Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my blog doesn’t touch your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer I am capable of becoming.
Discoveries in the Permafrost: What the Russians Have Unearthed
In recent years, scientists have been making a series of remarkable discoveries in the north of Russia. The cold and remote area known as the permafrost has yielded an array of ancient artefacts and organisms that had been preserved for centuries beneath the frozen ground. These finds have shed new light on both the environment and human history in this region. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been unearthed in the permafrost.
Animal Remains
One of the most exciting discoveries made in the permafrost has been animal remains that are tens of thousands of years old. For example, bones from woolly mammoths, woolly rhinos, cave lions, horses, and other creatures have all been found preserved in the frozen soil. In some cases, these animals were mummified—meaning their skin and fur were still intact! This has allowed researchers to study their anatomy and behaviour more closely than ever before. Furthermore, many of these specimens have still retained traces of their DNA—an incredible feat given their age!
Archaeological Artifacts
In addition to animal remains, scientists have also uncovered a wide variety of archaeological artefacts in the permafrost. These include tools such as arrowheads and spearpoints that were used by humans during prehistoric times. Some ancient dwellings have also been discovered—a testament to how people lived during this time period. The artefacts have provided valuable insight into not only how humans interacted with nature but also how they interacted with one another during this era.
Conclusion: The discoveries made in Russia’s permafrost are nothing short of remarkable—and they continue to surprise us with each passing day! Animal remains tens of thousands of years old, archaeological artefacts from prehistoric times, and unique organisms capable of surviving extreme conditions are all part of what makes this region so special. With so much left to explore and uncover in this icy wasteland, it’s no wonder why so many researchers are eager to dive deeper into its secrets!
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
I try not to judge a day by its weather. Wonderful moments can be experienced in a downpour and awful things can happen when the sun is bright and there’s not a cloud in the sky.
Suppose this is your first time joining us here; welcome. I hope you have a good experience. To those who have been before, I say, welcome back. Thank you all for your continued support. It just wouldn’t be the same without you. Your feedback and comments are valuable. They are helping me become the best writer I can be. So please keep them coming.Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my blog doesn’t feel your referral. They should find another blog to read.
How Hallucinogenic Drugs Are Becoming A Viable Treatment For Mental Health
Hallucinogenic drugs have been used for centuries for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Recently, some drugs have been studied as potential treatments for various mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This blog post will discuss the history of hallucinogenic drugs, how they are used in mainstream health care today, and their potential benefits and risks.
History of Hallucinogenic Drugs
Hallucinogens are substances that alter consciousness and perception by causing hallucinations. Commonly known hallucinogens include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), mescaline (found in peyote cacti), psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), and MDMA (ecstasy or molly). Many cultures have used these drugs throughout history to achieve altered states of consciousness or treat various illnesses. In modern times, however, hallucinogenic drugs have been viewed with suspicion due to their use as recreational drugs.
Recent Research on the Benefits of Hallucinogenic Drugs
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca (a psychedelic beverage brewed from Amazonian plants). A growing body of research suggests that these substances may be beneficial in treating various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), addiction disorders and end-of-life distress. While more research is needed to understand these treatments’ efficacy fully, initial findings suggest that they may offer real benefits to those with a mental illness.
Potential Risks Associated with Psychedelic Drug Use
It’s important to note that psychedelic drugs can also cause serious side effects, including confusion, paranoia, nausea, vomiting and even psychosis. For this reason, it is essential that they only be taken under the supervision of a qualified medical professional who can monitor the patient’s reaction to the drug. Additionally, patients must refrain from driving or operating machinery while under the influence of a psychedelic drug to avoid potentially dangerous situations or accidents. Conclusion: Overall, it appears that hallucinogenic drugs may offer real therapeutic benefits to those who have a mental illness when taken responsibly under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. While more research needs to be done before these treatments become widely accepted by mainstream healthcare providers, it is clear that there is excellent potential for psychedelic drug treatments in addressing various mental health issues among readers and writers alike. With more research and understanding of this area, we could see significant advancements in mental health treatment options worldwide.Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my account doesn’t handle your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer I am capable of becoming.
I was settling down to have some ‘me time’ until I had a call from Heathrow Airport from a friend about an hour before their flight was due to take off. They had a phone call from the person who was going to be looking after their place whilst on holiday to say that the place where they had left the key had been broken into. They were frantic with worry not least that their two cats would be left on their own and worried sick that their place may be broken into.
They asked for my help to go to the property and ensure all was safe and secure and, more importantly, that their cats weren’t too traumatised. I assured them I would set out immediately and do whatever was necessary to ensure the cats and their property were secure. They would be out of contact for six hours. I hoped that when they called, I could provide them with an account of what happened and how I handled it.
