Decoding Static

It has been beautiful being here, to sit, to watch, to enjoy. To...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:25:23 +0100

It has been beautiful being here, to sit, to watch, to enjoy.

To continue being, I’m placing my tumblr on holiday, everything I have posted will stay, come by any-time and enjoy.

You can still find me over at my regular blog, Decoding Static, pop over anytime.

"We’re both just human. Nothing more. But also nothing less."

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:37:15 +0100

“We’re both just human. Nothing more. But also nothing less.”

- The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (via kenna)

Photo

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:44:17 +0100

There are many books that have been released over the past year...

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:03:27 +0100

There are many books that have been released over the past year by fellow indie authors, which I have admired from afar and keep saying to myself I must buy. However it seems my finances have other ideas! As such I wondered about a bookswap, because for me writing isn’t about making money but the sharing of experiences and ideas. If a living could be earned from it great, but that is not my foremost concern, which may be one reason for why my finances are what they are!

So I am offering 5 handmade copies of Living Room Stories in return for a physical copy of your own work. If you would like to swap books please get in touch with me via email:decodingstatic@gmail.com or @decodingstatic on twitter.

Sorry no Kindle editions as I don’t own a kindle or read on my laptop. However I do make the kindle edition of Living Room Stories free every so often, so you can grab yourself a copy when those promotions run.

#MyGoldToday

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:48:00 +0100

I had just clapped myself, another three quarters of a mile to go and I would have my first 5miles of the year in the bag. I run for me, it provides a sense of achievement, clears my head and I enjoy it. Yet I have hardly run this year, I feel the reason of studying alongside working is a plausible one, but by not nourishing myself I lose a part of me and it is much easier for my self critic to floor me. As I watched the start of the woman’s marathon this morning, I noticed the time they were completing miles in and then felt a black pit developing in my stomach. I had woken up in a good mood, we were off to the lakes, but now I felt flat, empty and fearful. I unpicked these sensations and came across an old foe, my self critic and the pouring of pressure on myself, destroying activities I enjoy to gain external appreciation. My own internal appreciation and enjoyment vanishes as I lose sight of why I do what excites me, replacing my excitement with pressure, fearing how will I live up to my own imagined external expectations.

This battle is ongoing and one I am determined to win, I don’t want to lose my self critic, but I want it to be a friend, not a bully, a way of checking ideas and possibilities, not destroy them. I believe the main way to reduce my self critic’s voice and increase my self esteem, belief and enjoyment in myself, is to encourage myself and celebrate my achievements. After I had clapped myself and shouted come on, I pictured the crowds at the Great North Run, then the atmosphere at the Olympics and the golds Team GB have won so far and the sense of uplift this appears to be providing the country. I realised that this 5miles was my gold today, an achievement worth acknowledging and celebrating, to encourage and nurture my self.

As I pushed on with my run I started thinking I doubt I am alone with this way of attacking myself and missing those moments that nurture me and thought wouldn’t it be great if I could get #MyGoldToday trending on twitter. To celebrate moments that are important to us, that makes us smile, that takes strength, that is that glimpse of light, hope, when wrapped in shadows. When I feel strangled by fear I will explore those negative feelings and this helps. However when I feel positive about myself I let these moments go by without noticing. By doing that I don’t build on them, I don’t have that base when I am struggling. During my struggles the positives aren’t recalled, they are too fleeting and always not good enough. But they are good enough, they are great, and I want to reinforce this feeling. I want to feel good about myself, to love myself. I don’t want to keep battling, I want to enjoy. To do this requires encouragement and I will encourage myself via #MyGoldToday. I hope you will join me.

altlitgossip: MEAT CONFETTI IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS...

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:52:06 +0100

altlitgossip:

MEAT CONFETTI IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS THROUGH AUGUST 31 FOR 1ST ISSUE

FULL CALL IS HERE

Wish I had something to say.

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:50:53 +0100

mensisliber: Ways to join… 1. You may simply answer...

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:51:04 +0100

mensisliber:

Ways to join…

1. You may simply answer through Tumblr Replies, make sure you follow this blog and allows Tumblr messages because it’s the only way Mensis Liber can contact you back.

2. Send an e-mail to mail@mensisliber.com.

Subject: Mensis Liber: Book Title

Body: Answer

3. Facebook. Like Mensis Liber on Facebook, leave a comment on the post page.

Remember, no duplicate entries allowed. Winners must answer within 3 days or a new winner will be chosen.

