Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.
John Ruskin (1819-1900)
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Happy 4th Birthday Blog!!
Today I am still feeling under the weather due to a cold that I seem to have acquired as the temperature outside rapidly drops as winter approaches! I also think this has been brought on as I have been feeling 'run down' lately and trying to do too many things at once. I know I need to be calmer and go with the flow more....
Did I mention that I had joined a book group down the road? Well, I have decided to drop that commitment as I think it is one too many.
And I briefly considered attending to write a novel in a month - 50,000 words in 30 days (see: www.nanowrimo.org/ ) but due to stress levels and time constraints I think I will pass on it this year. While contemplating it however, it did give me an idea for a book, so we shall see!
Since attending the Lindum Scribes in September I have become a member of the group. I feel this is a good thing as the meetings are held locally and the members are a nice bunch. I also continue to attend the Poison Pens who continue to be a great source of inspiration and knowledge. Both groups have a different mix of people so the comments I receive at one regarding a piece may be different from the other group.
I have had a number of ideas lately with regards to themes for poetry and hope to attempt to do some free verse in the near future. Having a toddler means that time has to be found in small amounts and this is more conducive to poetry writing than novel writing (at least for me!).
As I say, time continues to be my main problem. However, I must remember not to push myself so hard, not to try to control everything so much, to use writing as therapy when things get too bad and to Relax!!
Did I mention that I had joined a book group down the road? Well, I have decided to drop that commitment as I think it is one too many.
And I briefly considered attending to write a novel in a month - 50,000 words in 30 days (see: www.nanowrimo.org/ ) but due to stress levels and time constraints I think I will pass on it this year. While contemplating it however, it did give me an idea for a book, so we shall see!
Since attending the Lindum Scribes in September I have become a member of the group. I feel this is a good thing as the meetings are held locally and the members are a nice bunch. I also continue to attend the Poison Pens who continue to be a great source of inspiration and knowledge. Both groups have a different mix of people so the comments I receive at one regarding a piece may be different from the other group.
I have had a number of ideas lately with regards to themes for poetry and hope to attempt to do some free verse in the near future. Having a toddler means that time has to be found in small amounts and this is more conducive to poetry writing than novel writing (at least for me!).
As I say, time continues to be my main problem. However, I must remember not to push myself so hard, not to try to control everything so much, to use writing as therapy when things get too bad and to Relax!!
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
The Saddest Thing
He is everywhere.
He is in my thoughts.
He is everything.
To me.
The reason for existence.
The reason that I breathe.
I need him
Just
To be.
But..
The saddest thing.
Is that I know
He's never noticed
Me.
Published in Winged Words, Edited by Heather Killingray, Poetry Now, Peterborough (2003)
He is in my thoughts.
He is everything.
To me.
The reason for existence.
The reason that I breathe.
I need him
Just
To be.
But..
The saddest thing.
Is that I know
He's never noticed
Me.
Published in Winged Words, Edited by Heather Killingray, Poetry Now, Peterborough (2003)
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Jude White at Lindum Scribes
Last night I went to see Jude White http://uk.linkedin.com/in/judecwhite at a meeting of the Lindum Scribes. Jude is a freelance proofreader who has worked with Karen Maitland www.karenmaitland.com/ on her books. She was very nervous but gave us a lot of information with regards to being a proofreader, but also what to expect if we ever get published! Her background is in education and she has had experience with designing publications which gave her an understanding of how things are produced. She set up her proofreading business in 1998 and has had many clients since then; including post grad students wanting their dissertations checking, as well as the NHS and the Police Service; which led to other clients. Most of her commissions now come via word of mouth recommendations. She is a member of The Society for Editors and Proofreaders: http://www.sfep.org.uk/
She does not make changes to the plot as this is the Commissioning Editors job, but it is her responsibility to ensure there are no errors in the text. So she does look at punctuation, spelling, clarity of text, consistency within the document, graphs and diagrams, as well as any references. She must look at every single letter and space in a document. She will often be called upon to flag up any legal issues such as copyright or libel infringements. However, she will check with her clients prior to starting, to ensure she knows exactly how much she needs to check and what is expected of her.
She works to a Style Sheet that the commissioning clients give her. Often, she is not given a Style Guide and here she writes one herself to follow. There is a British Standard for Proofreading which she must follow which stipulates corrections must be done in one of 3 colours. Red- Typesetter error, Blue - Author, Copy editor and Green for other queries on the text.
Cost / Payment is usually based on the client and what she is being asked to proof read. She usually charges per 1000 words but she does sometimes charge an hourly rate; again based on client and the local market.