Top
Weekend Service Is Appalling
Their landlord is a housing association. Their main phone line was closed until Monday morning. It was just after 12:30 on Sunday. I looked at my phone battery level and silently prayed that 34% would be sufficient. I called the landlord, and the voice message informed me an emergency repair service was available at weekends. As I suspected, they weren’t able to offer any assistance. I told the girl I hoped she doesn’t have to go through this trauma with a family member of hers one day. She would be as much help as a chocolate ashtray and hung up with me saying her response was shameful.
Top
An Emergency Locksmith
I thought, ‘Well, you’ll have to find an emergency locksmith willing and able to take the job. Sure it’ll cost a small fortune but so what. It’ll be worth every penny when I can assure my friends all was well. They could relax. I’ve sorted it. Enjoy your holiday.
Investigated By A Neighbour
My friend had shared a suspicion that a neighbour may have been responsible. However, they had no evidence to support that. I got to meet the fellow. I made quite a noise as I spoke with different people, and he came out to find out who I was. He was a bit brusque and unkempt, but I was no oil painting. With my baggy trackie bottoms with goodness knows what stains on them. I’m getting trimmer, so I have to keep pulling them up. I was going commando too. I had been in the process of settling down for some ‘me time’ when I took the call for help.
I was civil and polite, answering his questions as openly as possible. He went to some lengths that he would have heard if something was amiss. I patiently pointed out that no one would be awake all night long. He accepted my reply and offered me a cup of tea while I waited. I could only manage a few mouthfuls as the phone calls to find a locksmith were lengthy. I successfully found someone willing to accept it and knew that it would be a complex and lengthy process. First, they would have to ‘break into the apartment’; no doubt this would involve power tools. Then the second part is to install a new lock and secure the property.
Top
There Was Just The Small Matter of The Locksmith Getting Into The Building
My friends live on the 10th floor of a multi-story apartment building. The lift was out of order; the intercom wasn’t firing on all cylinders either. I could tell from the locksmith’s accent he was most likely Eastern European, which all added to the challenge of responding to a cry for help. With some further assistance from the neighbour, the locksmith gained entry.
Clear Instructions and a Clear Head Made Everything Possible
His name was Cosma, and he was from Latvia. Hearing this brought my heritage to mind. My great-grandparents came from Lithuania. Along with Estonia, they are what is now called the Baltic States. The population formed part of the estimated 10 million refugees after the First World War.
It broke the ice, and I could tell he was surprised I knew so much. That led to my sharing that I was a published writer and blogger. As it does with every stranger, I meet. It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say I’ve become a bit of a whore when it comes to sharing that. I could tell that in other circumstances; he would have been happy to engage in a lengthy conversation around that. However, there was work to be done. The lock was particularly troublesome as it was one of the best available and not easy to ‘break into’. He hoped the drills he had brought would be enough. They were just. He went through four of them.
Top
The Cats Were Only Concerned About Which Of Us Was Going To Feed Them
Heaving a sigh of relief, I looked around for signs that anything was amiss. I was satisfied having been a guest in the apartment on many occasions. I was embarrassed by the state they had left the place. Food is uneaten on the stove—rubbish bags left—floor around the bottom of the bin not swept. I made a mental note to teach these men about cleaning. So while Cosma sorted out the paperwork and payment, I set about getting the place cleaner and more presentable. We continued talking as I shared a bit about my memoir and my new book that I had started only that week.
He was a fascinating man. A complete anti-establishmentarian and a believer in visions. A subject that I felt prompted to bring it up. The issue of images provided an opportunity for him to tell me about a particular vision from his childhood when he saw lights and shapes of spacecraft in the skies above their village and has never forgotten it—convinced that it was Extraterrestrials he had seen. A subject I, too, have found fascinating. I asked if he would like to go for a drink sometime and talk about things some more. He was thrilled that I had offered and beamed a lovely smile as we shook hands and took care of the rest of the business.
Top
Relax, You Asked For My Help, and I Sorted It
Down adage. In my experience, it holds more often than not. So it wouldn’t be until Tuesday I would finally have my ‘me time’. However, the fact it was in my mind and mattered to me meant that it was all the sweeter an experience for me, and I was thankful for the issues that had made it so.
I’ve said it many times over the past couple of years. Words of wisdom from my grandmother would take me years to understand. Her words went over my head at the time. ‘It isn’t what happens to you that matters; rather, how you respond to what happens to you. That will determine your character’. If you respond with doom and gloom, then the things that happen and their effect will linger until you find peace in them.
