Tags
conditioning, editing, editor, escape the matrix, how to write, How to write a book, narrowboat life, Personal growth, Travel memoir, Work, writing
Photo of me from a couple of weeks ago
Since I last posted I have discovered bright colours! (Thank you to Julie for my beautiful birthday top!)
Turns out, editing is harder than I thought, total focus is required, hence my absence. Plus in March I started work, part time, at a lower level but back to Occupational Therapy. Stepping down, and into a new clinical area, albeit just up the road and with a lovely team, is actually harder than I thought. I’m even wondering about stepping up again into a senior role and back into a more-hardcore-yet-familiar clinical setting.
As far as the book goes, there’s only so much writing I can do without my hand, wrist, arm and shoulder hurting. So there’s that. One or two evenings after work I do an hour or so, then on my days off I do around two hours. John my husband works 3-4 days per week in a shift pattern, giving us every Friday together and every other weekend, and time alone on the boat for each of us.
Book update: I’m giving myself a long weekend off, which feels like coming up for air, between the last pass through and the next, which will be editorial advice, mainly cutting here and there and working on strengthening the endings of each chapter, and adding a little personal background as needed.
I’ve been helping a friend with some editing and as I had hoped, have discovered a talent for this. I am very gentle, supportive and responsive and I have a sharp critical eye I can access to help you. If you want help I am available for editing work, use the contact box and I’ll get straight back to you.
More big news: We are in the process of putting a website together to collate all the information and knowledge we have about the nature of reality, the conditioning we are all a victim of etc etc; an online community for exchanging ideas and asking questions about our own experiences… Watch this space, as they say!
The cats came back at the start of lockdown!
Follow me on Instagram thisisrachelhill (mainly writing stuff and photos of everyday boat life)
Thank you for visiting
Rachel xxx
Rachel 
I’m so looking forward to that new venture. It’s great that you get time together on your wonderful boat. Do you think about what you are going to write before you sit down or do you do that as your writing ?
Thank you very much, I’m glad you’re interested in it! Well the book is now all about editing, and before it was about typing up notes of what I’d seen and done, and insights I’d noted down. For the blog, I usually wait for inspiration to strike then write notes and polish for the blog. How about you? And how are you doing?
Love the shirt, and looking forward to the new website!-)
Thank you!!!!
I’ve always enjoyed the editing process, but you’re right, it does take total concentration. Sometimes it’s more demanding than writing in the first place, because you can’t just let your “muse” lead. You have to make sure that the writing is tight, it makes sense to the reader and that there aren’t any glaring mistakes. Good luck and good to hear from you!
Thank you Ann, you are so right, I am getting there slowly but surely! Thanks for reading!!
Nice to read what you’ve been up to, Rachel. Sounds like you’ve been working hard. I will be watching for your new website…sounds interesting!
Thank you Des!
I started my ‘final’ pass through today, I glanced at the time, it was 08:08, my favourite time. I woke up early and lay there dreading it for a while (after a week off, and having to go back to the start) but it was fine- I could see what needs doing, identified the steps, and feel okay, so far so good!
And I’m glad you’re interested in the website, we took a first look at it the other day- our friend is building it- and John and I will be writing/ editing some written content tomorrow!
All the best and thanks for reading and commenting!