After realising that having two blogs, one for reviews, another for
writing, for many years, I came to realise that it would be better to
have just one on which I could post both reviews and articles/writing and so I've moved over to Wordpress.
I'm
going to keep everything on here that I've done in the past, but as
it's much less professional-looking than my recent work it's better, in
my opinion to start things fresh again. Plus, WP is much more organised.
From now on, to view my updates please go to http://petekentofficial.wordpress.com
Thanks, y'all.
Wednesday 24 July 2013
Friday 12 July 2013
London Walks: The City
As
I exit Cable Street and start walking along the Highway, I decide it’s time to
grab a quick bite to eat and some hayfever tablets – my nose has been running
viciously in the 23 degree sun since I stepped out of my front door two hours
ago and I need something to stop it. The first person I approach is a
well-suited office worker stood smoking outside one of the City’s square
buildings along East Smithfield who informs me there is a Tesco round the
corner and at that I thank him, replace my headphones and set on my way.
Walking
slowly through the Minories and into Fenchurch Street I find myself surrounded
by a flood of suits; pinstripes, silk ties and leather shoes make me feel like
the odd one out wearing a black Satyricon t-shirt, cargo shorts and plimsolls
with my hair tied back into a ponytail halfway down my back. That isn’t to say
I’m complaining. I like being the odd one out and here was the perfect place
for someone like me to be such a person. The amount of middleclass-ness,
however, is still somewhat overwhelming.
I
finally come across a small Sainsbury’s and grab a Mars bar (not the best of
food, but it has sugar) and a box of antihistamines to sort out my hayfever.
Around me I can see a small amount of yet more office workers looking to buy a
quick after work snack before beginning their commutes on the stuffy
underground.
Continuing
through Fenchurch Street the pub fronts are filled with office workers holding
an after-work pint and cigarette or cigar whilst many an expensive shop is
pulling in similarly dressed customers looking to buy three silk ties for £20
or a light pink shirt for £35. Though I’m not too interested in such pricey
clothing there’s something interesting about seeing a large sheet of grey and
black crossing the road each time it becomes clear or the man turns green.
It
may be a hot day, but being surrounded by London’s skyscrapers only helps due
to the cooling shade they provide as opposed to the lack of found in the parks
and riverside walks. As much as I like a slow walk beside the river, the sun
right now is just too warm for it to be enjoyable and “chilled” (please excuse
the bad pun) so I feel thankful for the first time that these huge John Lewis,
Next and M&S buildings exist.
Fleet
Street and Strand provide me with yet more expensive shops and hotels and I
suddenly begin to notice how many people are riding through London on bikes;
some wearing face masks and helmets as protection against CO2 emissions and
accidents, others not. I begin to feel a slight hint of jealousy as they still
own a bike whereas mine was stolen a year ago. It soon blows over, though, and
I then notice how the tourists have now replaced office workers. People with maps,
guide books and cameras flood Strand and the surrounding streets like ducks
around stale bread. Some look confused or lost, others are smiling and talking
amongst themselves and yet more are relaxing in the sun's rays on the patches
of grass which have now turned a bright shade of green with the recent holiday
weather we've been having.
After a quick break to blow my nose and take some
observation notes I'm back on my feet and walking towards Covent Garden's
Maiden Lane in order to meet some friends in the recently-opened Porterhouse
pub.
July Updates
It's been a month since I last updated readers on how everything's going
which means it's probably now time for me to write another update. So,
what's been happening this past month? Well, not loads, but not too little either.
As I said I'd been planning to do in my previous post, I've been frequently posting and replying to Gumtree ads looking for writers. I thought I'd been having some luck, but it appears I haven't. The first email was from someone who ran/runs a RoyalDocks website and wanted me to write a piece of UEL, London City Airport and the ExCel Centre. The first 2 I did, but having received no reply nor payment for either, I haven't done the ExCel piece (yet - maybe I'll get a very late reply) so that's been given up on and put down as yet another mess-arounder. I think I'll keep these pieces as part of my portfolio now. I might even upload them here for those who are interested.
Similarly, I received a phone call around a week and a half ago from someone claiming to be a celebrity (but not giving any hints AT ALL) who had a new music project running which would apparently cause genuine hypnosis. Being the music fan I am, I accepted the job as well as giving him Lauren's details as a graphic designer. We both though we had it in "the bag" after he said he could tell we were interested. Over I sent a few pieces of work. That, however, was now over a week ago and the best either of us have heard from Mr. Celebrity is 2 rings on Lauren's phone using his withheld number. So much for professionalism, huh?