In contrast, someone who finds a way to find their peace with it as quickly as they can experience a level of ease and comfort that few manage to find. Or put another way, I heard from Dr Jordan B Peterson conflict avoided = conflict multiplied (perhaps exponentially). Decide which type of person you would aspire to and make choices that are more likely to draw you closer to that ambition. Even a distance of a millimetre in the direction of selection is progress.
One of my choices has been only to refuse a cry for help if one of two things is true. Either you get an impression that the cry isn’t genuine. Or you don’t feel you have the money to say yes and have to say no in the best way you know how with the least harm done in the process.
Top
What are your feelings about responding to a cry for help? The first time you did it, what happened? Where are you able to help? Was it challenging? How did you feel afterwards?
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
An LGBTQ+ writer living and working in Salford UK. A published writer whose new book (due Summer 2022) a memoir tells of how he as a young man in an Edinburgh slum from 1970 – 1990s fought through poverty, violent abuse, the Mormon Church, the British Army, marriage and fatherhood. Whilst all the while struggling to understand his sexuality and inner spirituality leading him to make a decision that could shatter his life and the lives of those he loves most. Will the weight of the past drag him back down? Or will he rise and triumph against all the odds?
He has written short stories, one of which titled ‘Oh Mum’ a fiction based on actual events published in an online magazine Here the Summer 2021 edition. He has written a clutch of Flash Fiction, poems, a radio comedy, and has a weekly blog on his website http://www.tomgalewriter.com He considers himself to be a survivor of two pandemics. He is referring to the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980s.
View all posts by tomgalewriter Posted on January 30, 2023Author tomgalewriterCategories Blog
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tomgalewriter
An LGBTQ+ writer living and working in Birmingham UK. A published writer whose new book (due Summer 2022) a memoir tells of how he as a young man in an Edinburgh slum from 1970 – 1990s fought through poverty, violent abuse, the Mormon Church, the British Army, marriage and fatherhood. Whilst all the while struggling to understand his sexuality and inner spirituality leading him to make a decision that could shatter his life and the lives of those he loves most. Will the weight of the past drag him back down? Or will he rise and triumph against all the odds? He has written short stories on of which titled ‘Oh Mum’ a fiction based on actual events published in an online magazine at http://shortsmagazine.com in the Summer 2021 edition. He has written a clutch of Flash Fiction, poems, a radio comedy, and has a weekly blog on his website http://www.tomgalewriter.com He lives with his partner and are engaged to be married. View all posts by tomgalewriter
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A Cry For HelpThat was until I had a call from Heathrow Airport about an hour before their flight was due to take off. They had purchased temporary visas, and I thought they might have had an issue. They were worried as the person they had left their key with couldn’t get it. My friends had left the key in an electric metre box. The box had been prised open, and the key was gone.
They asked for my help to go to the property and ensure all was safe and secure and, more importantly, that their cats weren’t too traumatised. I assured them I would set out immediately and do whatever was necessary to ensure the cats and their property were secure. They would be out of contact for six hours. I hoped that when they called, I could provide them with an account of what happened and how I handled it.
Their landlord is a housing association. Their main phone line was closed until Monday morning. It was just after 12:30 on Sunday. I looked at my phone battery level and silently prayed that 34% would be sufficient. I called the landlord, and the voice message informed me there was an emergency repair service available at weekends. As I suspected, they weren’t able to offer any assistance. I told the girl I hoped she doesn’t have to go through this trauma with a family member of hers one day. She would be as much help as a chocolate ashtray and hung up with me saying her response was shameful.
I thought, ‘Well, you’ll have to find an emergency locksmith willing and able to take the job. Sure it’ll cost a small fortune but so what. It’ll be worth every penny when I can assure my friends all was well. They could relax. I’ve sorted it. Enjoy your holiday.
Investigated By A Neighbour
My friend had shared a suspicion that a neighbour may have been responsible. However, they had no evidence to support that. I got to meet the fellow. I made quite a noise as I spoke with different people, and he came out to find out who I was. He was a bit brusque and unkempt, but I was no oil painting. I had been in the process of settling down for some ‘me time’ when I took the call for help.
I was civil and polite, answering his questions as openly as possible. He went to some lengths that he would have heard if something was amiss. I patiently pointed out that no one would be awake all night long. He accepted my reply and offered me a cup of tea while I waited. I could only manage a few mouthfuls as the phone calls to find a locksmith were lengthy. I was successful in finding someone willing to accept it and knowing that it would be a complex and lengthy process. First, they would have to ‘break into the apartment’; no doubt this would involve power tools. Then the second part is to install a new lock and secure the property.
