Writing Problem #9: Finding Your Writing Space

I've not written up another writer problems post in some time but this is one that has bugged me tonight.

Another writing problem is finding a place for ultimate comfort and creativity. Some peope like to sit at a desk, others curl up in bed. Some people go to local places to find inspiration, others shut the world out whilst they write. Some people surround themselves with the colour blue as it's said to boost creativity. Ultimately, we are all different and every writer has to find their own unique comfort zone.

Personally I have a few comfort zones.
On my living room sofa, specifically on the left hand side of the sofa. Tucked up in bed but only it no one is there. If I am forced to write out of my comfort zone I feel compelled to make one.

What's Your Comfort Zone?
Where is YOUR writing space?

Recommended Reads.

Oh looky looky...
What do we have here?
Recommended reads?
Looks like it...
Obviously recommended reads is a weekly segment that I do on this blog each week to give you a few cool things that I've spotted lately on the internet. I do so in the hopes that you enjoy them.
Here are my picks of the week:

• Some Facts You May Not Know About The Game of Thrones Cast
• Check out some poetry by the very talented Matt Phipps. I always feel that when a writer shares their work online, it demonstrates a huge deal of faith and trust in their readership.
• What's the view like from your nearest window? Because these beautiful views will make you jealous.
• 10 Things you probably didn't know about sex.
• Like weird news? There's a section of The Huffington Post entirely devoted to weird news.Check it out!

Suffer And Serve

So now that we're into 2014 I'm going to be doing some work at tweaking my first anthology/collection of poetry whilst beginning work on my second collection. My first collection of poetry is called "Suffer and Serve" and may be released for Kindle and e-readers later this year. 

My second collection of poems, entitled "Anthropology" will be one of my major works this year. 

Recommended Reads

What do you mean it's Wednesday again?
Oh yeah, I guess it is.
Well, you know what that means.
Here on the blog Wednesday means it's time for Recommended Reads.
What's recommended reads?
I'm glad you asked, fine citizen.
It's a segment where I recommend things to you that I've seen around the internet lately. Here are my picks for this week:

• Check out these brilliant celebrity encounters that some of us regular folk have had. I think my favourites are the ones with Fabio.
• An excellent article here. In 2014 stop using mental health vernacular to express your mood. This article says more on the topic.
• Check out these truly awesome teachers.
• 11 Animals That May Become Extinct Because They're Just Not Cute Enough For Us To Care About
• These could be the weirdest grounds for divorce ever.
• Check out this blog full of Terrible Estate Agent Photos. Consider it a list of DON'Ts for trying to sell your house.
• Texts From Mittens: a blog documenting wonderful fictional text conversations between an owner and their cat.
• For Lack Of A Better Comic: another cool and humorous comic strip tumblr.
• What can we learn from visiting the homes of famous authors?

How To Be Alone: A Poem by Tanya Davis

Here's a wonderfully uplifting poem by Tanya Davis that I wanted to share. 

Now that Christmas is drawing ever nearer I think it puts pressure on the lonely but this video, a wonderful poem, expresses a joy in loneliness that I certainly found resonated with me. I found this video to be affirmative and very uplifting. If you're going to be alone this Christmas then don't let anyone make you feel bad if this is what you've chosen for yourself. If you spend much of your time alone then this may make you feel better.

Enjoy,

Recommended Reads

Good morning, blog-ghosts.
Here for a delicious morning slice of Recommended Reads?
Of course you are.
As you'll notice there are a few Halloween costume related items in here if you're trying to scramble together some last minute ideas!
Here are my reads for the week:

• 23 Kids totally nailing the concept of awesome Halloween costumes.
• And speaking of Halloween costumes check out who Paris Hilton is dressing up as and then scroll down to the bottom of the article to see a collection of photos of celebrities in costumes. My favourite is Shannon Woodward and Katy Petty dressed as Daria and Jane Lane from MTV show Daria. That's one costume I have to try one day.
• Some poetry for you: Clementine Von Radics, a talented poet from Portland, uploaded regular poems and you can donate to fund Clementine's work if you like it.
• Pitbulls get a bad reputation in the news, but this adorable video of a pitbull trying to save his owner (though the owner is in no danger) is absolutely charming.
• Listen to this beautiful poem about love and living with OCD.
• FRODO AND SAM SUPERCUT: The names will lose all meaning.
• Photos of cats who REALLY RESENT their Halloween costumes...

