Fantastic Friday!

Up early this morning to work on Bodie's website. I've uploaded 13 of his drawings which deserve sharing. I also uploaded one of his poems. The only section remaining section is 'About the Book'.

Website Wednesday

I've updated the 'Latest Work' section of my website to include two more recently published articles in Dogs Today magazine. Check them out at http://richardhill.co.uk/latest.html . 

I've started researching material for my first book 'Bodie Best'. Bodie Best is a 19-year-old non-binary person with a variety of complex psychiatric needs including autism. Bodie is a really nice person. During the week, Bodie attends ‘a specialist further education college providing day and residential support for young people with Autism spectrum conditions or additional social needs.’

I've created a 'mini' website for Bodie. You can visit it at: http://www.richardhill.co.uk/bodie/

Tuesday Notes

 I've been working on Bodie Best's website this morning and afternoon. I've researched more relevant links which are now online at http://www.richardhill.co.uk/bodie/links.html

Today, I walked further than I have since my accident, albeit in slow short steps with the aid of a walking frame. I walked about 400 metres.

I'm doing a 'one-off' course on memoir writing with CityLit on Thursday evening. I planned to write my own life story when I originally booked it, but I've since decided to write my first book, 'Bodie Best'. Hopefully, this taster will give me some good pointers.

If you know Bodie, please get in touch with any stories about him. Email us at bodiebest@mail.com

A new week.

I spent the weekend working on a small website for Bodie and the book. It still needs to be finished, but it's at http://www.richardhill.co.uk/bodie . I'll be working on it during the week.

The Book

For one of my assignments on my course "Creative Writing - Non-fiction" I submitted the opening of my article about 19-year-old non-binary person Bodie Best, who has autism among a variety of complex mental health issues. Ed Parnell, my tutor and author of "Ghostland", gave me excellent feedback and suggested that it would be a great opening for a non-fiction book.

This got me thinking. I hadn't previously considered writing a full-length non-fiction book but at this stage of my writing "career" perhaps it would be worth consideration. Although at such a young age, Bodie has been through what many readers would consider a fascinating story.

So; with Bodie's consent and enthusiasm, I've decided to write the book. It will involve much research, both into his life story thus far, and the ethical and legal aspects of committing this story to paper.

So, watch this space to see how I'm progressing, and check out a website I'm creating for the project: www.richardhill.co.uk/bodie

Do you know Bodie? I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at sloughwriter@gmail.com

Assignment 1.1

I'm working my way through 'How To Write Creative Non-fiction' which has several assignments some of which I'll post here. 

Deintydd

(Dentist)

Emotional Truth

It’s already bad enough. It’s cold, windy and raining. Worse still, some of us, pupils from Bont primary school are being carted away in a rickety old minibus to the dreaded dentist in Machynlleth, some 13 miles away. This isn’t my first such trip; some of us have been doing the same trip for the same reason regularly every six months for the past three years.

Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not the treatment itself that we’re fearful of, although that’s bad enough, it’s the dentist that we fear most. A nasty man pretending to be nice.

We arrive at the surgery, all eight of us pile out of the minibus and go inside to the waiting room. Each one of us takes a seat on one of the dark green canvas chairs. It’s a cold cream clinical room, with dental healthcare posters hanging around the room.

Some of the new first-timers ask us what happens next. Before anyone has time to reply ‘he’ enters the room. ‘Bore da plant’ he says to us. ‘Pwy sydd gyntaf, who is first?’ No-one answers, transfixed by the appearance of this man. He’s dressed in a green gown, gloves, a headscarf and a mask, leaving only his dark eyes visible.

After a fairly long period of silence, Bryn is the first to answer, ‘Fe af yn gyntaf’ meaning ‘I’ll go first’. ‘Ydy pawb yn siarad cymraeg?’ says the dentist, followed by ‘Does everyone speak welsh?’ I raise my hand. ‘I don’t sir.’ Clearly sensing that I’m petrified he says, ‘Yes, I remember you from your last visit pal, you can go next, after this young man’, pointing at Bryn.

I feel sorry for the others, especially for those who are here for the first time. Some of them will have to wait for a long time, waiting for their turn to come. And as they wait, for what seems an interminable time, they hear typical ‘dentistry’ sounds emanating from the treatment room next door.

Bryn is in having his treatment right now, and I’m next which leaves six awaiting their turn, each treatment taking half an hour which means that the last to go in will have had to have been waiting for around 3 - 4 hours. Nightmare.

FACTUAL TRUTH

• Group of eight school children being taken to the dentist.

• Children sit around awaiting their turn.

• Introduction by dentist.

• Children chosen to go in first and second.

• Experience of children waiting their turn.

My comment

I didn’t read the brief carefully enough.

It's 5:30pm and I'm going to stop work and read the book.

Monday 4th March

St. David's day has come and gone.

I've been increasing my exercise and today managed to reach the bench in our communal garden.

I've been studying my "Creative Writing - non-fiction" course and have reached the end of Module Two. Module Three won't be 'unlocked' for another seven days.

I'm currently researching material for two articles for Dogs Today magazine. 'Offenders training puppies to become 'assistance' dogs' and 'Volunteering and Dogs'. I've visited loads of websites and facebook pages.

I've been working since 11am and am now packing it in as it's 5pm.

As you can see, I didn't pack it in as it's now nearly 8:30pm. I've been trying to find a magazine website that I couldn't find, but have so done now. The magazine is called 'SICK' and I've submitted my article BEST'S FRIENDS to them for consideration.

I'm definitely going to pack it in now!