There Was Just The Small Matter of The Locksmith Getting Into The Building
My friends live on the 10th floor of a multi-story apartment building. The lift was out of order; the intercom wasn’t firing on all cylinders either. I could tell from the locksmith’s accent he was most likely Eastern European, which all added to the challenge of responding to a cry for help. With some further assistance from the neighbour, the locksmith gained entry.
Clear Instructions and a Clear Head Made Everything Possible
His name was Cosma, and he was from Latvia. Hearing this brought my heritage to mind. My great-grandparents came from Lithuania. Along with Estonia, they are what is now called the Baltic States. The population formed part of the estimated 10 million refugees after the First World War.
It broke the ice, and I could tell he was surprised I knew so much. That led to my sharing that I was a published writer and blogger. As it does with every stranger, I meet. It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say I’ve become a bit of a whore when it comes to sharing that. I could tell that in other circumstances; he would have been happy to engage in a lengthy conversation around that. However, there was work to be done. The lock was particularly troublesome as it was one of the best available and not easy to ‘break into’. He hoped the drills he had brought would be enough. They were just. He went through four of them.
All Was Accounted for, Cats Not Showing Signs of Trauma
Heaving a sigh of relief, I looked around for signs that anything was amiss. I was satisfied having been a guest in the apartment on many occasions. I was embarrassed by the state they had left the place. Food is uneaten on the stove—rubbish bags left—floor around the bottom of the bin not swept. I made a mental note to teach these men about cleaning. So while Cosma sorted out the paperwork and payment, I set about getting the place cleaner and more presentable. We continued talking as I shared a bit about my memoir and my new book that I had started only that week.
He was a fascinating man. A complete anti-establishmentarian and a believer in visions. A subject that I felt prompted to bring it up. The issue of images provided an opportunity for him to tell me about a particular vision from his childhood when he saw lights and shapes of spacecraft in the skies above their village and has never forgotten it—convinced that it was Extraterrestrials he had seen. A subject I, too, have found fascinating. I asked if he would like to go for a drink sometime and talk about things some more. He was thrilled that I had offered and beamed a lovely smile as we shook hands and took care of the rest of the business.
Down adage. In my experience, it holds more often than not. So it wouldn’t be until Tuesday I would finally have my ‘me time’. However, the fact it was in my mind and mattered to me meant that it was all the sweeter an experience for me, and I was thankful for the issues that had made it so.
I’ve said it many times over the past couple of years. Words of wisdom from my grandmother would take me years to understand. Her words went over my head at the time. ‘It isn’t what happens to you that matters; rather, how you respond to what happens to you. That will determine your character’. If you respond with doom and gloom, then the things that happen and their effect will linger until you find peace in them.
In contrast, someone who finds a way to find their peace with it as quickly as they can experience a level of ease and comfort that few manage to find. Or put another way, I heard from Dr Jordan B Peterson conflict avoided = conflict multiplied (perhaps exponentially). Decide which type of person you would aspire to and make choices that are more likely to draw you closer to that ambition. Even a distance of a millimetre in the direction of selection is progress.
One of my choices has been only to refuse a cry for help if one of two things is true. Either you get an impression that the cry isn’t genuine. Or you don’t feel you have the money to say yes and have to say no in the best way you know how with the least harm done in the process.
What are your feelings about responding to a cry for help? The first time you did it, what happened? Where are you able to help? Was it challenging? How did you feel afterwards?
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
An LGBTQ+ writer living and working in Salford UK. A published writer whose new book (due Summer 2022) a memoir tells of how he as a young man in an Edinburgh slum from 1970 – 1990s fought through poverty, violent abuse, the Mormon Church, the British Army, marriage and fatherhood. Whilst all the while struggling to understand his sexuality and inner spirituality leading him to make a decision that could shatter his life and the lives of those he loves most. Will the weight of the past drag him back down? Or will he rise and triumph against all the odds?
He has written short stories one of which titled ‘Oh Mum’ a fiction based on actual events published in an online magazine Here the Summer 2021 edition. He has written a clutch of Flash Fiction, poems, a radio comedy, and has a weekly blog on his website http://www.tomgalewriter.com He considers himself to be a survivor of two pandemics. He is referring to the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980s.
View all posts by tomgalewriter Posted on January 30, 2023Author tomgalewriterCategories Blog
PREVIOUSPrevious post:#0057 Writing Tips From Authors On The Novelry Blog
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#0053 How Are We Doing?
