In reality someone who isn’t wasteful, reuses things and appreciates the world around them, but never thinks of themselves as an environmentalist, is much better for the environment than someone who is wasteful, decadent, and in practice shows scant regard for the world around them, but thinks of themselves as an environmentalist.
Author: Robert Campbell
Social Media Works – the odd time!
The story is about someone who worked extremely hard over a very long period of time. It is about someone who loved and believed in their creation. It was about someone who wouldn’t give up.
New Kids Book “Captain Timmy & the Bobbing Barrel”
I’ve got that, “it’s nearly finished feeling!” I’m about a week or so away from ordering an authors proof of Captain Timmy & the Bobbing Barrel! I’m really that close to the line - whoop, whoop! Normally at this point I’m thinking about what to do next, and I do have a few things in … Continue reading New Kids Book “Captain Timmy & the Bobbing Barrel”
Act pro with your time – Hard Truths For Writers
Life speaks to every person who would make, create, design, paint, illustrate, sign write; who would be an author, a writer, a poet, a composer, a singer, a musician, a performer; but will we listen, and then will we do?
How Helpful is Men’s Self Help?
I’m not sure how helpful mens self help is. Specifically that which exists within the hierarchical structure of social media. These influencers were perfect fits: they looked right, they sounded right, and they understood the system. Some have a genuine interest in trying to help others, some wanted to tell their own story, some used … Continue reading How Helpful is Men’s Self Help?
Ashamed
Someone said to me lately I was very open about my dyslexia. I probably am, but I couldn’t help thinking: why?
Residual Ulster Scots
The following article was written in January 2021. This is before the publication of ‘Lock Doon Poyams.’ Over the last while I’ve been suffering from a wild dose of imposter syndrome. Two things have done it. If you would have told me a year ago I’d be on the radio [on Kintra] reading one of … Continue reading Residual Ulster Scots
Writing with Dyslexia
So what’s it like being a dyslexic writer? I wanted to write a sharp, witty, cathartic piece. “My journey through dyslexic writing” kind of thing. But straightaway I ran into a problem, a really big one, I haven’t a clue what it’s like not being dyslexic. When there’s a point of comparison, you can understand … Continue reading Writing with Dyslexia
Poems and Music
The greatest song lyrics are poems. The lyrics tell stories. The music and words transport you to another realm, to another place, another state of mind. Words and music are a magical combination.
Hard Truths For Writers – loss of motivation
I haven’t written a “hard truths for writers” post in ages. There’s a lot of water under the bridge since the last one, life changing stuff, not as bad as it could have been, but totally transformative. This time I want to think about: a lack of motivation, a loss of motivation, a waning motivation, … Continue reading Hard Truths For Writers – loss of motivation
Rise up the hands dyed with ink.
Donald Rumsfeld, when talking about Iraq and W.M.Ds (weapons of mass destruction), in February 2002, the then U.S. secretary of defence, told us there are, "unknown unknowns". Anyhow, the full quote reads. "Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know … Continue reading Rise up the hands dyed with ink.
A 7 year old, COVID-19, PIMS and ICU For Christmas.
To ad-lib “COVID-19 is very dangerous”. Well COVID-19 isn’t very dangerous for everyone but can be very dangerous for some people! Covid-19 went round our house, I had a bit of a temperature and was tired for a while. Without a positive PCR result, I’m not sure we would have noticed that our youngest child … Continue reading A 7 year old, COVID-19, PIMS and ICU For Christmas.
Hard Truths For Writers – Momentum and Traction
Momentum and traction aint the same thing! I can create momentum, I’ve got a system, a routine that works, that works for me, up at twenty past five (every single morning), dressed and teeth brushed straightaway (every single morning), coffee maker turned on and sit in silence for five or ten minutes (every single morning), … Continue reading Hard Truths For Writers – Momentum and Traction
Hard Truths For Writers – Writing and Selling
Okay, here comes a slightly controversial opinion, writing a book isn’t that hard. Anyhow that’s what I’ve found. But quickly I need to add, that doesn’t mean it’s easy or takes no effort, because it is gruelling, and takes copious amounts of time.
Bugs and Books Launches (29/11/21)
I’ve had Covid, it wasn’t really that bad, I was only at mild flu level. But the tiredness and fatigue was unreal. The bigger problem was it being in the house for a wee bit over three weeks. That was, and for a few more days is a problem. Normally I’m very organised, active and … Continue reading Bugs and Books Launches (29/11/21)
James Finlay Bruce – Videos
James Finlay Bruce – interview
Tales Frae the life o James Finlay Bruce What inspired you to write Tales Frae the life o James Finlay Bruce? I’ve always been interested in place, in history, in what people do. In Northern Ireland there’s two great living history museums, the Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra and the Ulster American folk park … Continue reading James Finlay Bruce – interview
Dyslexic Bookview
I’m not sure if a dyslexic worldview is a thing or not? (Although I think it is.) But I’ve suddenly realised that there is a ‘dyslexic bookview’, and if a ‘dyslexic bookview’ didn’t exist it does now! This isn’t about reading, or genre, or style or anything like that, this is about how you view … Continue reading Dyslexic Bookview
What have I been doing?
Writing is a closed door activity, and it’s a bit hard to make the re-writting of a sentence or paragraph sound very exciting, especially when you’re hearing the same thing for the umpteenth time! Anyhow, here is a little update! Hamely Tongue / Ulster Scots Poyams & Yarns I have a few Ulster Scots poems … Continue reading What have I been doing?
Underachievement?
Underachievement is an oft quoted but little explained term, my understanding is that it is achieving less than you were capable of. I underachieved at school, that is I achieved less than I should have. Looking back I know full well that I did not get what I could have but did get what I … Continue reading Underachievement?
Prison or Art College
I have written this premeditatedly, you know beforehand, that’s not a good thing to do, to premeditate is to imagine, it is to imagine what will have happened, and you don’t know what’s going to happen. At least on election night politicians only have to write two speeches, one for winning and one for losing! … Continue reading Prison or Art College
I Enjoyed School…but
It is one thing to have fun, you know, enjoy yourself, but it’s another thing to be a total pain in the backside. When I talked about enjoying school, I think I really meant I was a total pain in the backside. Dyslexia is embarrassing, well I mean I found dyslexia embarrassing, having to read … Continue reading I Enjoyed School…but
Why do I not write in Ulster Scots more often?
I have a method of writing that I need to use, if I am going to write words on paper that correspond with the words in my head. Well, I have a method of proof reading and correction that eventually leads to something reasonably coherent. I write in the full awareness of being dyslexic, this … Continue reading Why do I not write in Ulster Scots more often?
Ballymoney Chronicle Article
LOCK Doon Poyams is a debut collection of poems and a short story written by Robert Campbell during the Covid-19 Lock Down - though only a few are about the lock doon, and only one specifically mentions the “blasted bug”. Robert, brought up mostly in Doagh, near Ballyclare, visited [with] his grandparents in Mosside many times … Continue reading Ballymoney Chronicle Article
“The Forge”
https://youtu.be/0VvKsaK69dk YouTube video
RobertCampbell.me 