Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.30

On 26/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress4 Comments

Running: This week’s training started with a 15 minute ‘easy’ run on Wednesday. I covered a little more ground than on the last time I did this run. Friday was a 20 minute easy run and, again, I covered a little more ground through the forest alive with birdsong and sunlight. Today, Sunday, was a …

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Secrets and Lies in El Salvador, by Sherrie Miranda, Reviewed.

On 23/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review2 Comments

This novel reads like a personal account; it is presented in a way that takes the reader straight into the life of the protagonist as she finds herself. There are elements of the confessional here, suggestions of reportage, instances of the documentary. Secrets and Lies in El Salvador is written with passion, through the eyes …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.29

On 20/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, ME/CFS, Progress2 Comments

Confession: I really should have decided at the beginning of this week to write it off for the purposes of the book and the running. Wednesday saw Valerie and I bidding farewell to our daughter at Gatwick Airport. We’d stayed overnight in a B & B there so she could be in plenty of time …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.28

On 12/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, ME/CFS

Running: The programme for this week was a 10-minute easy run on Wednesday, and 15-minute easy runs on Friday and Sunday. I managed Friday and Sunday with no problems, but Wednesday was a different matter. On Tuesday, as part of our on-going conversion of the slope at the end of our garden from briar and …

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IndieReCon – It’s Coming! It’s Coming

On 11/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book

There’s a free, online self-publishing conference taking place next week. It’s the third year of IndieReCon, and they have an action-packed schedule filled with all sorts of great stuff – a mixture of posts, vlogs, webinars, as well as the opportunity to drill deeper into the various topics with a series of online and Twitter …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.26

On 29/03/201529/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS4 Comments

Running: 10 minute easy run on Wednesday was an easy jog through the village, reaching further than before, so some improvement. 20 minutes in the forest on Friday, witnessing the arrival of spring as I jogged along the tracks. Due for 15 minutes today, but did that indoors due to the inclement weather. It looked …

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The Paintings, by Linda Acaster, Reviewed.

On 23/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Linda Acaster’s, The Paintings, is not a book to read before bed, unless, of course, you prefer nightmares to sweet dreams. This short chiller is subtly sinister, as it builds a story of the apparent ordinary into something with supernatural hints and underlying threats to reach a climax that is as satisfying as it is …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.24

On 16/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress3 Comments

Running: This week I ran all three of the set runs in the programme. Fifteen minutes through the forest, with the birds chirruping their joy in Spring on Wednesday. Twenty minutes on Friday, extending the same run. And then a short; ten minutes on Sunday, running up the steep rise of Church Road, down the …

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Tips on Word Choice No. 25: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 03/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

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.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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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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