Writing

So we're now into the month of September.

I'm still trying to soldier on with the novel but I'm also hoping to start working on my second anthology of poetry soon. Having submitted the first short anthology for publication, the results and outcome of which are yet to be announced, I'm looking forward to moving onto creating a larger collection.

Watch this space for any news.

"OCD" - a poem by Neil Hilborn

A truly heartbreaking poem about being in love whilst also living with OCD.

This is a truly heartbreaking poem about true love and the problems that mental disorders have.

A poem hasn't left me feeling this emotional in a long time.

Listen and please leave any positive comments on the video.

Enjoy,

Recommended Reads

It's Wednesday. You know what that means, right?
Oh yes. It's time for my recommended reads!
Recommended Reads is a segment where I share with you interesting blogs/websites/articles etc that I have found in the internet. In the past I've shared poetry but today I'd like to start including short stories and the work of online writers here too.
Here are my weekly recommendations:

• Feminist Ryan Gosling - I cannot even keep up with all the Ryan Gosling love on the internet right now.
• Vae Victis by Carlyn Greenward on Figment. This HAS to become a novel because I would read 300+ pages of this.
• Christina Bianco impersonating various celebrities whilst singing Fireworks by Katy Perry. Scarily accurate stuff.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses!
• Overheard in New York. Real things said by small people in a big city.
• Poem: Swan Song by Matt Phipps
• All Creatures [Great and Small] - simply a collection of animal photos from around the world.

I'm sorry.
As a university English graduate I still can't get over Feminist Ryan Gosling...

Recommended Reads

Another week has rolled around in no time! Obviously my attention the past few days has been on my father (which I'm sure he loves) so I haven't had much time to collect many interesting reads. However it's Wednesday so I wanted to leave you with something. So here are my reads of the week where I recommend articles/blogs/websites I've found or that have been suggested to me this past week:

• The Worst Room - a collection of ads for apartments in New York. Some very funny entries here. "You expect me to pay how much to live in this cardboard box sized room?" (side-note: To say that these apartment listings come from craigslist should say all there is to be said on the matter)
• Bilbo Adventure: The adventures of a tiny Lego Bilbo Baggins in the big, wide world. (He cannot even handle it, guys. He can't even handle it)
• We All Draw @ Tumblr - funny comic strips.
• Now for some poetry - here's "Award Winning Photographs I've Never Taken" by Matt Phipps, I really enjoyed this.
• Wanna know what's popular on YouTube right now? Look no further, just click here.
• Animals Being Dicks - gifs of animals doing silly things.

Hope you enjoyed these - see you next Wednesday!

Poetry.

Have currently been working on my first collection of poetry. In truth I think I like writing poetry more than I enjoy writing fiction. It's so much easier to structure and drive. With poetry I never know where I'm going once I start whereas with a novel I feel as if the destination and route must be known and mapped in advance.

Poetry, to me, feels like freedom. You have full control over whether or not you choose to rhyme, how it should be structured. It can be short or an epic. You can write a poem on any topic and you can stop writing as soon as you run out of ideas. It allows for such a variety of styles, such an interesting level of experimentation...


Q:
Who are YOUR favourite poets?
What is your favourite poem?
Let me know in the comments section below - anyone can comment. Just click on the title of this blog, scroll down and click on the pencil symbol. I look forward to hearing your responses.

Poetry: 29/03/2013

Currently trying to write a poem per day so as to finish an entire collection of my own poetry by the end of April.

Boy, is today's poem going to be long.

Mostly inspired my the events of today that lead to an angry man currently wandering around the fields behind our house with a rifle and me boarded up in a room with two cats.

You're interested? Good, you'll have to read my poetry to find out what happened.

It'll be done in a similar way to "Clearances" by Seamus Heaney, like a collection of memories.

Anyways.... I'm busy writin', have a nice day y'all.