Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction, takes just a little away from his need or desire to write at all. In the end he knows all the tricks and has nothing to say. Oh how I can relate to this! Well, more so around writing non-fiction as that's my thing … Continue reading There’s hope for me yet!
Published in ‘Like the Wind’
I attended a fantastic 'Running and Writing' retreat last November. One of our tasks was to write a reflection of our Saturday morning run in Dartmoor. It was a wet, very wet, morning but we all thoroughly enjoyed our romp round the local muddy trails. I chose not to write about the weather, or the … Continue reading Published in ‘Like the Wind’
Back after a while and just testing
Hello folks, it's been a long while since I last posted here and I'm scrambling around to find my bearings! So, this is just a wee test scribble to start me off again. I'm keeping the site really simple. In comparison to other websites it looks like something from the Ark, but I like it … Continue reading Back after a while and just testing
Christmas
Christmas: Being at home with the people we love Wrapping up bundles of socks and gloves Hanging up stockings, no matter our age, Stuffing the turkey with onion and sage Watching The Grinch and a Wonderful Life Glad the day’s past without too much strife… Christmas: Rushing around from here … Continue reading Christmas
Thank you Stephen King
I've been struggling to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, in recent weeks. I didn't understand why until I read the last paragraph of Stephen King's 'On Writing'. It's straightforward. I'd forgotten that it's OK for me just to write, not to have any expectations, just to write, not to know where a particular piece … Continue reading Thank you Stephen King
That list of awful things
So, tonight's the night that I'm joining the 2000 women who were my biggest inspiration for writing 'One Woman's Verses vs Cancer'. That list of awful things that many of them have been through goes some way to explaining why it'll be a privilege to cycle 100km alongside them in the Women V Cancer Ride the … Continue reading That list of awful things
Spreading the word
I stood up in front of an audience of consultants, registrars, junior doctors, medical students and oncology nurses last week and recited two of my poems. I'd been invited along to speak at an Education Day of the Gynae Cancer Managed Clinical Network, which brings together healthcare professionals into a multi-disciplinary team. The Network's responsible for assessment, … Continue reading Spreading the word
Keep Looking Up
'Look Up' by Gary Turk is going viral at the moment. I love it. I'm pleased though that my little poem was published in One Woman's Verses vs Cancer before the video was released. Otherwise I just might have had an accusation of plagiarism to address... Keep Looking Up It’s hard to keep ahead if you keep … Continue reading Keep Looking Up
Happy but not satisfied
I'm delighted that my first little book is being bought. It's not going to be hitting the best sellers list any time soon, but it is being bought. When I was writing it I didn't have a clue how many copies of the finished article I'd sell, but I had a figure of 400 in the back … Continue reading Happy but not satisfied
A little light launch
It's probably not the way that experienced writers or publicists would do it, but the little light launch of my little new book turned out just fine.... Together on the night we raised a fair few pennies for Women V Cancer and, more importantly, got many people talking about the signs and symptoms of three … Continue reading A little light launch