Are poems still popular you may ask?  Well, some years ago I was enamoured with writing poetry and it was a time in my life when I needed to ease my brain into a sense of fantasy, using real-life experiences - and here are some of my compositions which I must admit - I'm rather proud of ...
​
THE YACHT
 
She slips through waters green in depth
Her wooden hull, curved sensuously
Pure white sails straining ‘gainst the wind
And then sudden calm
She murmurs her woe, time to go with the surge of the tide
Shuddering delight as she feels the lift of the sea
Beneath her bowels
 
And again the breeze fans her sails and she is swept
Along forging crests rising and falling
The swells encircling her in their clutches
Gently, then slowly gaining in strength, undulating
Surging oceans, bow pointing high, then suddenly lost
In the curl of a wave
Her magnificence reflected in afternoon shadows
 
Silence echoes, then seabirds hover and shriek above her
Towering masts reaching skyward to the cerulean heavens
Burnished amber horizon peeps like polished copper
Casting golden shadows ‘cross still Pacific waters
As homeward she glides, silently, swift and true
Back to port, back home to you.


I REMEMBER
 
I remember carefree summer days
That went on forever, long time ago
When trees grew mistletoe on far-reaching branches
And the smell of sunburnt grass, flattened by busy feet
 
The Village green, filled with children’s laughter 
Tinkled like crystal droplets falling on polished rock
Dancers swirled to the piper's tune, turning and spinning
Kilts that sashayed to the rhythms of Scotlands

Steam floated in wispy clouds, from boiling billies
Teacups in lines on rustic tables covered with paper cloths
And ladies in aprons buttering thick scones, jam and clotted cream
Country cakes and filled merinques on flowered china plates
 
Men in braces, leaned together, swapping yarns, whisky laced
While taut muscled axemen raised their hatchets that glistened in the sun
The starting gun fired and the axes dropped - chop, chop, chop
And they vied to win, Champion of the day, cup raised to the crowd
 
Daylight waned, the crowd thinned,
Wearily wandering homeward, faces glowing from the sun,
Tired youngsters atop their father’s shoulders, nodding in oblivion 
Yes, I remember the magic, now many years past.
 
 
Jan Peters (a true story)

Today I decided to look up the actual definition of a proof reader - interesting reading ... here is what Wikipedia says ...

Proofreading is the reading of a galley proof or an electronic copy of a publication to detect and correct production errors of text or art.[1] Proofreaders are expected to be consistently accurate by default because they occupy the last stage of typographic production before publication.

To read the entire (lengthy) description, go to : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofreading

So, for those authors, would-be writers and amateurs who are passionate about their work and are keen to have it published, whether in hard copy or an eBook or anything else that is available, employing a proofreader is essential.  Of paramount importance is correctness - grammar, punctuation, plausibility and the elimination of 'unnecessary' words. Formatting is another key to ensuring your writing is set out in a clear and clean manner, and above all, is easy to read. 

Wishing you all the best with your next 'best selling' novel!

Business cards are often the first avenue you take when promoting your business.  Over the past few weeks I've had a few handed to me from one business or another - from florists to beauty salons, and yes, advertising executives.  What astounds me is the number of errors I found in the first two seconds!  Granted, only small errors, but to me glaringly obvious.

These days of course, most business cards are done online and as much as they tell you to make sure your narrative is thoroughly checked, more often than not, you overlook the simple errors. 

And that's where proofreading and editing tends to be ignored when in fact it can be the 'make or break' when it comes to impressing that potential client.  It's a little like selling your home - first impressions count - and if you don't show a certain amount of professionalism at the onset, then you often lose that credibility.

Food for thought!

The English language is so interesting and as one goes through life, we never seem to stop learning!  Recently I came across this amazing post on Facebook :

 







 

I am very proud to announce Dr Okwun Ojah's first novel which has been published and is now selling on Amazon.com.  Congratulations Okwun - I was very privileged to work on your novel and look forward to the next one.