Thursday 28 June 2012

Writers' London: Working Day

I need to do some budgeting. Is there
anything more calculated to send one into
a tailspin? At least with income, expenditure
and a calculator, I can find out where I have
to make adjustments. And it's sunny
enough to work out in the yard, yay.

Wednesday 27 June 2012

In view of the fact that I did a great deal 
of work yesterday I am happy to do filing
today. Write first, other things later.

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Nature in the city, plus some reality

Just so you know, I have reached the
section in my Writers' Guide (work in progress)
on writers' intolerances. There are so many
since reality can be massively offensive 
to the writer trying either to write or think.
One of my favourite tales is the one of Kingsley 
Amis striding up to a bar (possibly in Camden
Town) and remonstrating loudly that he wanted
them to turn the musak down, preferably off. 

Today, on my way to the supermarket, 
I passed a set of road diggers whose digging
machines were issuing a decibel-din that 
was quite above that of human tolerance. 
I then negotiated shelves of breakfast
cereals with titles like 'Krave' and 
the presence in the aisles, heaving with
lunchtime shoppers, of those huge goods
delivery cages being unpacked and
shelved. A nation of shopkeepers? We
have become a nation of bad shopkeepers.
(Oh, of course, the shops would say it 
wasn't their fault: delivery lorries were late, 
stuck in traffic, there was a breakdown, 
roadworks . . . any excuse.) As I said,
a post about everyday writers' intolerances.
If you have any to add, please do - and 
thanks for reading. 

Later I found this on intolerance and 'tolerations' 
from Linda Formichelli of The Renegade Writer


Lilies in Regent's Park - and I actually 
managed to keep the camera still

Monday 25 June 2012

Regent's Park gardeners excelled 
themselves with their Diamond Jubilee
tribute: a whole section of the garden on 
the left of Broad Walk has been planted
in a precision Union Flag design
 

Friday 22 June 2012

Blogs of note this week


http://allisonwinnscotch.blogspot.co.uk/
http://inkthinkerblog.com/
http://www.successful-blog.com/category/writing/
http://goinswriter.com/
http://janefriedman.com/
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/
http://www.thewriterssite.com/direct_pages/writing_blogs.php
http://simplyjan.wordpress.com

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Nature in the city

The smallest yard garden 
can bring in the light
and refresh the mind

Monday 18 June 2012

No-one ever said writing was easy, 
or quick, or anything really, other than 
what it is: an exercise in dogged 
persistence. I have just got to the end 
of novel 1 (feel free to raise a cheer); it has 
taken 14 months, 7 months to finish draft 1, 
and (this surprised me) a further 7 months 
for redrafts and polishing. It's READY TO GO.
Part of the writer's displacement activity 
- to go to Robert Dyas and find out
what new gadgets they've got in. 

Sunday 17 June 2012

The Institute of Contemporary Arts goes Retro

The ICA has a sound installation
in its ground floor exhibition space 
(I was there only for a quick coffee). At the same
time they have taken down the false interior 
wall, opening up these beautiful windows.

Saturday 16 June 2012

All hail those splendid architects
who are getting on their bikes:
may it inspire the others.

Further, I am contemplating volunteering
my poetic pedestrian lungs to try
out one of those Totobobo SuperCool
anti-pollution masks, if I can find one,
over the month of July.

Friday 15 June 2012

Summer, summer, where are you?

Sitting at desk wearing a fleece
hoodie and boots. Trying very hard
to remember it's summer. 

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Islington on a summer's evening

. . . and not too many vehicles on the roads to spoil things
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246495.php)