“I am not a trained author, I do not possess GCSE English Lit never mind the thingy majiggy you get from a university. Therefore my writing has been a process. Normally a very simple process: write good sentences. At the start that was good sentences that were understandable and not full of repetition…” #Writing #Author #WritingTips #CSLewis #Narnia #GeorgeandtheElephant #Creativity #Imagination
What is my mission? Not worrying about it and doing!
Years ago I used to wrestle with ‘what is my mission’, now I just do! I am a writer and creative therefore I must write and create. My mission is to do what I am. I’m other things too - so I do them. Please don’t read this as passivity through life - it is actually the opposite. It is intentional and mindful activity. You find yourself in your doing. You discover in doing. You discover that you weren’t that, or you weren’t that in the way you thought you were. You discover that you need to grind, or develop, or study. So no matter what doing is your teacher. So if you don’t know your life’s mission…then mindfully and purposefully do. But my final thought is to repeat myself, when you do something and serendipity tells you, this is not the thing, you’d be very wise to listen, as there is only so much you can do, and that your time upon this spinning orb is limited!
I could turn unwanted tasks into a game!
What could you do differently? I could turn unwanted tasks into a game! I could pick six unwanted, or avoided, or procrastinated tasks and number them one to six. I’d then pick what to do by throwing a dice. Okay how do I know how long to do it for. Either you do the job … Continue reading I could turn unwanted tasks into a game!
Write an ad – quickly!
If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say? WordPress writing prompt (NI version). If you had an advertising hoarding beside a busy road what would it say? This is a really tough question, not because I don’t have something to say, I’ve lots of things to say, but because it really needs to … Continue reading Write an ad – quickly!
Get your ideas together.
Methodology is everything! Well, methodology is everything for me! At times my mind runs at million miles an hour! Then when it does, it produces more ideas than I can handle. There is a big problem with this…you forget most of them…even the ones you need to remember! So don’t believe the lie, “if this … Continue reading Get your ideas together.
New Year 2024 – No Resolutions
New Year’s Day is just another day, but it is also a turning in the year. Let me explain with an example. If you have kids, September with the recommencement of school is a turning. Others might be birthdays, anniversaries or even the start of the month. Nature gives its own turning points with the … Continue reading New Year 2024 – No Resolutions
Loved, but unused.
The paradox of the old car. If you like old cars, here’s a familiar story, “Rare classic found in shed, or garage, or farm outhouse.” If there’s a picture the vehicle will be covered in dirt and grime, while the space will be full of clutter or in the process of falling down! So how … Continue reading Loved, but unused.
Did you know a private dyslexia test costs over £500?
Did you know a private dyslexia test costs over £500. Did you know an undiagnosed highly functioning dyslexic child can appear to have no SEN problems. Did you know that if an undiagnosed highly functioning dyslexic child’s Standardised Test results are high enough a SEN assessment will not appear necessary. Did you know that an … Continue reading Did you know a private dyslexia test costs over £500?
The Eclectic Artist (?)
If you are an eclectic artist or writer then you must strive to define your work clearly and concisely, this is not to limit yourself, it is simply to allow others to understand how you express your creativity, and consequently advance your work. Okay, with an introductory paragraph like that I’d better start by defining … Continue reading The Eclectic Artist (?)
A Dander Through Narnia
Here’s the Blurb for my new spoken word production ‘A Dander Through Narnia.” Wednesday 22 November 2023Whittaker Suite, Guildhall, Derry6:00pm-8:00pm Whether you’re young, or auld, or somewhere in between join us for, A Dander Through Narnia. This new production by Robert Campbell pays homage to the mystical world of Narnia, created by Northern Irish author … Continue reading A Dander Through Narnia
The Red Squirrel
Near us is a wood with red squirrels. They are beautiful creatures. Let’s hope their old buddies, the Pine Martin help them out, and we see a big recovery. Above is my attempt in watercolour.
I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia!
The good news is the project got accepted but the bad news is…well there actually isn’t any bad news. However, I’m still not giving much away as things are still being put in place. So as I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia! Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean. I love the Chronicles … Continue reading I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia!
Secret New Project
Last week I emailed in a proposal for a poetry / spoken word project. At this point I’ve no idea if it will be successful or not (but then how could you know, they probably haven’t look at it yet!) The actual proposal is something I really want to do. It would be much better … Continue reading Secret New Project
Last Saturday I was a poet
Last Saturday (5th August) I was a poet. I stood amongst poets. I spoke along side poets. I occupied the same stage as poets. I read my poems: that I had been invited to read. I was listed on the advertising as a poet who would be reading. I’m not sure why I need to … Continue reading Last Saturday I was a poet
The Wonder and Woes of Dyslexia
dyslexia is the perception of reality through connection. It isn’t connection through colour or size or make or type. It is much deeper than that, more esoteric, subliminal. It is connection through connection. A myriad of connections.
Would you be friends with a liar?
Hearing your thinking. Would you be friends with someone who is a liar? Someone who lies to you? Would you be friends with someone who is manipulative and controlling? Someone who damages you because they don’t care? Would you be friends with someone who is an obnoxious critic? Someone who never has a good word … Continue reading Would you be friends with a liar?
I wasn’t a fit kid but I could have been.
What do you do when you get injured?
My mother’s typewriter
Last year I produced a poetry exhibition. The exhibiting bit took a lot of thought. Outside of books and spirited performances the exhibition of poetry can be tricky. Anyhow one of my tricks was to use my mother’s typewriter, it gave so much - authenticity, hand production, aesthetic beauty, and familial bounds to my long … Continue reading My mother’s typewriter
Dyslexia ain’t no superpower!
…things have changed thankfully, dyslexia is associated with brilliance, just go onto your search engine of choice and type in famous dyslexic people. It’s nearly as if dyslexia is a superpower, some sort of mystical and magical skill! I’m sorry to tell you that it isn’t. Dyslexic children still leave the educational system worse off than their none dyslexic peers.
Name five problems dyslexia causes you?
I got an F in English, but I’ve also written books. I know my dyslexia played a huge roll in me getting an F. But my dyslexic thinking also played a huge roll in me being able to write my books (having a vivid / silly imagination, easily seeing connections, the ability to bounce ideas around in bizarre ways in my mind). But when you’ve always done this its hard to see this as a unique talent.
“Exultant Orb” – New Short Poem
“Exultant orb of burning fire, Our orb it basks within thy fire, Till clouds they come to shade our view, And give us rest and rain anew. ”
‘Hidden midst the summer green’ – new short poem
“Hidden midst the summer green, Lurking ‘neth thy leafy sheen Springtime flower is long ago, Autumns bounty just as far.”
“Shall I think, or write, or speak?” New poem
“Prose it dances in my mind; Grips the soul with precious rhyme. So shall I think, or write, or speak? Hauld my wheesht, forbear, or weep?”
The Flywheel and Consistency in the creative process.
A flywheel is “a heavy revolving wheel in a machine which is used to increase…momentum and thereby provide greater stability, or a reserve of available power.” So says the dictionary on Pages. I heard about the idea of the flywheel on the Farnham Street Podcast a long time ago, or was it Tim Ferriss? I … Continue reading The Flywheel and Consistency in the creative process.
Learning from the 90s
Recently, YouTube’s algorithm kindly suggested a 1994 documentary on selection for officer training in the Royal Marines! It wouldn’t have been my first pick, but there you go. My first shock was the 1990s, the coolest decade ever, looking like a dim, distant far off world, but there you go. The next shock was the … Continue reading Learning from the 90s
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