Living Room Stories is now available on the kindle worldwide....

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:59:58 +0100

Living Room Stories is now available on the kindle worldwide. Why I have I gone digital when the original is handmade? Well it was a question from Anne Stormont in her interview with me about considering a more widely distributed form and the kindle, I hope, will achieve this. Thank you Anne for planting this seed.

For the kindle edition there is a new cover, which I designed digitally and I have already received some nice comments on it, which is great! I have also included two interviews which explore my process of writing Living Room Stories. Though the interviews I also explain the space I inhabit which informs my themes and my approach to writing, photography and art. Thanks to Dan Holloway and Anne Stormont for allowing me to reprint these.

I set the price at 99p, but Amazon has changed it to £1.02, but what is a few pence between friends?!

Living Room Stories at Amazon.co.uk for £1.02.

Living Room Stories at Amazon.com for $1.60.

Also available via the French, German, Italian and Spanish Amazon sites for 1.29 euros.

If you would prefer a handmade copy they are available for £5.00 (UK/Europe includes postage) or £6.00 (Outside Europe includes postage) via paypal at Living Room Stories.

I have decided to release Living Room Stories on the kindle,...

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:46:45 +0100

I have decided to release Living Room Stories on the kindle, here is a preview of the new cover. More to follow on Friday 6 July.

The Amazing Frankie: Things I pretend when I am home alone

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:56:31 +0100

The Amazing Frankie: Things I pretend when I am home alone:

frankiesachs:

The rain is coming. It’s not due until later but a mass of heavy clouds is piling up in the east. We need the rain; the blueberries are already dying. I leave some windows open, the ones sheltered by overhanging roof. The wind is rising and brings the smell of rain. It passes through the house and…

thisartisyours: Eszter Burghardt

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:00:11 +0100

thisartisyours:

Eszter Burghardt

beritellingsen: Sexual Dimorphism — A Nightmare Transcribed...

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:42:59 +0100

beritellingsen:

Sexual Dimorphism — A Nightmare Transcribed From Sanskrit – in Elimae, a favorite lit mag!

Thank you so much to the editors for taking the story in.

Check out the issue with great work by Ben Tanzer, Brandi Wells, Sean Lovelace, William van den Berg, Howie Good and more!

(Image: Wlodowa in Poland, by ewitsoe)

escapeintolife: Poems That Scare You | Escape Into Life #art...

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:03:07 +0100

escapeintolife:

Poems That Scare You | Escape Into Life #art #poetry

Full album Stream on Huffington Post

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:43:20 +0100

Full album Stream on Huffington Post:

Brilliant. Give it a listen.

Nothing to Say

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:29:30 +0100

Thinking of my response.

lastmanoutofeden:

Members of the poetry establishment often say that contemporary poetry has nothing to say. Poets, please could you draw, photograph or photoshop or scribble something that expresses your reaction to this assertion and submit as a jpeg through my submit button. The results will almost certainly be used in some public way so if you submit something you’re happy for me to use it

Very much looking forward to the physical version, but if you...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:01:17 +0100

Very much looking forward to the physical version, but if you can’t wait get the ebook now!

lastmanoutofeden:

Last Man Out of Eden is out as an ebook! Just £1 for a full set of my recent poems. Click here for the download.

beritellingsen: New Sun Rising, the charity anthology for...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:50:01 +0100

beritellingsen:

New Sun Rising, the charity anthology for Tohoku in Japan, is now out for the Kindle!

The anthology is a collection of stories, flash fiction, poems, haibun, haiku and artwork and photography donated by over 60 creators from all over the world to support those in Japan still affected by the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami and earthquake. All monies go the Japanese Red Cross.

Many thanks to the editors Annie Evett, Michelle Goode, Sylvia Petter and Vaishali Shroff for including my three haiku “Three Posters From Japan” in the anthology.

You can also read samples of the contributors’ work in the anthology’s website.

Fin?

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:32:51 +0100

It’s been a while. I have been consumed by words. I had to find myself in them. To own myself. To be able to hear another. I am getting there.

I was going to leave. Then I heard and read some words. Think I will stay a little longer and offer.

proudbeam: Ancient Victorians

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:23:09 +0100

proudbeam:

Ancient Victorians