Time To Talk Day UK (6th February) a a campaign run by the charity Time To Change to promote conversations about mental health and aid the removal of the stigma attached to mental health problems.
I am not a happy bunny right now
Because of this news story:
http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-26056856
I’m well aware that by sharing this on my personal blog, and actually daring to have an opinion I could face disciplinary action. However, this is my blog so I’ll say what I damn well please. What I have written is my truth.
If any of the management are reading this, stop now and go think about what you’ve done/are about to cause. If you really think the misery you’re causing is acceptable then I pity you.
My Most Inspirational Writers – Terry Pratchett
Also this…
My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, J R R. Tolkien and Jane Austen. I agree with geek with a pen’s sentiment: if I’m ever considered a half-decent writer it’ll be because of them.
Also, everyone must read Discworld!
I got excited when I got to this name in my list. For some of the other writers it was difficult to try to put into words how they have affected me as a writer without sounding pretentious, although it’s been a good exercise to go back and think about their different styles from a different angle. Terry Pratchett on the other hand is easy. Basically I just think he’s awesome.
I could happily leave it there but I probably should elaborate for the sake of making this a more interesting post. The first book I read of his was Guards! Guards! and it’s still my favourite. I love any of the stories containing Sam Vimes and the witches as well. Humour is key for his stories and it’s something I admire in writers who get it right because I’ve always found it difficult to achieve without it sounding forced…
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My Most Inspirational Writers – JRR Tolkien
This…
Tolkien is the reason I write. I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was 13/14. My mum got me the set of books with The Hobbit for Christmas. Because it was so well wrapped and an odd size, I couldn’t figure out what the gift was. It was heavy and felt completely solid. The wrapping paper was shiny forest green, plain; I think she’d run out of Christmas wrapping paper. That just made it all the more mysterious. I left that present until last and when I finally opened it I couldn’t have been more thrilled. A box set of books! I had absolutely no idea what a hobbit was and what The Lord of the Rings was about but I started to read them straight away.
I have vague recollections of the Ralph Bakshi film made in 1978 but I was too young to follow the…
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My weekend in London: Part 2
I’m home, exhaustion has won out over excitement, and my blisters have blisters. London is a great place to visit, but I have no idea how anyone could live there. The culture shock when I got back this afternoon was slightly disorientating. It was so quiet!
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My weekend in London, part I
Good evening, how’s your weekend going? Good? Good.
Other than the incredible amount of pain in my left hip and lower back, mine is going great. I’m in London; I got here yesterday afternoon in the rain, navigated the Underground successfully, all on my own and made it to our hostel without getting lost.
Review: ‘The Gondola Maker’ by Laura Morelli
31st March 2013
IBPA
Set I Venice in the late 16th century, this historical novel tells the story of Luca Vianello, accidental and reluctant heir to the best gondola maker in the city. His life is mapped out in detail; who he’ll marry, where he’ll live, what he’ll spend his days doing are all decided for him by his distant, aggressive father.
When Luca’s mother dies from the complications of childbirth everything changes. Luca is finally free to make his own destiny.
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Review: ‘Back to Creative Writing School’ by Bridget Whelan
2013
Bridget Whelan is an author and creative writing lecturer. In this book she sets out to provide ’30 practical and witty exercises’ to help readers start writing. She covers a lot of ground – poetry, prose, humour, horror, cliches and description.
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Review: ‘Double Happiness’ by Tony Brasunas
At 22 Tony Brasunas had never left the US, but fascinated by China he embarked on a post-University year teaching English in a Chinese high school. The school year over he the travelled to Beijing to see the hand over of Hong Kong before venturing west to through China to Tibet and then south east back go Hong Kong and finally home to America.
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30 Days of Creative Writing: Day 30
Good morning. Well done, you’ve put up with my pseudo-creative ramblings for 30 days. This is the last in the series. I’ve chosen an exercise that appears in ‘term three’ of ‘Back to Creative Writing School’ by Bridget Whelan.
The subject under discussion is the literary genre of magical reality. Or, magic for grown-ups as the author herself described the genre in her section title. The exercise is to choose a character from from a given list and then give them unexpected wings. How do they react? What are the wings like?
Everything Is Better With Dragons 