January 2, 2023
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#0054 RIP DOMA
January 9, 2023
In “Blog”
#0057 Writing Tips From Authors On The Novelry Blog
January 28, 2023
In “Blog”
PUBLISHED BY
tomgalewriter
An LGBTQ+ writer living and working in Birmingham UK. A published writer whose new book (due Summer 2022) a memoir tells of how he as a young man in an Edinburgh slum from 1970 – 1990s fought through poverty, violent abuse, the Mormon Church, the British Army, marriage and fatherhood. Whilst all the while struggling to understand his sexuality and inner spirituality leading him to make a decision that could shatter his life and the lives of those he loves most. Will the weight of the past drag him back down? Or will he rise and triumph against all the odds? He has written short stories on of which titled ‘Oh Mum’ a fiction based on actual events published in an online magazine at http://shortsmagazine.com in the Summer 2021 edition. He has written a clutch of Flash Fiction, poems, a radio comedy, and has a weekly blog on his website http://www.tomgalewriter.com He lives with his partner and are engaged to be married. View all posts by tomgalewriter
Posted on January 30, 2023Author tomgalewriterCategories Blog
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#0057 Writing Tips From Authors On The Novelry Blog
Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my account doesn’t handle your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer I am capable of becoming.
Oh, First Draft How Much I Have Missed You
A new year, a new book. Do you mean you’ve published your last one? No. I realise it is time for me to engage with some professionals to help with this stage of the marketing and promotion strategy I outlined over two years ago. Some of you know because I wrote a personal account of what happened in 2022. Despite that, I still managed to produce a blog of new content Mondays at 07:00 (GMT) with the tomgalewriter website v2 rising from the ashes of website v1. I have begun the process of cataloguing my blogs into different categories. I think there will be no more than eight in total, and I hope to make navigating and finding myself a breeze in the next few months. I am resolute that I first want to pursue the traditional method of publishing books. Should self-publication be held in reserve before I begin banging my head against brick walls, and the medics were too slow to get the straightjacket around me and get me to the padded ones?
I’m Brimming Over With New Ideas I’m Excited About
I am brimming with new ideas to engage you in this adventure I lead you all on. I had two significant ‘Eureka’ moments this week. Who knows where I will end up now that I believe in myself? And The realisation that I am not the same as I was even a year ago, and this latest iteration of me is more vital than any of the ones that preceded it. I never missed a deadline in 2022, and that was me warming up. This year I will shine a light on others who have lifted and inspired me. Are whose books have had a strong effect upon me. I will also introduce you to some very gifted and talented people with whom I have already crossed paths. Artists and designers. Showcasing their work because I think they are so freaking talented but don’t yet believe it—a bit of paying it forward, as it were.
The Sweet Feeling Of Beginning A New First Draft
And as if that wasn’t enough exciting stuff to get your head around, I’ve started the first draft of a new book that I am so excited about. I have in the past described myself as a pantster. This feels like a confining and little explanation of who I am as a writer. True, it wasn’t until this week that I wrote the first word of the first draft of this new project. Before that, I had been busy doing hours of research. I was developing character sheets for several of the leading players. Then I think a bolt of lightning may have coursed through me as I wrote the structure of this piece would have a traditional ‘Beginning, middle and end’ of the majority of books. However, The beginning of the book is the middle of the story. The book’s centre will then contain pieces of both the beginning and end of the story. The end will be in the present. In a gripping and nailbiting finale, the strands that may have resembled the loose ropes on the back of an eighteen-wheel truck steaming down the motorway are skillfully secured to the sprawling narrative, leaving your reader speechless and nervous in bits.
I have written around 5,000 words describing my characters and the world where I will watch them grow over the decades. I have also done about twenty hours of research online and in libraries and private collections that will guide me as I build and immerse myself in this world so foreign to my own experience.
This was my first experience editing and rewriting my first WIP. I had almost forgotten how sweet and reassuring it is to begin the first draft of my next book. Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications. I want to push myself and have given myself a mammoth task. There were moments of pantsing, but only after many hours of carefully outlining the narrative of each chapter. Identify the threads that I will attempt to weave intricately so that, quite frankly, I have no friggin idea of what it will be or look like. My theory is that if I can succeed in surprising myself, how much more thrill will this give me?
There are significant differences between this first draft and the last. Well, I’m a published author, first of all. See the link below for more details. I have a team of beta readers whom I owe so much. They help me to keep my goal in front of my eyes at all times. I don’t want to be a good writer. I want to be the best damn writer I can be. This book will most probably take me all year to get to the stage of my memoir now. But by that time, I will have another team around me: an agent, an editor and a publisher.
