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???
Robert Campbell
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
The Metric Mentality
Wednesday Recap #9 12.06.24 Thought: the metric mentality I’d actually written a recap for last week but didn’t post it. Though I’m not sure why! Well I actually do, there were two reasons, the first was the big reason, while the second was the real reason. The big reason was an accidentally defrosted freezer. We … Continue reading The Metric Mentality
Ulster Scots Design Work (Part1)
I’ve started to create a flyer / livery for my #UlsterScots materials (books, poetry, spokenword, EDM, art). I wanted to record my progress and the evolution of the various ideas. The background is a skull (death), Bible (wisdom) and an hour glass (shortness of time / life) This kind of iconology is very common on … Continue reading Ulster Scots Design Work (Part1)
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
Foundations – unthought of but vital
Wednesday Recap #6 22.05.24 Thought Foundations are unseen, aesthetically ugly, and controlling of shape. But they are also vital, formative and give structural integrity! Foundations are vital for everything we do or hope to do. Foundations are easy to dig when we are building something. However foundations are amazingly difficult to rectify once built on. … Continue reading Foundations – unthought of but vital
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
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)
Dust yourself down and go again!
This has been an entertaining week. I started trying to make contact with people who might be interested in my work. Most of it was cold calling, okay cold emailing, with a few vague exceptions. I am not good at this kind of self-promotional stuff, or perhaps it’s more that I am very uncomfortable doing … Continue reading Dust yourself down and go again!
Play on easy mode
You should aim to play on easy mode. This doesn’t mean you only do easy things…(things that aren’t hard)…it means you purposely do things that make everything you do easier! You will have to do lots of hard, or difficult, or intense things but it means doing the right thing, at the right time, in … Continue reading Play on easy mode
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
Story Telling: Learning By Doing.
“My objective is very simple - I want the kids to enjoy themselves. And my story is a means to that end, theoretically I could tell the whole story in 4 or 5 paragraphs, or in a book that could take a couple of hours to read, or in a performance with visuals, and props, and sound effects, and participation, and acting. I love writing stories but I get the most enjoyment telling them, and the only way to improve is to do!”
Time and Creativity
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life? Here’s three lessons that only come with time for authors or creatives. • Growth takes time. • Learning takes time. • Connection takes time. Growth takes time. Fails that lead to growth aren’t failure. But failure needs wisdom. Sometimes failure … Continue reading Time and Creativity
‘To Another Mouse’ Burns Night 25th January 2024
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
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!
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
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.
RobertCampbell.me 