Sunday

 Here's another good book for amateur and aspiring writers of creative nonfiction: "You can't make this stuff up - The complete guide to writing creative nonfiction from memoir to literary journalism and everything in between." by Lee Gutkind. An easy read and excellent guide.

Saturday 27/04/24

Nothing much to report over the last few days. I've not been very well and staying mainly in bed where I've been studying the sixth and final module of my course 'Creative Writing Nonfiction' with the National Centre for Writing, part of the University of East Anglia.

I've been able to have a short profile and photograph included in the 'Authors' section of the 'Gay Authors Workshop'. This should be added within the next few days.

Just a reminder of my secondary website, which is www.dannydog.co.uk. Take a look and tell me what you think!

Tuesday

 

Project: Bodie's Book

Today, I've been working on a few things. For some reason, some of my programs haven't been working correctly, so I spent quite a lot of the day fixing these. Mostly good now.

I could now convert a copy of my fifth and final assignment as an 'article' for Bodie and I added the above artwork which was drawn by Bodie himself.

I'm now into the sixth and final module of my course, and it looks really difficult, but I'll give it a go.

World Creativity Day 2024

 

https://worldcreativityday.com/en

Get creative with the 'National Centre for Writing'.

https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

I'm chuffed. I've just completed and submitted my fifth and final assignment; 1,500 words on Bodie Best. Bodie is a 19-year-old non-binary person with a variety of complex psychiatric needs including autism.

It's been a challenging, yet interesting project. Due to my disability, I couldn't easily travel down to Dorset to interview Bodie (apart from which Bodie can't cope with 'face-to-face' with people that he's never met before). We kept in touch, and carried out interviews, by telephone, messenger, and email.

I'm delighted with the outcome. Much of the work was done while I was suffering from the side-effects of a change in my medication, but nevertheless, I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome!

Gay Authors Workshop

 

The Gay Authors Workshop was founded in 1978 and is an association of LGBT+ creative writers – poets, dramatists, essayists, fiction, and non-fiction writers.

The aim is to support writers by providing opportunities for them to meet, read, discuss, and develop their work.

https://paradisepress.org.uk/pp-gaw.html

A few days ago, I set up a website dedicated to my unpublished fiction, non-fiction, and poetry at www.dannydog.co.uk . One of the fictional LGBT+ stories is 'Under the Night' which you can read here: http://www.richardhill.co.uk/ddog/underthenight.pdf . One is an LGBT+ poem entitled 'Outing' and can be found here: http://www.richardhill.co.uk/ddog/theouting.pdf . And a final LGBT+ poem, 'That's how it is' at http://www.richardhill.co.uk/ddog/thatshowitis.pdf I hope that you enjoy reading them.

Friday 19th

MP's are debating the 'Animal Welfare' bill today, in particular the theft of dogs (and cats). In anticipation and in advance of this, I wrote and published a feature in 'Dogs Today' magazine.  The story is of 'Wayne May/,  who has reunited over 2,000 stolen dogs with their owners. Title: 'Until the day I die'. http://richardhill.co.uk/waynemay.pdf

My good friend Mark Starkey, a web developer from High Wycombe, kindly edited the 'Non-fiction' page on www.dannydog.co.uk so that the lists are in two columns. Check it out. at http://www.richardhill.co.uk/ddog/nonfiction.html

Wednesday 17th

I've been studying for, and writing the fifth and final assignment for my course. 1,500 words on a topic of our choosing. I'm writing about 'Bodie Best', a 19-year-old non-binary person with autism and a variety of complex psychiatric conditions. The deadline is 5th May. I'm halfway through the fifth module of six.

I'm at the end of my three-year contract with Motability so it's time to get a new car. These last three years, I've had a Kia Picanto which I've been very pleased with, so this time I'm going for the same.

I'd be lost without a car, and on the benefits I receive, I couldn't afford it. Deposit, insurance, breakdown, recovery, servicing, etc. Altogether, I just wouldn't be able to cope. That's where Motability comes in. For a mobility portion of my PIP (Personal Independence Payment) Motability pays for everything. All I have to pay for is petrol. It's a lifesaver. According to the Motability Salesperson at Kia Slough, I'll be getting the car in mid-May. I can't wait!

Here are some links that may be of interest:-

• Kia (Citygate) Slough: - https://www.kia.com/uk/dealers/citygateslough/
• Motability: https://www.motability.co.uk/
• Motability Scheme (Citizens Advice): https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/help-for-disabled-travellers1/#h-motability-scheme

Hope this helps.