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

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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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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The Cunning Man, by John Yeoman, Reviewed.

On 02/01/201530/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review

This ‘fictorial’ as the author calls it, should start a trend amongst authors with a desire to help other writers improve their craft. That is precisely what John Yeoman does in this collection of historical mystery stories. He tells a tale and inserts footnote links in the text, these lead to the footnotes, which explain …

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Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No17

On 30/12/201428/12/2014 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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EU Ereader? Beware VAT Rise in 2015

On 26/12/2014 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer

This is just a brief heads up for those of you who have an Ereader, or were bought one for Xmas. Many of you will be unaware that a change in EU law means that from 1st January 2015 VAT will be added to cost of all digital books, set at the rate applying in …

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