The two reference books she uses are: New Hart's Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors R M Ritter (Adapter), Oxford University Press and Butcher's Copy-editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Copy-editors and Proofreaders, Judith Butcher (Author). She highlighted that it must be the latest editions of these books, as rules regarding text, spelling, punctuation, and what is acceptable, are changing all the time.
She was good enough to bring a couple of handouts. One was a copy of a test she had been set by the Central Office of Information (I think) to establish how good she was; prior to being given a particular job. It was difficult to say the least! The other handout she was good enough to put together specifically for the Lindum Scribes as they are interested in e-publishing.
She does not make changes to the plot as this is the Commissioning Editors job, but it is her responsibility to ensure there are no errors in the text. So she does look at punctuation, spelling, clarity of text, consistency within the document, graphs and diagrams, as well as any references. She must look at every single letter and space in a document. She will often be called upon to flag up any legal issues such as copyright or libel infringements. However, she will check with her clients prior to starting, to ensure she knows exactly how much she needs to check and what is expected of her.
She works to a Style Sheet that the commissioning clients give her. Often, she is not given a Style Guide and here she writes one herself to follow. There is a British Standard for Proofreading which she must follow which stipulates corrections must be done in one of 3 colours. Red- Typesetter error, Blue - Author, Copy editor and Green for other queries on the text.
Cost / Payment is usually based on the client and what she is being asked to proof read. She usually charges per 1000 words but she does sometimes charge an hourly rate; again based on client and the local market.
The two reference books she uses are: New Hart's Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors R M Ritter (Adapter), Oxford University Press and Butcher's Copy-editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Copy-editors and Proofreaders, Judith Butcher (Author). She highlighted that it must be the latest editions of these books, as rules regarding text, spelling, punctuation, and what is acceptable, are changing all the time.
She was good enough to bring a couple of handouts. One was a copy of a test she had been set by the Central Office of Information (I think) to establish how good she was; prior to being given a particular job. It was difficult to say the least! The other handout she was good enough to put together specifically for the Lindum Scribes as they are interested in e-publishing.
Monday, 5 September 2011
250 words....
......is not as much as you think!
Last week at work, instead of going for a walk, I have been sorting out my 'In Progress' writing file. And then on Friday sat in my car and started what I thought would be a 250 piece for a competition in Writing Magazine. When I typed it up it was nearly 400 words!!
Last week at work, instead of going for a walk, I have been sorting out my 'In Progress' writing file. And then on Friday sat in my car and started what I thought would be a 250 piece for a competition in Writing Magazine. When I typed it up it was nearly 400 words!!
Friday, 2 September 2011
Back to the Lindum Scribes
On Tuesday I accompanied Pete to my first meeting of the Lindum Scribes since they had Bead Roberts as a speaker in August 2009 See: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2009/08/bead-roberts-at-lindum-scribes.html
I was very impressed with what Julia; the new Chairman, has been doing to re-invigorate the group. There were a few new members and they have been working hard to publicise the group. They have even re-vamped the website at: www.lindumscribes.org/
There is talk of putting on some Christmas entertainment as well as a Christmas meal. The next meeting on the 13th September has a proof reader coming to discuss her work.
I read them my Toddlers Take Over poem which after discussion will probably rename it!
I think they may have acquired another new member....
I was very impressed with what Julia; the new Chairman, has been doing to re-invigorate the group. There were a few new members and they have been working hard to publicise the group. They have even re-vamped the website at: www.lindumscribes.org/
There is talk of putting on some Christmas entertainment as well as a Christmas meal. The next meeting on the 13th September has a proof reader coming to discuss her work.
I read them my Toddlers Take Over poem which after discussion will probably rename it!
I think they may have acquired another new member....
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Drunk on Love
And another one of mine:
I have no memory
Of things that were said.
How did we part?
On what note did it end?
I so wanted to remain a friend.
All I remember are your kisses.
The way I looked into your eyes.
Forgetting the golden rule;
Never pledge undying love
On the first date.
I'm sorry.
I was intoxicated.
With you.
Published in All Sorts, Edited by Helen McNally, Anchor Books, Peterborough (1993)
I have no memory
Of things that were said.
How did we part?
On what note did it end?
I so wanted to remain a friend.
All I remember are your kisses.
The way I looked into your eyes.
Forgetting the golden rule;
Never pledge undying love
On the first date.
I'm sorry.
I was intoxicated.
With you.
Published in All Sorts, Edited by Helen McNally, Anchor Books, Peterborough (1993)
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