Fraser Duncan

Procrastination Busting – How to break the dam we have built

I wrote recently about planning and avoiding distractions, here, but it is not the only hurdle to overcome when we are trying to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Having got past one hurdle, we might come across another one that many of us have faced in the past, which is procrastination. Despite recognising […]

How To Make Sure Things Get Done – Despite the distractions

Image of a person using a remote control to watch TV, used to illustrate post

The distractions in life are where many of us find ourselves before too long. We may have started-off with good intentions to do this or write that, but soon we are consumed by the news, the politics, the gossip, TV, the game, the movie, the people, the book that grabs our original intention, and grinds […]

That Was The Week – Beginning on 9 September 2024

Image of the International Space Station created by the European Space Agency, used to illustrate post

For me, this week was characterised by different kinds of writing, from poetry workshop to increased journalling to following prompts based on existing poetry. And I have had another piece of writing published by ‘Know Thyself, Heal Thyself’: How to Make Your Fish Ride a Bicycle — When all it wants to do is climb ladders. […]

Seneca, Asthma and Me – Making a connection over the centuries

Image of a bust of Seneca The Younger, used to illustrate post

Seneca The Younger was born at the same time as Christ, but that is not why he grabs my attention. I am drawn to the fact that he writes about his experience of Asthma, something I have had to deal with in my life more than 2000 years later. Nowadays, I can usually keep the worst of […]

Drifting – Slowly escaping

Image of person fishing from a dinghy to illustrate post.

long stretch of sandy beachin cold-weather Scotlandwaitlast two weeks in Julywe have a summerGlasgow invasionand huffy locals soft and warmgolden sandsgallons of alcoholmost populartowelsbathingsleepI pick my way pastwith shovel in hand I want cold hard ridgeslugworm beneathbaited hooksbobbing dinghyout in the bayaway and awayfrom the maddening crowd bite on the lineflurry of activitycrash landingsea creaturemurdered […]

Repetition – To follow or not to follow?

Image of neat and productive desktop space to illustrate post

I see repetition everywhere including, and perhaps especially, in the things I say, think and do. I know that I am not alone in this as I see it all around me in politics, retail and leisure sectors in particular. Some say repetition is boring and causes stagnation. Others say it is comforting, useful, productive […]