‘By Bluidy Cairn’ So serendipity strikes again. Last week the battle of Culloden wasn’t high up on my list of things of interest. But now it is, well post battle changes are. My dyslexic mind loves juxtaposition, so a passing reference in a presentation I’m making, and an interesting fact someone happened to tell me, … Continue reading Serendipity Strikes Again
My Dyslexia
Highland Dance Code Breaking
During WWII, a large group of soldiers from the Argyle and Sutherland Fusiliers were captured by the Germans. Whilst in their POW camp, and having some time to kill, they devised a new Highland dance reel. The dance setting was sent home but intercepted by the Germans. Then for the rest of the war, the Germans tried to crack the code, which they couldn’t, obviously.
Creative Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower / Priority Matrix is a very helpful mental model for creatives. Sometimes the most urgent and important task is letting our minds wander and dipping into every last thing that catches our attention. But once we’ve found something worth doing we need to focus on it. That is get it done!
Surviving the summer as a creative and parent.
Wednesday Recap #15 31.07.24 How do you Survive the Summer as a Creative (and a Parent) Let’s start with a definition. Flow state is when you completely focus on one activity, it completely captivates your attention so that your focus is solely on that one thing. This does not describe the summer holidays! Rather Go … Continue reading Surviving the summer as a creative and parent.
Keep Showing Up
Last Sunday morning I saw three deer on the top of the hill near where I live. If you live somewhere that deer live, that’s no big deal. If you live somewhere that deer aren’t supposed to live, then that’s pretty cool!
When the process works – keep doing it!
…imagine a piece of ground that is really fertile, but it is really fertile because you have a structure for looking after it: feeding it, weeding it, draining it, watering it and a whole heap of other things you need to do to it. But then you assume the ground IS fertile rather than having been made fertile. You stop doing. You assume. You get on with other things. The residual fertility keeps it going for a while but then fertility of the ground quickly fades and you’ve no idea why!
No hacks, No gimmicks, No 10 point plans
Wednesday Recap #11 19.06.24 Every time I think I’ve found something new, I realise I’ve just rediscovered something old! And that’s what has happened, I’ve rediscovered the things that make me better. The elements of this rediscovery are simple, boring, uncomfortable and highly rewarding. So what are these mystical things? Hard cardio, weights (resistance training), … Continue reading No hacks, No gimmicks, No 10 point plans
Nothing steals your time – you give it away
Wednesday Recap #7 29.05.24 Thought Hiking is tremendous fun. Well if you like walking up hills, crossing streams and rivers, trying to work out where you are, carrying everything you need, ringing the water out of your socks, and being on the go for nearly five hours. One of my happiest formative memories was going … Continue reading Nothing steals your time – you give it away
Wednesday Update (01.05.24)
https://youtu.be/HJKuM0VAlRc?si=BMB3oRFFslQnJsYm Wednesday Recap (#3 01/05/24) Whoa the year is flying in…May already! 1. The latest draft of George and the Elephant is now finished. The next part of the process is very easy…leave it for a few weeks, get it out of my mind, and then come back to it fresh. A better way of … Continue reading Wednesday Update (01.05.24)
Dyslexic Pics
This one has bothered me for a while, okay, niggled me, bothered is a bit strong! Are pictures of dyslexic people helpful? You know the kind: moody, black & white, thoughtful, another dollop of moody. They’re the human equivalent of mountain pictures with inspirational quotes, the kind of thing you see in a waiting room, … Continue reading Dyslexic Pics
Don’t let ideas feaster…Have a plan!
What is the worst thing you can do to an idea? Do nothing with it! Now, I don’t mean a passing thought or a daydream, I mean an actual idea. I’ve done that, I’ve an idea, a plan, a structure, an objective, and I did nothing with it! The idea would be better dying in the light than festering in the dark! #writer #author #authorhelps #hardtruthsforwriters #wordsmith #dyslexicwordsmith #dyslexia #dyslexic #dyslexicwriter #dyslexicauthor
Magic, Mystery, CS Lewis and to Much Christmas
“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
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?
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.
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.
Made By Dyslexia hash tags
This is from Made by Dyslexia and the hashtags are brilliant! Add a line to your email signature: I’m #MadeByDyslexia I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect creative thinking & creative spelling. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect big thinking & small typos. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect curious ideas & curious spelling.
The Art of Comedy
…the refinement process for public performance is remarkable! The comedian comes up with an idea that might work as a joke, so they think it through and write it down, they tell it to the four walls, they note the changes and do it again, repeatedly, then and only then is it performed to a tiny audience at an obscure venue, and in the full knowledge this must be repeated over and over again, constantly refining, constantly changing, constantly adapting, constantly cutting and dissecting, and constantly being prepared to drop it altogether!
14 days and 6746 words.
I love numbers, connections and patterns. So today after two weeks I am where I should be in one month. I’d better explain that last sentence. As my New Year’s resolution I decided to write 200 words each day through January. This was towards a story I promised to write for my children in the … Continue reading 14 days and 6746 words.
Facile Caverns – Peep Frae Your Mind
Peep Frae Your Mind "Apprehensive trepidations go hand in hand with thy privations." Facile Cavern, Peep Frae Your Mind. https://amazon.co.uk/Peep-Frae-Your-Robert-Campbell/dp/B0BN62H8P3… #Poety #Quote #Quotes #PeepFraeYourMind #FacileCaverns #Graphic
RobertCampbell.me 