020) asks how we can ‘feast’ when life serves unpalatable menus; Polished Arrows (2024), explores the allegory of  God shaping us to be fired effectively into our culture and contexts.                 

Jenny also has two published collections of humorous short stories for Key Stage 2 children: The Magnificent Moustache and other stories, and, Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories. She is available for author visits and creative writing sessions in primary schools.  She loves walking in nature, preferably by a river, and has a visceral loathing for offal, pineapple and incorrect use of car indicators on roundabouts.