Next up is the email I received today from a London Escorts company looking for a blog writer who can do around 3 pieces weekly. I've sent them my rates and can now only hope I get the job. It'll be something new and hopefully interesting. Who knows, I might even get some free nights out and trips around London. Which brings me onto my new writing project: London Walks.
Having now lived in London for 3 years and a lot of it being with just enough money to buy food and drink, I've done a lot of walking. I was taking a walk through the city on Wednesday and casually studying the buildings and people around me when I began to think about how everyone uses the (cheapish) public transport of buses and trains so much that they miss out on being able to take just stand back and look at everything around them; buildings, rivers, people and the overabundance of push bikes. This gave me a new idea in which each week, day or night, I'll be taking a walk through London, both well and less well-known areas, and documenting my walks.
Sure, it's not to everyone's tastes, and some people even prefer to have their head jammed into a sweaty armpit during rush hours, but Michael Hodges (timeout.com/hodges) put it best in this week's '1001 things not to do in London' (No. 422) by saying "I was ambling along, considering just how exotic London is if you look above street level to the upper floors of the buildings we don't usually consider" which is exactly what I'd been doing. I wouldn't want to spend my days sat in one of the offices in these buildings, but there is still something fascinating about the architecture within London, whether it's the Victorian redbricks or the shiny skyscrapers such as the Gherkin or the Walkie Talkie.
I've pitched this idea to Time Out and visitlondon.com and can only hope for the best, but if both of these pitches fail, I'll still be going for walks which means a weekly piece. I can definitely safe that it's something I'm looking forward to doing. Sure, London isn't 100% paradise, but there are some great places to walk with my favourite being along Victoria Embankment and the connected riverside walk which ends at Tower Hill.
Next up, I've just received a phone call in reply to my Gumtree ad from a charity organisation based in Edgware Road who are going to send me some details (i.e. website links) for me to look at. They then want to meet me in their office and take it from there.
Eroticus is coming along slowly as I'm starting to run out of juice for it. Saying that, I'm still going to push on with it and hope for the best.
That's all for now, updates next month.
As I said I'd been planning to do in my previous post, I've been frequently posting and replying to Gumtree ads looking for writers. I thought I'd been having some luck, but it appears I haven't. The first email was from someone who ran/runs a RoyalDocks website and wanted me to write a piece of UEL, London City Airport and the ExCel Centre. The first 2 I did, but having received no reply nor payment for either, I haven't done the ExCel piece (yet - maybe I'll get a very late reply) so that's been given up on and put down as yet another mess-arounder. I think I'll keep these pieces as part of my portfolio now. I might even upload them here for those who are interested.
Similarly, I received a phone call around a week and a half ago from someone claiming to be a celebrity (but not giving any hints AT ALL) who had a new music project running which would apparently cause genuine hypnosis. Being the music fan I am, I accepted the job as well as giving him Lauren's details as a graphic designer. We both though we had it in "the bag" after he said he could tell we were interested. Over I sent a few pieces of work. That, however, was now over a week ago and the best either of us have heard from Mr. Celebrity is 2 rings on Lauren's phone using his withheld number. So much for professionalism, huh?
Next up is the email I received today from a London Escorts company looking for a blog writer who can do around 3 pieces weekly. I've sent them my rates and can now only hope I get the job. It'll be something new and hopefully interesting. Who knows, I might even get some free nights out and trips around London. Which brings me onto my new writing project: London Walks.
Having now lived in London for 3 years and a lot of it being with just enough money to buy food and drink, I've done a lot of walking. I was taking a walk through the city on Wednesday and casually studying the buildings and people around me when I began to think about how everyone uses the (cheapish) public transport of buses and trains so much that they miss out on being able to take just stand back and look at everything around them; buildings, rivers, people and the overabundance of push bikes. This gave me a new idea in which each week, day or night, I'll be taking a walk through London, both well and less well-known areas, and documenting my walks.
