Writing Articles

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

[More:]

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered an environmental walk, a couple of years ago, when these ponies had been introduced to the area as a herd. Definite possibilities there-home to the phone!

Interview with the Trust’s Chairman arranged, now back ‘up the downs’ to take photographs while the sun’s shining and I can see the ponies. (I hadn’t noticed either earlier as I walked off my negativity).

Writelink sources: e mail to ‘greenfutures’; decided against Sussex Life as, although I’d written four main features, with photo’s, for them in the last year, the editor hadn’t responded to enquiries about other work he held, and it had taken eight months to be paid for one piece! Consult the Writers’& Artists’ Yearbook next. I sent an e mail to the editor of Countryman, who replied that the pony subject had been covered, but had I any other ideas for him for the end of the year? Oh yes! He went for three of them, so one rejection lead to more work, how unusual!

My immediate response was to agree fees, to which he said: “You freelancers, all you think about is money”! We learn.

Nose in books to start research when I received a telephone call from school to say my son had unexplained chest pains, could I collect him?

As we spoke, Riley threw up on the hall carpet: sheep droppings he’d eaten on the downs, and what was that other earthy smell? Fox faeces! Riley had a new, organic, collar, which was getting warm. OK, I can multi-task, but please, God, could I just have some peace and quiet in which to write? My son’s chest pains were probably indigestion or something simple, but my recent divorce and subsequent house move had upset him, so maybe they were stress induced? Books, notes and ideas for reference/photo’s, as usual strewn around my desk, I left to collect ailing child, and shut the dog out so he wouldn’t be able to roll his ‘fox collar’ onto it all.

Our GP fitted my son in as an emergency appointment: poor little guy had been unexpectedly ‘bear hugged’ from behind and had his ribs crunched. Thank goodness it wasn’t the rugby season, he’d have been really hacked off at missing games then!

Home to comfort sore son and, hopefully, get some work done.

I had some new emails: more work! Two more features, please, for the estate agent who’d sold our house, and for whom I’d since done all the advertising features. They were small pieces, (350 words average), but regular jobs and made a change. There was also a positive response from the British Horse Society about the Exmoor ponies for their e zine. Photographs looked good, and I was delighted with the one of the Trust’s unexpected April Fools’ Day foal, and had plans to do another feature for a children’s animal magazine around it. I had already done several features and a commission for them, had a good working relationship with the editor, and often bought the magazine for my goddaughter. It was fun to do and the work was, generally, straightforward!

I emailed the pony feature and photographs to the BHS, with contact information of the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust, but waived my fee as it’s for a charity. (It looks good on the portfolio anyway and is a hoof in the door for me: a former riding instructor and lapsed BHS member). Spread your name in a positive way at every opportunity! If you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Believe!

To research the first article for Countryman, I have to plan photographs and interviews with relevant people, so back on the net again! As the school holidays approach, I try to fit these necessities in with a day out for son and dog, so everyone’s happy! I make notes of a few possibilities, names, addresses, telephone numbers and location. There’s no point spending my fee on petrol, but the editor, the readers and I must be happy with the result. A regular column in one or two specialist magazines would suit me just fine!

Today had started badly. Now I was buzzing with enthusiasm and more ideas. Funny old life, this writing lark, more ups and downs than a fiddler’s elbow.

As I shut down for the night, my daughter rang from her home in Scotland, to tell me that she and her partner were thinking about moving to Australia, where he’d been offered a job. Fantastic opportunity! Think of the experience, (not to mention the photographs they’ll be able to send). Which reminds me, I must email my old college chum in Canada, who photographed a wild bear in his backyard recently-now what could I do with that?

Now I’m up early to write while my son sleeps and Riley chases gulls from the garden until the postman arrives: a positive response from the publisher about my non-fiction book!

Better sign off now-I’ve got so much work to do!

HACKING IT
By Margaret Paxton

Great. The second rejection of my first novel arrived on the same morning as my decree absolute. Feel good factor: zero. No: sub zero.

Right then, walk Riley, our 11-month-old rescue dog, on the downs! That always helps me to think and put things into perspective. On the way home, I’ll buy chocolate, just because!

I knew I still had a few features ‘with editors’ and lots of new ideas, also a non-fiction proposal that I had high hopes of. Maybe. I’d soon learnt that as a freelancer it doesn’t pay to write one thing and then wait for results, or even expect them! Just keep writing different things then write even more. Some days though I wished I’d pursued a sensible job.

With chocolate in hand, I stopped off at the library to see if I’d missed anything new on the local scene, and to pick up countryside leaflets…Sussex grazing and conservation trust on the South Downs? I remembered a