Often, I merely describe my creativity as: “I make stuff.” This is simultaneously self-deprecating and true. I do make stuff - both in the physical and literary sense. I put words together to tell stories. I put lines and colours together to make pictures. I put images together to make films. And now I’ve put … Continue reading The Creative Act of Presentation
Poems
Strange and unexpected doors open
Thursday 3 April has suddenly become the biggest day of the year for me. A poetry reading in the historic Linen Hall Library (Belfast). Then that evening I make my musical debut - of my own songs! I actually enjoy public performances of book readings, spoken word shows, and poetry renditions, now I’m nervous and … Continue reading Strange and unexpected doors open
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!
Agent – Secret, Estate, Literary???
Wednesday Recap #12 26.06.24 When I think of an agent, I think of a secret agent: James Bond, George Smiley, Johnny English, you get the idea. Or less excitingly an estate agent. But the arts also have agents. So what is an agent? Or what does it mean? In Latin, where we get the word … Continue reading Agent – Secret, Estate, Literary???
Doing is more than doing
There is doing in the moment, preparation in the run up, and working towards your goal in the long term. Doing isn’t just the moment, doing is everything that makes the doing possible.
Wednesday Recap #4 08.05.24
This week has been about pressing on with the creation of scripts. I’ve other, much more visually creative things I want to do, but I need to get certain specific things finished before I start on to them. 1. George and the Elephant (the version for younger children) got another read through at the tail … Continue reading Wednesday Recap #4 08.05.24
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
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.
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
“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.”
“No one” (Poem)
No one to listen, No one to hear, No one to witness, No one to cheer, Unseen, unknown, Concealed from view, And all this done in public view, Acclamation took away, Stolen on your finest day…
Poetry Day Ireland 2023
Poems by contemporary Irish writers Angela Graham, Al Millar, Steve Dornan, Anne McMaster and myself in the medium of Ulster Scots, to mark Poetry Day Ireland 2023. https://thehamelypen.wordpress.com/2023/04/26/poetry-day-ireland-2023/
The Forest (poem)
https://youtu.be/JuUOXuz34X0 The ancient Forrest, All are gone, all but a few, to mind they’re gone. The spreading leaf, the red tail bob, the hills and glens, in silence throb. Veins and valleys, streams and paths, each and ever contours craft Beyond our sight, horizon grasped: oaks and elms, chestnut and Yew. Mighty stock, a hundred … Continue reading The Forest (poem)
Inspired by Narnia ‘Midst the Tombs’
https://youtu.be/4f9x-vbclag A poetic journey into the magical world of Narnia, as it is revealed in the Horse and His Boy. This poem taps into the feelings of Shasta as he waits alone in the tombs outside the City of Tashbaan as the horns blow for evening and the shutting of the gates. Sitting here,Midst awful … Continue reading Inspired by Narnia ‘Midst the Tombs’
Words are Precious
“Words are Precious” is a new poem / piece of poetic prose by Robert Campbell (me!). ‘Words are Precious” ponders to power of language for good and then for ill. I’ve added both the video and text! https://youtu.be/PE46irPPk-8 Words are precious Words are precious: they build kingdoms; they establish empires; they crown monarchs they elect … Continue reading Words are Precious
The Wreck (poem)
https://youtu.be/A3RdLPChl-w "The Wreck" The story of an abandoned ship. March challenge - finish and record 4 poems l write ages ago. #poem #poetry #poet #newpoem #spokenwordpoetry #spokenword #spokenwordartist
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!
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 