I Am Stating In Ten Years, The World Will Know My Name
In ten years from now, I will have published close to twenty books, I predict, and my name will be known all over the globe. I am waiting to see what Tom Gale will bring out next. A hunk of that work will be a hugely popular series which may or may not bring financial success. I’ve never been it for the money from the get-go. I will, however, be in a place where I will never have to worry about how to feed, house and clothe myself ever, where I will be seen when I need to get something moving as quickly as possible. The rest of my time spent is in privacy, surrounded by those who love me most in the world and without their tireless efforts behind the scenes, I owe my career and life to will live and love without friends and family laughing, being silly, pottering and entertaining until the time comes once more for to write the first word of the first draft of my next book. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention I also have a short story, a novella and over 50, 500 word Flash Fiction stories that I plan to submit to various competitions. I’ve begun a new file titled ‘rejections’ I smile as it grows as I believe that each is just a stepping stone that will eventually lead me to where my career will take off.
I Do It All For You, My Readers and Followers
One more thought for you all I have recently come to a greater understanding that whilst storytelling is an art. Selling books is a science. As my life experience has afforded me a foot in each of those worlds, I think this gives me an edge over many others. So social media, you have been on the steepest of learning curves, but I think I’m on the verge of you and I reaching understanding and respect for one another. A community of writers are forming bonds to strengthen and build each other. We want the world to have more writers. More incredible adventures of the mind, body and spirit to thrill and lift their readers out of their usual world to where even for the briefest of moments, they are transported to places they never dreamt possible, where they feel things that may shock, thrill, scare, where their imagination is given a wonderful space in which they generate hope and move into a tomorrow knowing that today was slightly less shitty than the day before. We writers do that for them. They, in return, provide comments and feedback that make us better writers. So when our minds and should are screaming as once more we put ourselves through the agony and ecstasy of being a writer.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my account doesn’t handle your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer I am capable of becoming.
Writing Tips From Authors Jan 2023 On The Novelry Blog. Ranked #1 Worldwide by rankedblogs.com 2022.
They asked over 200 successful published authors what the one top tip they would give to other writers was the silver bullet, which they shared.
List of the author’s top advice.
Study your craft, find a community
Read – a lot.
Get started!
Keep going!
Write every day. (my modification is to write every day that your life allows. Or if you are determined to write every day and slip one day, that’s OK. Just don’t let yourself have two slips in a row.)
Finish it!
Write the book you want to read.
Edit! (This is easy. All you have to do is take everything away from your first draft that isn’t the story.)
Keep a sense of perspective and enjoy!
It adds weight to the adage of ‘tried and tested methods’ as their answer clustered into a few key areas. I found that reassuring.
By far, the single most crucial piece of advice, with over a quarter of the authors responding, is to keep going, to persevere and never give up. If you are part of a community in which one in ten authors gave a piece of good advice, they will be an excellent support for new writers, as they will have been there and probably have the t-shirt in their merchandise on their Twitter account. https://tomgalewriter.com/2022/11/21/three-ways-i-use-to-get-over-writers-block/
So, all in all, I’m pretty pleased that all of the top answers given by successful published authors I’ve worked out for myself. This is just the shot in the arm I need as we plunge headlong into what lies ahead in 2023.
I shall be doing a good old rummage around https://www.thenovelry.com/blog/ for courses, coaching and community resources that have merited their #1 Spot on the list of writing blogs. I’m sure that there will be tons of stuff that will help me in my ambition of becoming the best writer that I am capable of.
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
A blog by Tom Gale, a new LGBTQ+ writer Jan 2023 The City of Salford, England
First, I am relieved to see you all made it back in more or less good shape, if not better than when I last saw you. That is not nothing. Good on you. Here’s why.
It shows that you have what one of my old bosses described as ‘stickability’, and for the sniggerers on the back row, yes, I hear you, and if you look more carefully, there is no ‘W’ in that word—moving on.
You are first in the queue for all the exciting stuff planned for 2023. The team and I at TomGaleWriter HQ have been working flat out towards this, and we are excited.
We are driven by finding ways to give you the best experience we are capable of.
However, if you have a great idea you think your fellow readers/ community members would enjoy, whip it over to us, and we will give it our full attention and give you feedback within 2 to 3 days.
Once again, it is good to see you back. I can’t stop grinning. It makes me so happy.
So, without any further ado, let’s start with the business.
My First Book Recommendation of 2023
To scare the bejeezus right out of you.
Now hands up if you like a book that scares the bejeezus out of you.
