Sunday: 'Peace of Mind'

Written a couple of months ago, my article about 'The Cinnamon Trust' will be published in the next edition of  'Dogs Today' magazine. Entitled 'Peace of Mind' this feature (Page 22 Issue 364) covers the extraordinary work of the charity. Be amongst the first to read this article when it goes on my website soon.

I'd like to acknowledge the assistance of Rob Kibble of the Sloughwriters, who stripped out a photograph from the pdf copy of my article 'Ghosts of the Waterways', Check out his websited at The Philosophical Leopard Thanks Rob.

I'd also like to thank Carol Bridge for her kind offer to retype some of my previously published work. Her work is always flawless. Thanks Carol.

Ghosts of the Waterways

It's been a busy day, but rather my own fault. I laid in bed watching the Lord Mayors procession this morning. This afternoon, I did a few hours studying. This evening, I wrote and designed a mini website appealing for information. This is what I wrote:-

THE BOAT gently rocks, water lapping on the hull. It's late and dark. Somewhere nearby an owl gently hoots. Then, in the blackened stillness, the boat starts to rock. A passing boat? An uninvited boarder? Or perhaps one of the hundreds of ghosts, visions or experiences on our waterways?

Maybe you recognise this spectre?. Maybe you know the 'being' you're 'seeing'? A long lost friend or acquaintance perhaps?

I'm looking for stories. Your stories. Real stories. Take me with you. Take me there.

If you have experienced, or know someone who has experienced, a ghost on an inland waterway, I would like to hear from you. Please send me an email at sloughwriter@gmail.com or call/text 0777 466 0557.

A Ghost Story For Christmas http://richardhill.co.uk/ghosts.pdf  Canal and Riverboat Magazine, December 1998.

Notes on the above illustration The main photograph was taken under the bridge at Norbury Junction over ten years ago. The figure in the shadows is Simon Hawthorn with his little American Cocker Spaniel Annie. The 'spectre' was compiled of images found on the internet.

Friday

I'm feeling under the weather again, especially my legs. They hurt quite badly. The pain seems to be in the area where they implanted the titanium rods and screws. Recently, my walking has got worse, although, until recently, it was getting better. I've had to revert to using a walking stick.

Meanwhile, I'm doing a lot of studying with my new online course 'Article Writing and Freelance Journalism'. I'm now working on Unit Three 'Writing Style'. I've just completed my third assignment which mainly covered planning an article - something I've never done before.

I've just uploaded the 'LATEST WORK' to my website. It's at http://richardhill.co.uk/latest.html In particular, check out: http://richardhill.co.uk/bournville5.pdf

Thursday Thinking.

 I've been studying today - 'Article Writing and Freelance Journalism', I'm on Assignment Three - 'Planning your article'.

"Good construction happens best because of good planning. A planning technique used by many article writers is:

1.     To draft an outline of the article, simply indicating the order in which thoughts, ideas and information will be presented. Each of these, at this stage, is placed under a subheading. The subheadings may or may not appear in the final manuscript; at this stage they are simply there to help construct the article.

2.     To have a separate sheet of paper, or a separate file card, for each of these subheadings. We will call these the subject files. On each subject file, set out the information in greater detail and indicate where you need to find further information.

3.     When all the information you need is assembled and recorded on the subject files, it should then be set out in the form of topics to give yourself a topic list. At this stage you can rearrange the order of your subject files to make the finished article as coherent and logical as possible.

4.     At the end of this exercise, you will have a series of topic lists. You can now write each topic as a topic sentence and develop the paragraph that follows from the topic sentence.

In this way, you have a clear set of objectives as you write. Your writing will be more disciplined, and you will avoid rambling or straying from the subject."

Wednesday Writings

 

 

Some studying (a lot) and writing (a little) today. Also sorting out all my documents, images and files. If I don't do it on a regular basis I get in a terrible muddle. For the rest of the afternoon, into the early evening, I'm going to do some more studying.

Chillin' - almost!

I took a day off from researching/writing any of my current projects today. I did, however, do some studying of Unit 4 (Finding and developing the angle.) of my 'Article Writing and Freelance Journalism' course.

69 Today!

I'm 69 today and Simon's just served up a brilliant lunch of steak, chips, mushrooms, tomatoes, and gravy. I couldn't eat another thing until I'm 70!

I've just started an 8-week online course in 'Article Writing and Freelance Journalism' with 'Writing Magazine'. I'm doing it as I want to be a better writer for a wider range of magazines and in more depth.