I can point to a specific time at which my poetry writing shifted from early nonsense to something that I was proud of. I was working as a Community Artist at the time and the workshops we were delivering were inspiring my work into new areas. I was also experimenting with making small hand-made booklets. … Read more
I have spent today thinking some more about where I take the book manuscript which I have been trailing in this blog on coaching. It’s called “The Coaching 30” and comprises a set of tips and ideas for coaching. It is aimed at coaches and coaching clients. The ideas are taken from my own studies … Read more
Here is some early thinking on plans for the next iteration of BlueWater Books. In 2004 I set up a small publishing press called BlueWater Books. The title was taken from two of my earliest poetry collections – ‘Sharp Blue Breath’ and ‘Edge of Water’. I set out to produce hand-crafted booklets of my own … Read more
In the next few weeks my working patterns will change significantly. I am seeing this as an amazing opportunity to free up time to write more. This blog has been really quiet for the last few months as a lot of my energy has gone into getting into the space for this to happen. There … Read more
I have just ordered the latest work by Richard Skelton. Richard lives in Cumbria and runs a press with his partner Autumn Richardson called Corbel Stone Press. They produce finely printed collections of poetry and prose as well as CDs and downloads of Richard’s music. The music is ambient, gentle washes of sound that build … Read more
Doing something innovative is one thing, capturing it is another. I am capturing the personal development approach which I am taking forward with my team, and which I have been writing about here. The book which I have started on this, should be finished soon. (All part of the drive to ‘ship’ things before resistance … Read more
A while ago I read ‘Linchpin’ by Seth Godin – a brilliant book. I’ve read a few of his books now – I also liked ‘Poke the Box’ which was part of a new publishing project which he ran throughout last year in partnership with Amazon. He is always pushing the boundaries and getting his … Read more
I manage a small team in my “day job”. Recently, at team meetings I have been introducing some of the writers who have influenced me in my working practise. I have also shared a number of videos which I found particularly interesting. At the last team meeting before the summer break, I introduced 6 books … Read more
A picture for those times when it’s a struggle to write anything at all: A walk in the Wirral, near Parkgate, on one of those days when the sky is as beautiful as the landscape. And a captured memory, because those are the ones that open up the block and create a safe haven to … Read more
Finding a reason for walking on a beach, and then realising that the feeling of sand between the toes will powerfully evoke memories: trying I have looked up into the stars at night That are so scattered Across the infinitely deep sky I have seen into great vacuums of awesome space And been left standing … Read more