Write-Place

Typical isn't it ... I had a post for this blog all composed in my head and then when I set down to write I got a "Blogger is not in use at the moment" message. By the time that I had browsed every other Google blog that I follow - and some that I don't - to see if it was a problem unique to me or if it was affecting others, I had sort of forgotten what I intended posting. However, as I have recently read about easily distracted people having too much brain   http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20453-easily-distracted-people-may-have-too-much-brain.html I am not too concerned about my memory lapses, at the moment. So, back to The New Scientist. Maybe some further insights into the fact that I have recently gained weight -it's not fat at or big bones at all, it's the extra grey matter.

Recently read Julian Baggini's "The Ego Trick".  A brilliant book which looks at the nature of self in an entertaining and comprehensive, easily understandable way. http://julianbaggini.blogspot.com/2011/03/ego-trick.html Definately recommended for anyone interested in exploring what it means to be 'you'. Read and enjoy below, then buy the book. Has inspired the following from me (200 words or less and short poem on theme of 'glass'. Thought Experiment Imagine yourself as created all at once, yet perfect and whole. But your sight has been veiled from the external. Do your feelings then come from the soul? As you fall without any resistance through the void. Each body part separate, untouched. Then reflect in the glass of experience and affirm the existence of self. Ref: “Floating Man” – Avicenna  cited in "The Ego Trick" Julian Baggini Diving for Pearls What you see is what you get. That’s what I used to tell people, but lately that’s not ...

With May 5th rapidly approaching, it's difficult to know where to start in debating the issues that Maltby Town Council have had over the past four years since the elections in 2007. To keep up to date via blogging became an almost 24/7 task, especially during 2008/2009 (Read here  http://wwwrite-place.blogspot.com  ) so I hope that now looking at things in retrospect, we can gain a better understanding of what we can expect from our elected members in the future. So, Maltby's candidates for Rotherham Borough Council, 2011 :   Michael Burke (BNP), Michael Conlon,  Christine Beaumont (Labour), Derek Johnson (Conservative), John Kirk (Independent).   Michael Burke was in 2010 hoping to follow fellow BNP member Will Blair, who was elected to RMBC in 2008. Last year he said he'd been getting a good reaction from people and had been asked for more leaflets. In The Dinnington Guardian he says that "People everywhere are concerned about immigration"...

A short stay in hospital last week made me “Media Free” for a few days – physically and mentally as well as practically – so I feel like I am on catch up with life. I have no chance (or need) of being completely up to date with International or national events, though I try, to a certain extent. Things are happening, both natural and man-made, around us and across the world that are having and will have a major impact on our lives and on our children’s lives an it is not alarmist to be aware of this. I have read that there is no more “bad news” than there ever was, in proportion with the population. There aren’t any more murders, rapes and robberies than in times gone by and it only appears to be so because of our access to so much information, instantly. Earthquakes, tsunamis, wars and unrest have been going on since time began but now we document so much evidence, as it is happening. We watch unfolding events thousands of miles away from us, without moving an inch from the arm...

May I  introduce to readers of this blog ...    The Creative Cafe Project                            the idea of Gill James, children's writer and university lecturer. The Creative Cafe is a network of cafés where artists,  writers and musicians are welcome and where ordinary coffee lovers know that they will be able to experience something a little different as they sip their brew. It is already happening  in a number of towns and aims to   create and expand Creative Cafés nationally. A perfect way to develop arts in the community, no matter how big or small the venture becomes. Please take a look  here   http://www.creativecafeproject.co.uk    and also at  http://creativecafeproject.co.uk/Dreaming.aspx          I challenge anyone who enjoys music, poetry, literature and art NOT to be inspired by this "vision".  Is there a Cr...

Most books are written in first person I, or third person he/she/it. I have read that only the most creative and experimental write in second person - the "you" point of view.  So with this in mind (she says ) I am reworking a story into second person as I also understand that it is the least used point of view in fiction, and there's nothing like experimental to get the brain cells moving. Second person requires the reader not only to step into the head of the protagonist, but into his very shoes.   The writer has to become at one with the reader and convince the reader that the events are happening to him personally and that he is seeing and experiencing these events through his own eyes.   writing-in-second-person-point-of-view It's also said that 2nd person writing can become annoying for the reader. Good writers shouldn't have a problem with this, should they ? Here's a couple of "off the cuff " paragraphs written this morning. I will p...

When Mr Ed Miliband produced a document of blank pages called a Fresh Ideas Pamphlet for Labour supporters to suggest new policy proposals, it seemed like a good way to get views across. Now the two Eds, Miliband and Balls, have come up with another form to fill in before shadow ministers do or say anything in public. This involves getting specific approval on the precise words they intend using, especially ones about money. 'The public has a right to expect us to adopt a responsible and thorough approach. We hope this process will support rather than hinder your work in developing a clear and ambitious agenda for a future Labour Government’, they say. This is all well and good. There has to be a consensus of opinion in these matters so that the party are all singing from the same proverbially hymn sheet and everything is open, transparent and not misleading.Yet there is something disturbing about having all your words and actions vetted before they are put to the public. It seem...