My Creative Everyday

Instinctively we want to hibernate in winter, and our activities change - with more reading, writing, cooking, television, music and cosy nights in.  We're fending off endless coughs and colds by consuming smoothies and soups.  A few tasty treats I've been making are: Chicken & sweet corn soup, Spring rolls, Bread & banana pudding, Peanut butter & banana pudding, Adzuki red beans, Duck pate, Portugese duck rice, Garlic and chive crusts, Fig with salt n pepper squid, Slow cooked duck, and  Banana and nutella spring rolls.  GIlmour Girls is my happy place and I'm mixing it up with American Horror Story and Mad Men . My fascination with Gilmour Girls, which I'm not rewatching has even resulted in a long blog post about it.  I've just finishing reading Crazy Rich Asians which has made me think more about identity, memories and history. I've also dipped into some of Hilary Mantel's short stories and am half way through Butter .  Accepting the wea...

Carole King re-recorded "Where You Lead, I Will Follow" with her daughter Louise Goffin for the Gilmour Girls in 2000. I watched the entire series, feeling the familiarity of her timeless ballad, you've got a friend, without knowing it was Carole King, or that she cameod as the music store owner.  I watched the pop culture phenomenon for the first time over Christmas, aware that it had been a sensation, but never drawn to the show even until several episodes into Season 1.  The Cast  At first I was intrigued, because it had Melissa McCarthy, before she was in Bridesmaids. The grandmother looked familiar and I discovered she was Jennifer Grey's mum in Dirty Dancing.  After awhile Rory Gilmore, the daughter, looked like someone I'd seen and found out Alexis Bledel was Emily in The Handmaid's Tale.  Aside from the cast regulars, the litany of guest appearances and recurring characters featured many stars: Jon Hamn from Mad Men popped up, as did Billy...

The dilemma of persevering with a book as a writer or reader struck me this week. As a writer on more than 50,000 words into a novel, I'm too invested to give up on it. So though I'm excited about a new idea for a novel, I find myself attempting to hang in there.  However, as a reader, I have two new books 30 pages in, and I'm tempted to abandon both.  The first is a recent best seller full of hype. The premise intersted me, but the style and tone is do cold that I am repelled from becoming absorbed by the story. It doesn't feel right for me in the throngs of December and Christmas.  The second is a historical drama from a vest selling and well regarded author. I've read one of her books, a long time ago. I'm bored, simply not engaging with the content and style.  Book 1 is 400 pages long. Book 2 is 600 pages. Perhaps it's the length, or I'm daunted by the task of completing them.  Sometimes it takes a while to get into a book, for me to find a rhythm an...

Read the final Write On! magazine feature of a special three-part series on ChatGPT. In " The Future of Writing & AI ," I interviewed Dr Blay Whitby, who I approached after reading his book Artificial Intelligence: A Beginners Guide (2008). I love how our conversation even related the invention of electric guitars to technology and what lies ahead for us. 🎸 I was pretty excited to interview Dr Whitby since he's been writing about AI since 1984 and I'd read one of his books which gave me some really interesting insights into AI. Also, Dominic Jarkey, a senior R Programmer and data scientist, provides a fascinating perspective. I hadn't expected bird identification, cats and weather prediction to come up! 🐦🐈‍⬛️⛅️ So, with ChatGPT upon us, are we like butterflies flapping our wings, buffeted by wind, or caterpillars about to undergo an extraordinary metamorphosis from a chrysalis? 🦋 Or do you think AI is another bubble of the tech boom? Interestingly, it is c...

Read the second in a special three part feature on ChatGPT in Write On! magazine -   "Art, Literacy & The Singular Literary Genius" , which centres around Doctor Omar Kholeif, Egyptian-born curator of exhibitions across six continents, whose work includes commissioning award-winning art, authoring, co-authoring, or editing 41 books.  What can technology do for people in the creative field, but also what about our digital literacy? Are we constantly feeling like we have to keep up, and why are some people more open and interested in ChatGPT? A big thank you to Dr Kholeif for his time, sharing his story and wise. Internet_Art, published by Phaidon Press is gorgeous in hardback if you're looking for an art coffee-table book.  I continued to draw on  Catherine and Imo's observations and insights. The MFA  City University students are in their final year and both working on their first novels. Their interview helps tie all three parts of this series.  Also m...

Read the first in a special three part feature on ChatGPT.  After 7 hours of interviews, then months of writing and editing, " Is Generation Z Trying To Save Us From AI? " is out now! The feature begins with: “Woah, slow your roll, we’re not going to take it seriously. We see AI as a new meme opportunity,” Tennessee born MFA student Catherine Sheffield says. I met Catherine at Hay Festival last year when I had the opportunity to attend with Write On! magazine. Catherine introduced me to Imo, who has been involved in training an AI program. The two MFA students brought colour, character and unique perspectives to my understanding of AI.  Also my Insta friends, @dannyvill77 and @356shooter make their debut in the magazine with their photographs.  A huggggeeee thank you to Madeleine White, Claire Buss and Pen To Print. Without Write On! magazine, I would not have dared to embark on this piece.  My family and friends also have been amazing throughout this mammoth project...

