Running and Writing for ME/CFS: No.22

On 01/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS

Running: My Wednesday run, just ten minutes, took me down from the house, up the steep rise of Church Road, down the track that runs along the back of the houses fronting the main road, along that main road to the Post Office and then back up the slow rise until I reached the rather …

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Disorganisation, Distractions, Discipline and Desire.

On 01/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation, Progress4 Comments

Some work best in disorder, with apparent chaos ruling. Some need order, pattern and habit to produce their best. I belong to the ‘clear desk’ brigade. Not from any notion that chaos is generally undesirable or disruptive, but because my memory isn’t good enough to cope with the randomness of a disorganised way of living. …

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Tips on Word Choice No. 24: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 24/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use2 Comments

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

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Tips on Word Choice No.23: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 17/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Creative Writer, ME/CFS, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.20

On 15/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising

Running: First, the progress report, and then some news. Wednesday saw me running for the prescribed 10 minutes from my training plan. I covered a new route along a public footpath, down a sloping track and back home along the main road. Friday I had a 20 minute run, but it rained almost the entire …

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Tips on Word Choice No. 22: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 12/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.19

On 08/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity

Writing: At last! I’ve started the actual writing of the book. 2,000 words so far, which constitutes the opening chapter. Of course, the way I write means I’ll have to edit when I’ve finished the whole book, but that’s all part of my creative process. I’m aiming to have the book finished and ready to …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.18

On 04/02/201504/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity

Writing: I’ve spent most of the last few days making the new home a good place to live. This is the beginning of a new life for us, and my wife has put up with a lot during the ten years I suffered with ME/CFS. She, of course, makes no demands, has no expectations, and …

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Tips on Word Choice No.20: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 28/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.17

On 27/01/201527/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity

Writing and Running: Both have been on hold during the time it’s taken us to set up in the new home. But, we’re on top of the most urgent aspects now and things are starting to feel normal. Due to the amount of heavy manual work I’ve been involved in during the past 2 weeks, …

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Wrong! A Themed Anthology 2014, Edited by Deborah Owen; Reviewed.

On 25/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer

This collection of short fiction from many different authors is based on the following theme: ‘I have a list and a map. What can possibly go wrong?’ And, of course, these creative authors show the reader just what can go wrong. I confess at this point that I’m a guest author for this anthology, but …

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Tips on Word Choice No.19: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 13/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.16

On 12/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Creative Writer

A brief heads-up. I am in the process of moving house, in fact I've just packed the penultimate box and now await the arrival of the removal men and their van tomorrow. We should be in our new home on Wednesday, but no phone line of internet until Friday. Because of this situation, I have …

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Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No18

On 06/01/201504/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.15

On 04/01/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Creative Writer

The writing first: Still curating the diary entries. But I’m through 2009 now, so just 3 more years of entries to go before I’ll be able to actually start planning and writing the book. Again, this is more likely to be once the house move has completed. Things are moving on that issue and it’s …

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