Pinned

The Encouragement Manifesto

This article is our first expression of the values which underpinned our small business for nearly 5 years. We finally wrote them down and created The Encouragement Manifesto. We then asked some folk who we respect, and who live and work in the same way, to select one of the principles that strikes a chord with them and to write for us about it. We are gathering the articles here, in a Medium publication called ‘The Encouragement Manifesto’

Mentoring

2 min read

Mentoring

2 min read

Jan 8

The Seeker

A short story inspired by a picture of an old gate The incessant drips slid inside the neck of the threadbare raincoat. It had been brand new when he began the search, when he started the journey that had led him here. The iron gates groaned, the gnarled, graffitied walls…

Short Story

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Short Story

2 min read

Nov 19, 2022

Wordle Words

Words Weave Tales About Words Wordle is a game involving a series of guesses as the participant tries to discover that day’s ‘5-letter’ word answer. It is an often-frustrating process of elimination as ‘correct’ letters narrow down the potential answers. Frustrating is the word. I wrote a poem about it…

Words

1 min read

Words

1 min read

Wordle Words

Words Weave Tales About Words

Wordle is a game involving a series of guesses as the participant tries to discover that day’s ‘5-letter’ word answer. It is an often-frustrating process of elimination as ‘correct’ letters narrow down the potential answers. Frustrating is the word. I wrote a poem about it…

Oct 26, 2022

I.K.E.A

A poem (in the style of Brian Bilston) IKEA We see ya With your dizzying directions And your Swedish inflections Your cute little names Making it all fun and games Wide choice of candles Cupboards with no handles We’ll have the yellow octopus Maybe for Olivia, maybe for us Random…

Poetry

1 min read

Poetry

1 min read

I.K.E.A

A poem (in the style of Brian Bilston)

IKEA

We see ya

With your dizzying directions

And your Swedish inflections

Your cute little names

Making it all fun and games

Wide choice of candles

Cupboards with no handles

We’ll have the yellow octopus

Maybe for Olivia, maybe for us

Random…

Oct 25, 2022

How Do You Do?

Learning How To Write It seems strange to be full of thoughts about learning how to write. Writing is easy, isn’t it? Sit down, pick up the pen or fire up the technology, and write. Easy. That’s what is happening now, right now with this article. Easy. A thought in my head conveyed onto the paper. Writing, I’ve got this. But there’s that sort…

Writers On Writing

2 min read

Writers On Writing

2 min read

Oct 23, 2022

Write Another One, he said

I had just finished off a marathon writing challenge; I have banged out my #2badpagesaday and there's a manuscript (a couple of folk are kindly having a peek). Everyone said, step away from the words; move away from that story … leave it alone, pretend there is ‘nothing to see…

Writer

2 min read

Writer

2 min read

Oct 22, 2022

Writing More, Reading Less

Writing every day really slowed down my reading. Ever since I started the #2badpagesaday writing challenge, my #57Books reading has floundered. I know I should be doing both; there is an indivisible link between voracious reading and improved writing. Authors are all over this kind of thing: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two…

Reading

2 min read

Reading

2 min read

Oct 21, 2022

What The Fiction Have I Done?

Or ‘What Happens After You Draft Your First Novel’ I wrote a novel. {Ahem, coughs loudly} … sorry, did I mention, I WROTE A NOVEL. So, I’m not saying it is a book. That would be way too — what’s that word again — ambitious. But I definitely sat down…

Novel

3 min read

Novel

3 min read

Oct 19, 2022

Against The Tide

#2badpagesaday (80) By the time he set off, he had wasted half the morning. He re-read the notebook, relishing the way it connected him with her dreams and intentions. Packing and re-packing took an hour on either side of the hearty breakfast the old man brought in, the quiet silence…

Dystopia

5 min read

Dystopia

5 min read

Oct 18, 2022

Against The Tide

#2badpagesaday (79) It wasn’t long before he was missed. It only took until Monday lunchtime for the Enforcers to secure his office. The desk was clear apart from the computer. Every drawer, empty. Save one. A single handwritten word on a notepad with just one page that hadn’t been torn…

Dystopia

5 min read