ChatGPT, TikTok and all the other technology that is bombarding us continues to stoke fears of what we will lose and how things are being replaced. People spend more time than ever on technology, including up to 7 hours a day using the internet.  Even with all the bustle and craziness around us, there's one thing that hasn't yet been replaced by technology. It's been around since Roman times and is still an important part of our community today.  I am referring to the bench - that thing you plant your bottom on, that you find in various places when you're out and about.  Panelled benches were the most common form of seating in medieval halls, whilst a chair was a luxury reserved for those of high status. In fact, status also dictated if people used their benches for eating, lounging, and sleeping, or rather, individual pieces were used for each specific use. Benches are extraordinary. We take them for granted, but what a difference they make when you're tired and ne...

London 2022 – a year in review by Ellie M Blake I created this video on YouTube about the year 2022. One of my goals was to develop my creativity skills in design, visual media, editing and production. I'm still much more comfortable with words, but I can see that I am making progress in my knowledge and experience in photography. So this is a recap of 2022 ... I came upon some pet dwarf rabbits early in the New Year in King Edward Memorial Park in Wapping. The winter felt extra cold. Thankfully, the daffodils arrived, heralding Spring. The birds were singing and the ducklings were swimming. The lambs wandered and grazed in the fields at Mudchute Farm. The Mile End baby geese on Regent’s canal were a comical bunch, restless and playful. Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum Jubilee military flypass was a wonderful sight, while lying in the grass in London Fields in Hackney. The summer was long with some exceptionally hot days in the high 30s, which demanded excessive consumption of ice...

Thirty years after the movie Pretty Woman romanticised a prostitute & a wealthy businessman rescuing each other, I wondered what sort of story could work for a sequel 30 years later. On a budget of $14 million, the movie made $463.4 million at the box office, becoming the third highest grossing film in 1990. It was nominated for Oscars, Golden Globes, Baftas  and a Cesar.  Many of the cast of the original movie had successful careers, though aren't active any longer on the big or small screen.  If I was creating a sequel, in an ideal world my cast would include Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward), Richard Gere (Edward Lewis), Héctor Elizondo (Barnard Thompson), Laura San Giacomo (Kit De Luca) and Jason Alexander (Phillip Stuckey).  My Pretty Woman 2 story would also include Alex Hyde-White (David Morse) and R. Darrell Hunter (Darryl The Limo Driver).  It would introduce some young fresh faces (Eddie, Vincent, Carla and Stephen) to play the two love interests, a...

When you write the last chapter of a book, there is a certain satisfaction, like no other chapter. This morning I completed the first draft of the last chapter, 682 words, written when nearly 30% of the book is done, but it means you know where you are going. The nagging feeling of being on a long dark road is brightened by a light at the end of it.  I began the morning by editting chapter 1. There were images I wanted to include to make it feel more real, for there to be shape and substance.  It felt natural to be edutting the first chapter to moveon to writibg the last chapter. I like a rounded ending, where you are reminded of the beginning. It feels more complete.  This week I have worked out the plot of my novel. For the last few months, i's been fun just writing and seeing where it takes me, but eventually you get to a point where you feel like you are blindly fumbling about.  At my desk, with a shawl around my shoulders and a blanket on my knees, the words cam...

Children ask why? It's a great question. As adults, we forget to ask why? We don't always question why we do what we do, or why things are the way they are. If we are told a reason, we don't keep asking why? We move on.  As writers, why is a powerful question. As we muddle through uncertain times, shouldn't we be asking why even more? Isn't the why part of the solution to making things better?  The why drives a mystery. The why keeps us going. We keep wondering why when we are absorbed in a gripping story. We want to know the answer. We don't stop asking why? We enjoy the wonder of living in the world of why? So why am I writing this post?  I read an article about 3 year olds always asking why in the Metro . It led me down this merry path of musing about why?  Why do I write?  It is who I am. It is what I love. I don't know any other way than to express myself through words, putting them together, trying to make them coherent,  shaping tgem ibto something t...

Fleeting  Like a kiss  Stolen moments  Forgotten bliss  Fleeting  Flickering flame  Burning bright  Never tame

Rudolph ate cookies in the kitchen. Santa was asleep in his sleigh. The elves played computer games. They forgot about Christmas Day.  Rudolph's belly hurt. Santa had a headache. The elves' thumbs were sore. Oh, for goodness sake! The kitchen was a mess. The sleigh wheels were broken. Santa needed a shower while words remained unspoken. Before long they fixed things though they had tears and troubles. Soon they were in the sleigh dashing through the puddles.  It was a time for family, friends & all we hold dear. The world was full of uncertainty, with waves of worries and fear. Thunder and lightning, blizzards were braved, at the last minute, luckily  Christmas was saved. Everyone came together on that one day of the year. What would we do without Santa, the elves & Rudolph the Reindeer? Copyright E.M. Blake, 2021 Watch the video for They Forgot About Christmas on youtube or tiktok and see if you can spot all the elves and animals.   

  Christmas is Coming Christmas is coming It's cold and grey Bring jokes and punning We're ready for cheers. The presents aren't wrapped At least the shopping's done We're baking and napped We're ready for cheers. Merrier than three kings The fairy lights shine Let's be grateful for things We're ready for cheers.  Some musings on Christmas, EMB 2021.