No full blog post this time, but that doesn't mean I've been slacking. Oh no! I've been doing some food writing, the result of which is this guest post for Catherine Noble's food blog, Noble Nourishment:
Age is Just a Numbers Game
Few people get excited at the prospect of watching their twenties recede into memory. Most worry about the loss – however symbolic – of things like 'youth', 'freedom' and 'carefreeness'. They see their hopes, dreams and potential disappear over the horizon, careering all the while toward a middle age perceived as inescapably mundane.
Time Waits for No Writer
Summer can’t ever have lasted long enough for our hunter-gatherer ancestors - though I’m sure early humans were grateful not to have to alter their sun dials twice a year - but I wonder if their perception of time was similar to ours.
Getting Funny About Rejection
I had no God-given right to be judged near the top, of course. But where this competition differed was that We Said Go published every single one of those five hundred entries on their website. People had the chance to read what I submitted, and positive feedback led me to think that I’d made a breakthrough. This time, maybe, I was in with a shout.
Love Me, Love My Book (part two)
Happily, the submission to Publisher 4 appeared to have better prospects. They still hadn’t read any of the actual book, but they were interested enough by the description to send their submission guidelines – a series of seven questions, the answers to which would make up a detailed proposal. A really detailed proposal.
Love Me, Love My Book (part one)
While there can be a case for speculation and earnest hope – in life generally, but in publishing specifically – sometimes the best use of your time is to take five minutes to rant about the fact that unknown authors aren’t given a chance, then move on.
The Glamorous Writing Life
Assuming our only time off is weekends, 20+ holidays and the occasional public holiday, then we have to work all day and write when we get home throughout the year. In which case, is it better to have a dull job that doesn't challenge us or a job that requires us to use our creativity?
Hip to be Square(space)
Using Squarespace hasn't taught me anything in the basics of coding, but it has let me create a simple, uncluttered site that reflects my ideals. With the limited time that results from having a full time job, I've enjoyed using Squarespace as an intuitive, self-contained solution that has let me quickly refocus on writing.
Write on Time: a Blog Under Construction
TheWritingMan.com has gone live - which I guess means the blog has too! As befits a man who works in the construction industry, I'm still laying the foundations for what The Writing Mandate will become.
Industrial Revelation
A short piece for the Inspiration travel writing competition on We Said Go Travel, about how you don't have to fly half way round the world to find inspiration...
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Read MoreEast End Enchantment
I’m here to watch two films about food, ironically (though neither mentions yams). The second one is a Danish film about a French chef who cooks for a puritan religious community. The first is my favourite, however. An American documentary about the most celebrated sushi chef in Tokyo: Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Read MoreAin't No Mountain High Enough
A hail shower came and went, as if simply teasing us into thoughts of turning back when it knew we would force ourselves forwards. Small accumulations of snow had found a way to grow between the rocks. Imperceptibly the scene changed and we trekked across the ice planet Hoth toward our goal.
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