Those with your hands down, you are excused.
Now keep your hands up if you like that with a side of ‘beautifully crafted’?
And if you are swayed when a book messes with your head, as it challenges the current convention on style and content?
Finally, keep your hand up if you enjoy the fact that one of the major themes of this scary book is Folklore, specifically Slavic mythology.
For those of you who still have your hands up, then you are going to love the recommendation I have for you. For those of you who dropped out on the last couple of questions, I think you could do worse than giving it your best shot.
My first recommendation for 2023 is ‘The Bone Mother’ by the Canadian, international award-winning author David Demchuk. It was David Demchuk’s first fiction novel.
Winner of the 2018 Sunburst award. Nominated for the Shirley Jackson award. Amazon’s first novel award and The Scotiabank Giller prize. In paperback from Proving Ground Press May 26 2020.
Available from all the usual suspect booktoriums and the like.
I read it during a recent transatlantic flight. With ancestors from Lithuania and a robust masochistic streak satisfied by having the bejeezus scared out of me, I realise this may have made me an easy catch.
However, this did more. It landed, smashed my head on a rock, slit me open, removed my guts, and filleted me, keeping the skull and bones for stock. It gripped from the first page to the last, and I couldn’t put it down. It even worked a bit of magic on my bladder, which usually is weakened when I fly transatlantic.
It Satisfied My Robust Masochistic Streak
If anyone has muttered ewwwww at any of that, then maybe The Bone Mother isn’t for you. I’ll let you be the judge. I will not do any spoilers but rather leave you with this. The greatest delight was for me other than having someone tell me some creepy, scary and even horrific stories with the fact that Mr Demchuk had left sufficient space between his words for my imagination to expand and contract in the same rhythms as his structures.
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my account doesn’t handle your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer, I am capable of becoming.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone with whom you are unfamiliar shares what they consider words of wisdom? ‘If you keep that face on and the wind changes, it’ll stay that way.’ ‘A bird and a fish may fall in love, but where will they build a nest?’ ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ Are any of those ringing any bells for any of you? If not, then I doubt you’ll get very much from this. So I won’t feel offended nor hold it against you if you leave now.
*Pause to allow the exit*
In real-life scenarios, I have one individual remaining. So I’m going to apply that outcome to this.
The following information is for you and only you.
THREE METHODS THAT SHOULD SHED SOME LIGHT
Assess personal value
What will it cost?
Their fruit may prove helpful.
ASSESS PERSONAL VALUE
So before we go throwing any babies out with their proverbial bath water. Let us take a moment to consider this hypothetical. How are you going to work out if these are valid words of wisdom or not? Well, that depends on how valuable it may be if proven to be the real deal. What difference would it make in your life? Or, indeed, in the lives around you? If the wind could be proven to play a part in how our faces look. What would that mean to you and your nearest and dearest?
WHAT WILL IT COST?
In that example, to prove its validity, one should have more than a passing knowledge of the nature and substance of both wind and facial anatomy. That is going to mean research. In other words, work. That will always be the cost, by the way—more work. If you’ve determined that the personal value gained is worth the price, you’ll do that work. If not, then you won’t. That decision will have at least one obvious consequence. Any guesses? ‘Yes, well done to you at the back.’ That’s right; you will now be at odds with those who believe those words. What are you going to do? Well, in terms of someone very dear to me, I think they khit the nail on the head. ‘If you are not 100% or as close to it as possible, then it’s probably wise to keep your bloody mouth shut.’ The person was an octogenarian and had earned the right to use that language.
‘YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS’
Matthew 7: 16-20 (King James Version) Part of the sermon on the mount.
My mother has a green thumb’, meaning she has a way with plants. On the other hand, the colour of my thumb is rainbow with sparkles. Not conducive to the nourishment of plants. I preferred my connection with plants to be up close and personal. I am clinging onto impossibly thin branches feeling them in my hand, seeing their nature up close, smelling them and perhaps chewing on some bark or leaf. Then to shimmy down to a rope swing across a stream. Or the mincing of funghi for some ravioli. I have only one piece of knowledge about all things horticultural to share. ‘Good fruit will never come from a rotten tree.’ Shared in the bible and other sacred texts as a parable to demonstrate that fruit is the shared experience of an individual. You can know that the knowledge to produce is more than likely reliable. One fruit I think of is friendships. I believe it is possible to determine a portion of a person’s character by the company they keep and the length of that relationship. Who would you be more likely to listen to a man with a handful of friends at least a decade old? Or a woman who declares they have no ‘real friends’ however they boast of having over 15,000 online? It’s a rhetorical question. But I believe it does demonstrate my point.
