‘Licht an life bide ain eenoo.’ The idea of this poetic line is that our present reality of our licht an life — of our hope and opportunity — that they abide in this moment. All opportunities ‘bide’ — live or dwell — in this very moment — and only in it — the future is the consequence of the present. It is in this ‘eenoo’ — this even now — this very moment — this is when we have our being. We can imagine the future – plan for the future – be prepared fae ait – but everything is present — all actions are present — aye fair ir foul. I’ve written these words not meaning the future is unimportant or that it doesn’t matter – but that the present is more important – the present set the course – the present moment directs us towards all future present moments. Mind tha day yer licht a life bide ain eenoo! So groundedly make it count!
Spoken Word
Owning the Words We Speak: Language as a Bridge, Not a Barrier
So what does a win look like? I don’t mean a fantasy win — six numbers on the lottery or a huge inheritance from an unknown relation. So again — what does a win look like in the context of language? A win is an improved understanding and acceptance of language, accompanied by a sympathetic … Continue reading Owning the Words We Speak: Language as a Bridge, Not a Barrier
Pictish Art
Here’s a few illustrations to whet your appetite from a project I’m working on!
The Creative Act of Presentation
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
Imagination – a division no one seems to care about
A lot of my story making workshops are with children. So when I go into a school all I see is a class room of kids. They’re from all sorts of backgrounds - please insert your divisions of choice - then give your conscience a bit of a shake. But the biggest division I sees … Continue reading Imagination – a division no one seems to care about
Featured
#Leid25 – Starting Now
This might just seem a wee bit early; as the year hasn’t turned; but I’ve started working on my main project for Leid Week 2025, (or perhaps before it). So far, I’ve: A wheen oo thoughts jotted doon. A few lines of prose, poetry an even lyrics. A wheen oo melodies worked oot. A few … Continue reading #Leid25 – Starting Now
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.
Think even better! (80/20 + Eisenhower Matrix = ?)
Wednesday Recap #17 07.08.24 I’ve a lot of creative stuff knocking about that I have made and that I know is good. I’m not being pompous or delusional, I don’t think everything I do is good, most of my work has ended up filed in the trash, literally or electronically! The next biggest heap is … Continue reading Think even better! (80/20 + Eisenhower Matrix = ?)
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!
100 days of……
Wednesday Recap #14 17.07.24 I’ve started a #100DayChallenge on speaking and acting! My greatest creative joy comes from telling my stories. When you tell your stories yourself they are more than just the words you wrote. Normally words you wrote on your own, with no audience of listening ears, or seeing eyes! During this part … Continue reading 100 days of……
Old Ways on the New Web – people who believe in you.
I’m an old guy and can remember old style blogs, blogs with blog lists of other people’s blogs on the side bar. This was amazing for finding cool or interesting new stuff. No algorithm, no advertising, just personal unpaid endorsements, can you imagine a world like that!
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???
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
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!
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!”
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
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 (?)
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