Hope Is Important

Tags

Coronavirus, Hope, Humanity, Peace, Poetry, writing

Hi, I’ve been inspired to write this poem because of the amazing efforts of people to reach out to others during this crazy time in the world. If you take the first letter from each line it spells out ‘Hope Is Important’. Thanks for reading.

Here we are, uncertain times,

Optimism hard to define.

Please stay at home, distance keep.

Extra care, yet lack of sleep.

Isolation, maybe self-imposed,

Seeing life as it slows.

It’s time to wake up, realise

Much love can come amid the cries.

Please reach out and offer support

Or stay at home – a battle fought

Right either way; make a change today

To combat this horrid virus

And leave stories to inspire us.

New Age for Humanity begun

Time to see we can be as one.

Stepping Over The Threshold

Tags

creative writing, Hiking, Self-publishing, Walking, writing

Hi Everybody,

I hope you and your families are all keeping well.

A couple of days ago, the editor who is doing the developmental edit of my book emailed me back with all her suggestions. As yet, I’ve not looked at it as this feels like such a significant moment for me that I wanted to give it fresh attention at the weekend after the working week was complete.

I’m really excited because it’s a watershed time for me: I’m going to learn a lot about how to develop my writing style from here and this will shape my future. So, not only will I be using my editors suggestions to make my hiking story stronger; I’ll be absorbing all the info I can to help me structure and plot better, and to bring the characters to life.

I wanted to put this post up before I begin looking at the editing suggestions because it’s the start of the next leg of the journey. I know I’m going to be busier now, yet the old adage that when you do something you enjoy often it doesn’t seem like hard work is true.

In a near future post I’ll start to detail my journey into self-publishing more: what I’ve learnt, where I’m at and what resources and services I’m using. To me, the whole process is like designing my own study course whilst simultaneously developing myself as a writer.

It’s clear to me now that when I see checklists or watch advice videos on YouTube about self-publishing I know I’ve gone about matters in a semi-back-to-front way. Perseverance and determination will be key factors in smoothing that out. It’s so typical of me to turn off the main road and take all the back roads to hit the target. The important thing is that I reach the end and, ultimately, how the journey shapes me as a better self-published writer in the future.

Happy weekend, Everybody. I’ll look forward to reading posts from other WordPress users this weekend too.

10000 Steps A Day At Home

Tags

Coronavirus, creative writing, Hiking, Mental health, Walking, writing

Like an increasing number of people in the UK, I’m following the Government advice to stay at home during this sadly bleak time for the world. Like a lot of people I’m also trying to find ways of passing the time.

It’s been interesting to see videos on the news or YouTube of what other people are doing to fill the hours. With a total lockdown in the UK looking more imminent, the number of home exercise videos being submitted online offers one way to relieve boredom and keep fit.

I’m usually able to follow an exercise pattern in the winter months whilst the rest of the year is left for hiking. So, to be in a situation now where my territory is limited is a strange thing. Currently, the UK Government says that a daily trip outside for exercise is okay, but, as I said, I’m electing to keep trips beyond my gate to a rare minimum.

I could keep on following fitness videos to fill the gap. I can certainly amass a decent amount of exercise by spending time doing work in the garden. The thing is I’m missing clocking the miles in the countryside, though; walking in the wilderness is outright my favourite form of exercise.

And all this got me thinking.

What if I could bring the countryside to my own home by walking a few miles every day?

So, yesterday morning I woke up early and headed out into the back garden. I did umpteen laps doing my utmost to focus on the colours of the trees and plants, the chatter of the birds and the blue of the sky. It was easy to lose myself in the vibrations of nature and before I knew it I’d totalled nearly four thousand steps.

I had work commitments after that, and so I resumed my home trek in the evening. During another solid march in the garden I concocted an idea to take the hike inside once night fell. Indoors, I popped mountain walking videos on YouTube in an attempt to simulate a hike. Then, as I paced between the kitchen and the living room, I could dream of being in the fantastic landscapes on the screen.

Seven thousand steps….Eight thousand steps….I told myself to keep pushing on to ten thousand and eventually I made it. Sure, I’d built up a number of steps doing incidental tasks in the day and there were plenty of times during this ‘expedition’ that I wasn’t walking at regular my regular hiking speed indoors. However, a sense of elation poured through me when I’d achieved it.

I hope this is something that I can repeat every day. It’s given me another way to think about keeping in shape. Having a bit of variety with workout videos is a good thing.

It also surprises me how it’s taken me until now to see that I have a hiking trail right in my own home!

Back Again

Tags

creative writing, Hiking, writing

Hello

I hope you and your families are all well during these troubling times.

I’ve been off air for almost 5 years. I’ve long been thinking about resuming the website. The truth is that I’ve been so focused on writing my novel and my family responsibilities that I let the website slip. There’s no excuses really; even a few lines a couple of times a week would’ve been some kind of commitment. But, still, time has passed and I’m more wiser and committed in my writing endeavours these days.

Over the past few years I’d played around with the kind of book that I’d wanted to write. Short stories have always been my main medium and I’ve put together a good number to publish. Yet, in 2016 I became addicted to hiking with my friends. In the next two years we went on some amazing journeys around the UK. I began keeping a journal and by the time we completed Ben Nevis in 2018, I concluded that I had enough material to put a book together on our countryside adventures.

Certain factors impeded me, though, in completing my work: I’m terrible at following directions and even worse at becoming lost; plus, I’m terrified of heights whilst having a love of high up places. Such matters slowed my progress mightily and, at times, my work almost ground to a halt. However, much-needed wisdom came to me after some time and rather than see those above-mentioned concerns as blocks to completing my novel, I used them in my writing to fuel me onward to finally sending a completed manuscript to my developmental editor about three weeks ago.

Since then, I’ve been focusing on learning about self-publishing. I’ve read books and watched a fair number of YouTube videos on the subject. It’s like taking a university course again. I’d been so focused in getting my novel in for the developmental stage that I now see that I’ve neglected other areas that I should’ve tended to. I’m putting these down to rookie mistakes and over the coming weeks and months I’ll try and sharpen up.

Now, I’m armed with a self-publishing checklist and a backpack full of commitment to see everything through to completion. I hope to share my progress and insights of my journey to self-publishing here and to make connections with other avid writers and readers across the globe.

Again, I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to post something up, but I’ll check in again real soon. And I can’t wait to check out other people’s posts.

Wishing you all peace and good health.

See ya soon 😊