THREE METHODS TO SHED LIGHT ON WORDS OF WISDOM FROM AN UNFAMILIAR SOURCE
Assess Personal Value
What Will It Cost?
Their fruits may be helpful.
Another quick personal anecdote that almost always provides a shortcut to all of the above. I’m sure it was going to be your first question.
I did a B.Ed Primary (Hons) at Moray House College, Edinburgh University, a while back. They get it if you can boil the above to child size. That’s your shortcut. As a parent of a precocious three-year-old going on fifty-three, I didn’t even have to wait to get in a classroom.
So I put it to the test. In addition, my ‘Sunday Name’ is Thomas, famously known for his doubting. Which my mother encouraged me. So I put it to many tests in different settings and conditions. My results were in the 80% + bracket. Which I think most people would consider a pretty good result by any measure.
The experiment where the subject was held upside down and swung around the air like a chair-o-plane got a high mark from a ‘taking part’ perspective.
The subject’s considered opinion ‘If I have to go through life with a big grin on my face, it has been worth it.’
Of course, this is entirely subjective and can only be relied upon if the subject knows how much you love them. Otherwise, it’s about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.
TRY IT.
If you have made it this far, you deserve a prize. It is my tremendous honour to dub you ‘Honourary Thomases, which now gives you the power to find out things for yourself. Don’t take my or anyone else’s word. Do some experiments of your own. Note Only proceed in this endeavour if you are sincere in your desire to know the truth. It’ll be a waste of your valuable time and energy otherwise.
If you have any questions or comments, just click that comment button, and whisk it over to the team here at Tomgalewriter, where we will be happy to help in any way we can.
I would love to hear about any provisional experiment results. There is no obligation.
N.B. The powers endowed will not work if the power determines you to be insincere.
They will cease to work after a decent period of experimentation.
They cannot be shared or passed on to anyone else.
Please decline the honour and send them back to me should your circumstances change.
The team here at TomGaleWriter knows that life can be a bitch sometimes.
The team also recognises that priorities can change at a moment’s notice.
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe to your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
Welcome back, my fellow travellers. It is a joy to have the pleasure of your company and spending a moment together. I hope your week has gone well and you’ve gotten as much life out of that as possible.
Please like and subscribe. Then share the Bejesus with anyone you feel would appreciate it. Give your referral this link to my published work. If my story touches your referral, chances are high that they will enjoy the blog. Suppose my account doesn’t handle your referral. They should find another blog to read.
As always, I welcome all of your comments. They are helping me hone my craft and on the pathway to becoming the best writer I am capable of becoming.
On Dec 8, The House of Representatives gave final passage to landmark legislation protecting same-sex marriages. When Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) back in 1996, banning same-sex marriage by limiting the definition of marriage to the Union of one man and one woman.
That moment crushed millions of hearts. Yet, almost a quarter of a century later, those hearts and souls can rest at ease knowing their ‘ other love’ is protected.
I love this quote from Barney Frank, the former Democratic congressman and the first House member to come out as gay. ‘I was here for the birth of Doma, so I am very grateful to be able to be here for the funeral.’
Let’s not forget Edith ‘Eddie’ Windsor, born to a Russian Jewish immigrant family of modest means. Who became a Master’s in Mathematics from New York University. Then a Technology manager at IBM. Also, an LGBT rights activist, the lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court of the United States case United States v. Windsor overturned Section 3 of DOMA and was considered a landmark legal victory for the same-sex marriage movement in the United States.
Did you know that in the late Spring of 1965, when Windsor started dating Thea Spyer to keep their relationship a secret from her co-workers, Windsor invented a relationship with Spyer’s fictional brother Willy – a childhood doll belonging to Windsor?
Then in 1967, Spyer asked Windsor to marry, although not legal anywhere in the United States proposed, with a circular diamond pin instead of a traditional engagement ring. In Jan of 2013, then across the pond, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into the UK Parliament.
As of 2022, Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is legally performed and recognised in 33 countries, constituting some 1.35 billion people (17% of the world’s population). On Feb 17 2023, a law allowing same-sex marriage will come into force in Andorra.
However, by royal decree on Apr 1 2001, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands passed the first law providing marriage between same-sex couples. Hats off to the House of Representatives for making a difference for millions of Americans and a beacon of hope for billions more.
Well, that’s it for another week. Remember to hit the like button and subscribe straight for future posts to go straight into your inbox for future publications.
Leave a comment by hitting the “comments” button, and leave your feedback which I value greatly.
Click the links below for my social media sites, website and published work.