Sure, it's not to everyone's tastes, and some people even prefer to have their head jammed into a sweaty armpit during rush hours, but Michael Hodges (timeout.com/hodges) put it best in this week's '1001 things not to do in London' (No. 422) by saying "I was ambling along, considering just how exotic London is if you look above street level to the upper floors of the buildings we don't usually consider" which is exactly what I'd been doing. I wouldn't want to spend my days sat in one of the offices in these buildings, but there is still something fascinating about the architecture within London, whether it's the Victorian redbricks or the shiny skyscrapers such as the Gherkin or the Walkie Talkie.
I've pitched this idea to Time Out and visitlondon.com and can only hope for the best, but if both of these pitches fail, I'll still be going for walks which means a weekly piece. I can definitely safe that it's something I'm looking forward to doing. Sure, London isn't 100% paradise, but there are some great places to walk with my favourite being along Victoria Embankment and the connected riverside walk which ends at Tower Hill.
Next up, I've just received a phone call in reply to my Gumtree ad from a charity organisation based in Edgware Road who are going to send me some details (i.e. website links) for me to look at. They then want to meet me in their office and take it from there.
Eroticus is coming along slowly as I'm starting to run out of juice for it. Saying that, I'm still going to push on with it and hope for the best.
That's all for now, updates next month.
Wednesday 29 May 2013
Whitesnake, Journey and Thunder, Wembley Arena review
When I discovered that Whitesnake were hitting London this year I knew it was inevitable that I’d be going as they are a band I’ve been a big fan of since the age of 15. With Journey and Thunder on the list as well I was expecting an excellent night, and an excellent night I had.
After the compulsory buying of a t-shirt and toilet visit I managed to find my seat and get comfortable as I waited for Thunder to hit the stage. After some fiddling with my phone and text exchanges, the lights dimmed, the stage lit up and spotlights began flashing to the repeated chant of “THUNDER!”
Very soon, the flashing stopped and Thunder ran onto the stage to their positions. At this my insides began rolling and I felt myself almost crying with excitement. The night had begun.
I’ve only really heard a small number of Thunder’s tunes with the only one I really know well being ‘Love Walked In’, but their set was excellent and very memorable with Danny Bowes’ bad dancing and conversing with the audience. However, I was slightly disappointed at the shortness of their set which lasted only 45 minutes to an hour meaning no more than 7 or 8 songs could be fitted in.
Thunder’s performance was top notch and for a bunch of aging rockers, they still have it. A band I would happily pay to see again. Overall rating: 8/10
Next up were, surprisingly, Whitesnake (I expected Journey to be second), a band I’ve enjoyed listening to for a number of years with both their new and old stuff being some of my favourite music/songs which I’ve never gotten bored of.
In recent months I’ve commented on David Coverdale’s face melting, yet his showmanship, in my opinion, is still there. A little croaky at times, but still able to hit the high notes, I hope he doesn’t give up his day (and night) job any time soon.
The band were also great with sound levels being just right and each musician having the chance to play a solo, minus the bassist. Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich happily battled it out on guitars before Tommy Aldridge gave us his infamous hand-drum solo which I couldn’t help but continuously think must’ve hurt as it was being performed.
Playing all the hits including ‘Is this Love,’ ‘Good to be Bad’ and what I now believe is their staple finisher ‘In the Still of the Night’ Whitesnake were one band not to be missed, and at 35 years old, still able to put on a fantastic show. Getting to see the Snake play live marked the seeing of almost every band I’ve wanted to and despite being on the other side of London, the trip was fully worth it. Overall rating: 9/10
Third up were, of course, Journey, the band I expected to see on stage second rather than headlining. Journey is a band I’ve listened to very little with most of it being heard on Planet Rock radio or similar and not fully by choice. I’d enjoyed what I heard, but doubt that I would’ve paid just to see them. And tonight’s experience helped to confirm that.
They were good, but could’ve been much better. In agreement with the commentary over Facebook I’ll say their instruments were a little too loud resulting in too much distortion and all blending into one. However, the singer, despite lacking volume, was entertaining and lively. Saying that, I did take a toilet break near the end of their set (something I’ve not done before) and noticed a large number of other attendees stood waiting for their partners and friends and at that I found myself joining them and leaving a little early in order to avoid the crowds and full trains.
Journey are a band definitely worth listening to studio-wise, but tonight’s performance has put me off of seeing them live again. Overall rating: 5/10
After the compulsory buying of a t-shirt and toilet visit I managed to find my seat and get comfortable as I waited for Thunder to hit the stage. After some fiddling with my phone and text exchanges, the lights dimmed, the stage lit up and spotlights began flashing to the repeated chant of “THUNDER!”
