Simon Whaley

Another Positive 5 Star Review

The Positively Productive Writer

The Positively Productive Writer has been given another 5 star review on Amazon:

This is a wonderful guide for every writer who wants to be more productive – and who doesn’t? It contains practical advice and gives step-by-step suggestions with illuminating examples which you can easily put into practice and use to achieve your writing (and other) goals.

Simon Whaley’s writing style is humorous, so the book is a real pleasure to read. However, this does not detract from his serious message: fundamentally, it is up to you to adopt a positive mindset and keep on going even when things get tough. Keeping this in mind and following his suggestions on how to do this will empower you and help you to be in charge of your writing (and other areas of) life.

Whaley’s enthusiasm for sharing his strategies for remaining positive and productive is so infectious that you can’t help but feel motivated. This book is certainly one that I will want to revisit again and again.

I’m Gonna Be A Magazine Model …

Last Tuesday, I discovered what it meant to be a magazine model. Pictured here (yes, at least I got a modicum of revenge) are Tom Bailey and Rachel Broomhead, from Country Walking magazine, who wanted to explore the southern end of Wenlock Edge, and chose to do a route I’d recently tackled for them. I had a crash course in being a magazine model for a walking magazine (look up, not at your feet – which is the natural thing to do so you don’t trip over any tree roots or rocks), smile … or grit your teeth, whichever feels most natural, and to do everything at least three times – including crossing that ford.

Rumour has it, the piece will appear in an upcoming issue of the magazine. I may mention it to you when it’s published … then again, I may not. I’ll be judge of that when I see what the photos look like!

Write For Country Walking magazine (celebrating 25 years)

Congratulations to Country Walking magazine – the May 2012 issue marks its 25th birthday. I don’t think I bought the very first issue, but I’ve been reading it for over 20 years (and I did have an interview with the very first editor, Keith Nelson!).

Country Walking have launched a competition to become one of their Down Your Way route providers – to coincide with their new-look Down Your Way routes section. Pick up a copy of the May 2012 issue for more details, but here are the basics to consider:

“To mark the launch of our all-new walks section, we’re inviting readers to enter a competition with a one-off star prize – the winner will join the Country Walking team of routes writers nationwide! We’re looking for a keen walker who can write inspiringly, take good photographs and be meticulous about making route notes and committing them to the page.

How to Enter

It couldn’t be more straightforward: simply pick a favourite walk on your home patch, and write it up in Country Walking style. We’re looking for entries in precisely the format you’ll find in the following pages: an inspiring introduction about the attractions of the walk, full step-by-step route directions, and a “Plan Your Route” panel. Plus three good digital photographs taken on your chosen walk, and an extended “don’t Miss” panel exploring one highlight – for guidance, take a look at the ones on Routes 5, 14 and 21 in this issue [May 2012]. Walks and panels should add up to a maximum of 750 words in total. Entries should include your full name, address and phone number, and a note of the region, or regions you would like to contribute walks about.

The Winner

Our winner, chosen at our discretion, will join our nationwide team of walk writers. This is not a full-time post, but involves working freelance on an ad hoc basis, submitting routes when requested by the Country Walking editorial team at the magazine’s standard payment rates.

Email us your entries … to cwroutes@bauermedia.co.uk marking the subject: “Routes Comp”. The closing date for entries is June 21st 2012.

(Please note that the image below shows the old style route layouts – buy the May 2012 issue to see what the new-style route layouts look like.)

Clee St Margaret in Shropshire

Relax and Write … and have good laugh

I’m just back from running my Seven Steps to Publication Success course at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, on behalf of the Malaga ‘Relax and Write’ workshops, where I had a fab group of students.  In fact, one said she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much!

I’d just like to thank Liz, Jane, Kate, Lois, Andy, Sandra and Jackie for being such a great group … and I hope, after following my tips and advice, they’ll be published writers soon. Look out for more details of my next course (8th to 10th March 2013, in Leeds), which will be available soon!

The Hayes Conference Centre, near Swanwick, Derbyshire, April 2012

Another PPW 5 Star review!

Thanks to Julie P for another 5 star review of The Positively Productive Writer on Amazon.co.uk, where she said:  ”If you are in a bit of a rut with your writing and, let’s face it, most of us are at some point, then this book will give you the big kick up the backside that you need! It is jam packed of great ideas to get you through the world of rejection, procrastination and low self-confidence, giving you practical solutions to issues you may face as a writer.”

For more information about the book, visit The Positively Productive Writer.