Today I needed cheering up. Cold weather, thoughts of winter coming, always makes me fed up. So I re-read the feedback sheets about the talk I did at work last Saturday on 'Psychiatry: a former user's perspective'. I actually liked giving the presentation. My nerves disappeared soon as I got started and it seems to have gone down well. I got a phone call from the publicity officer at my publisher. She wants me to write articles for newspapers and magazines. I might 'lift' some of my talk where appropriate. Well, I can't plagiarise from my own work, can I?
I'm aware I've been neglecting my blog. I'm so busy at the moment. The editing was endless but I packed it in and sent my manuscript back to my publisher when I realised I was doing what Oscar Wilde says in this quote:
'I was working on the proof of one of my poems all morning, and took a comma out. In the afternoon I put it back again.'
I've got a busy day ahead tomorrow, helping with a training class at work. We're going to look at 'Suicide' (oh dear, that'll cheer me up, won't it?). But tonight I've got something good to look forward to. I've received my copy of 'The Yellow Room' magazine, the first issue of a women's literary fiction mag published by Jo Derrick (formerly Jo Good who used to publish and edit QWF). I've missed my QWFs, and I'm looking forward to the same high standard of stories in this new mag. I'm about to curl up in front of the fire to read it. What better way is there to spend a cold autumn evening?
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About Me
- Jean
- Hi, I'm Jean. I'm fifty-something, married to Ian, and live in West Yorkshire. I'm a writer, and part-time mental health worker. My memoir 'The Dark Threads' is published by Accent Press. As a mixed-up, depressed teenager in 1968 I was heavily drugged, given electric shock treatment, reduced to a zombie and, by age 20, 'written off' as suffering from chronic schizophrenia (a misdiagnosis, evidence suggests). I managed to jump out of the net in 1974 and went on to build up a life for myself. Today life is good, good, good. I have a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Combined Studies (literature and psychology), and qualifications in counselling skills. 'The Dark Threads' is my first book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Threads-Jean-Davison/dp/1906373590
3 comments:
Hello Jean
I've just 'discovered' this wonderful blog because you posted on my bookblog. Aren't blogs wonderful ways of meeting like-minded people? I will most certainly be buying a copy of your book. I hope you're going to send one to Jo and The Yellow Room for a review?
Whilst I am lucky not to have suffered like you have from well-meaning I'm sure but misguided 'experts', I am very interested in mental health and have battled my own personal demons (depression) over the years.
I wonder, living where you are, that you've come across my brother-in-law (same surname).
Please feel free to contact me if you wish. I'd love to hear from you. You can do it through my blog--I hope!
Hi Jean,
Thank you for leaving such a lovely comment on my blog.
It's so lovely to hear about people who have over-come so much and now feel positive about their lives.
I'm not sure how well I would do standing up to give a talk, so I do respect your bravery. I don't think you can plagiarise your own talks, but you may want to say something in your article about 'when you gave a talk about' or words to that effect.
Maybe your publisher can give you guidance there.
Good luck with your book.
Best wishes
Annie
Jean, I saw you on Annie W's blog and popped over to say 'Hi'.
I'm on the borders of Lancashire and West Yorkshire so have a foot in both camps.
Good luck with your book; next year, I'll look out for you at a bookshop near me.
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