Very soon, the flashing stopped and Thunder ran onto the stage to their positions. At this my insides began rolling and I felt myself almost crying with excitement. The night had begun.
I’ve only really heard a small number of Thunder’s tunes with the only one I really know well being ‘Love Walked In’, but their set was excellent and very memorable with Danny Bowes’ bad dancing and conversing with the audience. However, I was slightly disappointed at the shortness of their set which lasted only 45 minutes to an hour meaning no more than 7 or 8 songs could be fitted in.
Thunder’s performance was top notch and for a bunch of aging rockers, they still have it. A band I would happily pay to see again. Overall rating: 8/10
Next up were, surprisingly, Whitesnake (I expected Journey to be second), a band I’ve enjoyed listening to for a number of years with both their new and old stuff being some of my favourite music/songs which I’ve never gotten bored of.
In recent months I’ve commented on David Coverdale’s face melting, yet his showmanship, in my opinion, is still there. A little croaky at times, but still able to hit the high notes, I hope he doesn’t give up his day (and night) job any time soon.
The band were also great with sound levels being just right and each musician having the chance to play a solo, minus the bassist. Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich happily battled it out on guitars before Tommy Aldridge gave us his infamous hand-drum solo which I couldn’t help but continuously think must’ve hurt as it was being performed.
Playing all the hits including ‘Is this Love,’ ‘Good to be Bad’ and what I now believe is their staple finisher ‘In the Still of the Night’ Whitesnake were one band not to be missed, and at 35 years old, still able to put on a fantastic show. Getting to see the Snake play live marked the seeing of almost every band I’ve wanted to and despite being on the other side of London, the trip was fully worth it. Overall rating: 9/10
Third up were, of course, Journey, the band I expected to see on stage second rather than headlining. Journey is a band I’ve listened to very little with most of it being heard on Planet Rock radio or similar and not fully by choice. I’d enjoyed what I heard, but doubt that I would’ve paid just to see them. And tonight’s experience helped to confirm that.
They were good, but could’ve been much better. In agreement with the commentary over Facebook I’ll say their instruments were a little too loud resulting in too much distortion and all blending into one. However, the singer, despite lacking volume, was entertaining and lively. Saying that, I did take a toilet break near the end of their set (something I’ve not done before) and noticed a large number of other attendees stood waiting for their partners and friends and at that I found myself joining them and leaving a little early in order to avoid the crowds and full trains.
Journey are a band definitely worth listening to studio-wise, but tonight’s performance has put me off of seeing them live again. Overall rating: 5/10
Monday 3 September 2012
Slimelight, Islington review/introduction
Going through all of my freelance writing I found this little piece written in January 2011 when I first began freelancing. It was for a website called "London Impact" which appears to have never really launched beyond Facebook. Not to worry, though, it means I can upload it onto here without any worries.
-------------
Being an active member of the “alternative scene” (this is a phrase I will rarely ever use), I have, of course, spent a few nights in this goth-orientated club full off PVC, leather, flashing lights and industrial music. Not to forget the off face of piercings here and there.
But despite this possibly sounding like some huge fetish place, Slimelight is much like your standard London nightclub along the lines of Ministry or Fabric but with one difference: The music.
I remember my first time visiting this once-abandoned warehouse behind Angel station; it was with a couple of people I’d met that night in a pub which had been hired for a goth night. We got talking and, as the pub began clearing out, it was suggested we try and get a group together and finish the night in Slimelight. However, we were unsuccessful in gathering a large group together, so it was just two of us in the end but that didn’t ruin anything.
After an expensive taxi ride (when aren’t taxis expensive in London?) we were finally there and waiting in the line to get in. Surrounded by people with the aforementioned PVC and piercing, I knew this was my sort of place so, after a long wait, we were finally in the corridor leading towards the front desk.
Being slightly intoxicated the desk was cautious to let us in but we managed to convince them that we were in control and not going to do anything stupid (and we kept to our word, being the wonderful citizens we were) they charged us a tenner entry and we were in.
