Tag: #writers

Excuse Monkey

Photo by David Gonzales on Pexels.com

Hi

Been a while since I posted!!

I keep starting my blogs with this statement and I sound like the perennial ‘excuse monkey’

That sounds like an interesting thing to be and when this thought came into my head I decided to Google to see if such a thing existed?

It didn’t so I will now copyright that idea ©excuse monkey.

An excuse monkey will therefore be defined as a procrastinator who seems to have a monkey on their back and that is who they blame for not getting on with things.

However this isn’t why I started to write today.

I looked back on my last blog and have continued to write various pieces which I think I will put in my brand new, new book.

This isn’t a typo as I have new book which about to be published on Amazon (more about that later) but I will need to make a start on the next one.

Some more good news!!

  1. We have celebrated my daughter (and son in law’s) wedding.
  2. The local drama club have managed to perform their pantomime (late due to Covid 19)
  3. We have survived COVID 19 infections in various family members.

I am feeling less pessimistic which is helpful as it means that I feel able write a bit more.

The new writing group has continued to meet and we have had some more people join us. The tasks have challenged me (for the positive) so for one, I took a risk and wrote a rap based on marriage.

I am seen as a mid 50’s rock loving guy (well I admit to listening to other stuff too) but RAP music is not normally in my ‘wheelhouse’

My weird inspiration was, whilst listening to Spotify I heard Buddy Holly and then Eminem in succession. These are not the usual combinations I listen to but I then put some of the words on paper/ my phone.

I initially shared what was written a fortnight ago and then wrote more ideas based on the constructive thoughts/ feedback (not harsh criticism) received from my fellow writers.

I then performed this rap at the latest Spoken Word (The Innerverse) on Weds 29th and was given very positive feedback from the ‘experts.’ I plan to perform it again and this time I’ll do it much better!

Four weeks ago I took the plunge and delivered a workshop on Limerick Writing which stimulated others to write further limericks. Because of this I had to write a few new ones to share at The Innerverse. Again this was received very well. Nowadays I am being introduced as the “Limericks Expert” but I feel I have imposter syndrome about this but it is nice to know that I am able to share my knowledge/ skills to fellow writers.

I also spoke about contranyms  which I illustrated by this old joke I DIDN’T share at the above wedding.

“When a man doesn’t have a partner he is incomplete, when he gets one, he is FINISHED”

A contranym is a word that can have opposite meanings dependant on the circumstances.

“To dust can either mean to add or to remove dust”

As I mentioned before, I have put the final (well almost) touches to my latest book.

Two years ago, my son in law wished me a happy birthday with the words “Joetry in Motion” and used the throwaway comment, that would make a good title for a book.

Well that is what I have used, so thanks Lee Hall (www.leehallwriter.com ) who is not the Lee Hall who wrote Billy Elliot.

I will publish the book over the next few weeks so keep a look out for notifications and hopefully you may want to purchase a copy.

Let’s see if I can keep up this effort and write something on this blog next week!!

Dragons and stuff

So what did you do this weekend?

This is what the civilised or not so civilised often start their conversation with you

What you really want to do is to have something exciting to relate such as fighting a dragon in a mythical world or inventing something useful that’ll get you the next Nobel prize or an investment from one of the dragons (not one you killed earlier) from Dragons Den.

Whilst these are worthy thoughts and reasons to share with your audience, the real conversation usually involves sleeping, eating or cleaning.

If you think a little more laterally, these are some of the adult dragons that we fight most days. They also may be what keeps the mentality unhealthy dragons away and keep you alive.

I bet if George had to keep fighting dragons every day he’d get bored of it. However he needed to just to survive.

Anyway why am I rambling on about dragons.

For those new to me, I wrote a poem about dragons. If you haven’t read my first book then I have been told that it’s a fairly good read.

If you go to Amazon it can be downloaded or bought for a reasonable price.

Who knows you may enjoy it!!!.

Anyway to get back to the subject, writing was one of those dragons I had to conquer.

My English teachers would probably tell you that I could do better but I somehow didn’t.

By putting myself out there has changed my outlook on writing and also performing in that I thought it would be for others but not me.

Reflectimg on the present day, COVID 19 stiffles my writing a bit as I haven’t been out properly, but I have written about a quarter of a new book and need to write a little more

On the positive side I hope to produce something concrete soon.

I have a book in draft form (since March)which ” I will publish when it is my best work “

That’s a tiny glimpse for now

ONE DAY THE SUN WILL HAVE HIS HAT ON (AGAIN)

So the lockdown will be upon us tomorrow.

Has this changed anything in your life?

Will you still continue to work or will you stay at home?

Will you be furloughed again or does the threat of redundancy post December 2nd feel more real.

Be sure to look at all the supportive measures that you can. Keeping mentally healthy is important.

Maybe ring up that relative that you forgot to yesterday to check that they will be ok.

Arrange a Zoom/Skype/MS teams/ Facebook (other virtual mediums available) meeting to say hi and make sure that you don’t feel alone.

Maybe do something nice today. Cook a nice meal and share a photo. Buy some flowers or chocolates for those you live with.

Start planning your evening viewing or turn the tv off and read a book that is sitting there gathering dust which you promised yourself that you would read weeks or even years ago

Maybe you can play a board game.

Maybe sing along to a song from your voluminous vinyl record/ cd or Spotify collection.

If you are artistic then maybe this is the opportunity to produce something.

Write a book, poem or draw a picture.

Just because life produces lemons you don’t have to be bitter.

Smile ( even under your mask) it does produce endorphins and who knows, someone else may smile back.

The sun will put his hat on and you will reply hip hip hurrah or am I going to far now!