Freedom From The Mundane

Image: Macbitz

After much tinkering with the email client on my PC I can formally announce I am now 100% back in action. But I’m still not happy; not happy with the fact I have to go through this every time I have to reinstall the O/S, which quite frankly shouldn’t need done at all in [...]

March 8th, 2010 | Tags: Apple, Baccara Burning, Books, desktop, Fiction, Indian curry, Mac Mini, PC, PC World, Poetry, Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.2, software, Submissions, Writing | Category: Books, Fiction, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, I.T., Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (5)

Fiction
* Write 20K words on BACCARA BURNING – part-done; 5k
* Write one new short/flash story per month – done
* Re-submit any rejected/recalled short stories – done
* Submit more fiction/poetry competitions – done
Poetry
* Write at least one poem per week – done (plus lots more)
* Complete MS for SILLY POEMS FOR WEE PEOPLE VOL.2 – done
* [...]

February 28th, 2010 | Tags: Books, Dreams and Resolutions, Editing, Fiction, Freelance, GDR's, Goals, Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Reading, Writing | Category: Books, Fiction, Freelance, Poetry, Reading, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: art247

I spent yesterday working on BACCARA BURNING. I hit another sticky patch with it early on but I think I was just missing the obvious. I put it down to being rusty having had so long away from it, but over the course of the day I made good progress with some important plot [...]

February 22nd, 2010 | Tags: characterisation, charity, Comedy, DVD, Fiction, genius, novel, novella, plotting, Spike Milligan, spring clean, The Goon Show, writer, Writing | Category: Fiction, Film & TV, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (2)

Image: John Byford

Would you believe that after all the trials and tribulations of getting my new pair of glasses sorted they STILL aren’t ready? Yesterday morning when I went to collect them, although they did manage to get the lenses made with no errors, the manufacturers sent them back in the WRONG frames!
Just my luck [...]

February 21st, 2010 | Tags: anti-racism, British Monarchy, cappuccino, coffee shop, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, free speech, glasses, Great Britain, Music, opticians, poems, Poetry, political rally, Politics, Scottish Defence League, SDL, Short Stories, spectacles, Writing | Category: Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Editorial Comment, Fiction, Poetry, Politics, Scotland, Writing, Writing Process | Leave a comment

Image: mangpage

Scotland’s last minute loss to Wales at rugby on Saturday was a huge blow. For the first time in a long time Scotland played like a team that knew what they were doing. With no fear and renewed determination, they seemed to have picked up their game under the stewardship of Andy Robinson, and [...]

February 15th, 2010 | Tags: artist, Cardiff, Coffee, coffee shop, curry, Dundee Utd, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, Football, GDR, glasses, Ian Rankin, Poetry, Rabbits, Rose Street, rugby, Ruth Nicol, Scotland, script writing, Short Stories, Six Nations, soccer, spectacles, Sport, St Mirren, Stage Play, The Damned, Twitter, Valentine's Day, Wales, Writing | Category: Animals, Art, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Scotland, Sport, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: AHI

Suddenly, I am back up to full speed without even noticing. After my recent lay off I decided to concentrate on one project at a time and to clearing my outstanding GDRs from last year. Now, I find I have several projects all running at once—they kind of crept up on me—all these plates [...]

February 11th, 2010 | Tags: chapbooks, Day Job, Editing, Eternal Press, Fiction, GDR's, poems, Poetry, projects, Publishing and Marketing, royalties, sitcom, stageplay, Stella, Writing, writing competitions | Category: Books, Day Job, Fiction, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (3)

Image: Gideon Malias

The behaviour of Scottish people at bus stops is very strange. Every place I’ve lived in Scotland over the years, I’ve noticed different patterns of behaviour. Not as part of some grand scientific experiment you understand, but merely as a gentle observation from years of relying on public transport to ferry me around [...]

February 10th, 2010 | Tags: birthday, bus stop, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Family, Fiction, Glasgow, manners, Playwright competition, politeness, public transport, Scottish people, Short Stories, Sussex Playwrights’ Club, Writing | Category: Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Editorial Comment, Family, Fiction, Glasgow, Scotland, Travel, UK, Writing | Comments (2)

Image: Seattle Municipal Archives

It’s definitely getting milder. The wearing of my bunnet is now becoming an unnecessary addition to my daily attire, although we’re not quite at the stage I can safely leave the house with it and risk freezing my napper to the bone. Still, it’s a sign that despite the snow two days [...]

February 5th, 2010 | Tags: Arizona, article re-write, Clark's, Day Job, Editor, Fiction, Freelance, Guinness, I.T., mild, nature, phone call, pint, Scottish accent, Short Stories, spring, Submissions, telephone, USA, Weather, writing competitions | Category: Day Job, Freelance, I.T., Publishing and Marketing, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: MIT

I noticed out of my office window yesterday that I’d still to pick up the bird table that got blown over on Friday night. It’s still to attract the attention of any little feathered friends, so I repositioned it nearer the garage where I can see it and restocked it with seed and bread. [...]

January 18th, 2010 | Tags: Amsterdam, bird table, birds, Bluegate Poets, chapbooks, creative energy, Day Job, European tour, Facebook, Fiction, Fringe Fantastic, live gigs, Madness, Music, nature, novella, paranormal, Paris, Poetry, Poolside Poetry, Stella, Writing | Category: Animals, Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, I.T., Music, Poetry, Reading, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: Stephen Depolo

Oh, yes and it was a quite fruitful day. Lots achieved on all fronts and this morning, despite the rain and wind, I’m about to head out for some “me time”. Lovely.
Yesterday I caught up on all my mail and updated my website to bring it up to date for 2010. Mostly minor [...]

January 16th, 2010 | Tags: Annoying Orange, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, fruitful day, GDR's, I.T., Me Time, satisfaction, Saturday, Shopping, soul and system, Video, Walking, weekend, Writing, YouTube | Category: Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, I.T., Video, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (5)

Image: Metal Minnie

I felt much better yesterday morning. I‘d got a great sleep the night before and was into work bright and early. Working early means I seem to get more done; less distractions and people sapping my time.
My week is turning into an obsessive nightmare with all the technical problems at work pushing me [...]

January 15th, 2010 | Tags: creativity, CWA, Day Job, Fiction, GDR's, I.T., ideas, Poetry, Sleep, Val McDermid, Writing | Category: Day Job, Fiction, Freelance, I.T., Music, Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: BGIS

I never got a chance to post yesterday. Shit happens. By the time I got back in from work time was ticking on and I could still have made it to my writer’s group. Other things transpired, however, and it ended up being a late night pour moi. Tired beyond belief, I slept in [...]

January 14th, 2010 | Tags: bands, Day Job, Fiction, gig listing, I.T., motivation, music gigs, music in Edinburgh, Scruffy Dog Review, Travel, writing competitions, York | Category: Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, Freelance, I.T., Music, Travel, Writing, Writing Process | Leave a comment

Image: Homeys.co.uk

I’ve ordered some new slippers. I came across some fabulous foot offerings called Homeys and was swept away, not only with the comfort they look like they have (like walking on shag pile) but also their designs—take a look for yourself! I ordered a pair of Crazy Feet; purple weave with innards like lambs [...]

January 12th, 2010 | Tags: baffies, computers, creativity, Day Job, Electronic Voice Phenomena, Enchiladas, EVP, Fiction, Freelance, gig review, Homeys, I.T., Mexican food, movies, office, slippers, Writer's Group, Writing | Category: Day Job, Editorial Comment, Fiction, Film & TV, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Freelance, I.T., Writing, Writing Process | Comments (4)