Not sure what to do with myself at first, I had a look around, bought a drink and visited the two available floors. From that point on it was a great night of dancing to rave music, drinking water (hint: when in a nightclub or bar and dehydrating, always ask for tap water - it’s free. This works in just about any pub or club and is better than paying £4 for a bottle of Evian), bumping into a friend and giving someone a piggy back.
So what is Slimelight really like then? Well, it’s a place full of decent, civilized people who, if you happen to accidentally walk into them, won’t start a fight and will accept a quick apology, loud music which one can dance to in anyway they like and nobody cares and a perfect environment for anyone who prefers unconventional to trendy. Not to forget nice bar staff, a pool room and cheap drinks.
In this sort of place, a visitor doesn’t need to know anyone to visit. He or she can simply waltz in, pay, buy a drink and get onto one of the dance floors and dance the night away from 10:30pm until 6:30am.
If you’re a person who would consider themselves “alternative” and not a fan of mainstream nightclubs then I’d recommend you take a visit to Slimelight. And even if you are a frequent visitor to Ministry of Sound, I’d still recommend you take a visit to this club. Despite the entry price being a bit high and there being no student nights, the world’s longest running goth club is a place anyone should visit simply for the atmosphere, diversity and civilised clubbers.
And to add to the fun, London at 6:30am is a sight which one may find very interesting.
-------------
Being an active member of the “alternative scene” (this is a phrase I will rarely ever use), I have, of course, spent a few nights in this goth-orientated club full off PVC, leather, flashing lights and industrial music. Not to forget the off face of piercings here and there.
But despite this possibly sounding like some huge fetish place, Slimelight is much like your standard London nightclub along the lines of Ministry or Fabric but with one difference: The music.
I remember my first time visiting this once-abandoned warehouse behind Angel station; it was with a couple of people I’d met that night in a pub which had been hired for a goth night. We got talking and, as the pub began clearing out, it was suggested we try and get a group together and finish the night in Slimelight. However, we were unsuccessful in gathering a large group together, so it was just two of us in the end but that didn’t ruin anything.
After an expensive taxi ride (when aren’t taxis expensive in London?) we were finally there and waiting in the line to get in. Surrounded by people with the aforementioned PVC and piercing, I knew this was my sort of place so, after a long wait, we were finally in the corridor leading towards the front desk.
Being slightly intoxicated the desk was cautious to let us in but we managed to convince them that we were in control and not going to do anything stupid (and we kept to our word, being the wonderful citizens we were) they charged us a tenner entry and we were in.
Not sure what to do with myself at first, I had a look around, bought a drink and visited the two available floors. From that point on it was a great night of dancing to rave music, drinking water (hint: when in a nightclub or bar and dehydrating, always ask for tap water - it’s free. This works in just about any pub or club and is better than paying £4 for a bottle of Evian), bumping into a friend and giving someone a piggy back.
So what is Slimelight really like then? Well, it’s a place full of decent, civilized people who, if you happen to accidentally walk into them, won’t start a fight and will accept a quick apology, loud music which one can dance to in anyway they like and nobody cares and a perfect environment for anyone who prefers unconventional to trendy. Not to forget nice bar staff, a pool room and cheap drinks.
In this sort of place, a visitor doesn’t need to know anyone to visit. He or she can simply waltz in, pay, buy a drink and get onto one of the dance floors and dance the night away from 10:30pm until 6:30am.
If you’re a person who would consider themselves “alternative” and not a fan of mainstream nightclubs then I’d recommend you take a visit to Slimelight. And even if you are a frequent visitor to Ministry of Sound, I’d still recommend you take a visit to this club. Despite the entry price being a bit high and there being no student nights, the world’s longest running goth club is a place anyone should visit simply for the atmosphere, diversity and civilised clubbers.
And to add to the fun, London at 6:30am is a sight which one may find very interesting.
Tuesday 28 August 2012
"Cured" of Epilepsy - my story
This little piece was something I wrote for an ezine back in January 2011. I was struggling for money and needed a portfolio, so writing quick articles for various ezines was my then-current solution whilst I looked for jobs outside of my bedroom.
I'm not sure why I chose to write this, as inspiration, or maybe I was bored. who knows? But I kinda like it, even if it's a bit bland and lacking some description. I've improved in 18 months. Honest.
----------------
In the year of 1996 I was diagnosed with epilepsy caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumour on the left side of my brain. MRI scans showed that it was about the size of a golf ball.
A year after the scans and many tests I had my first operation for a tiny sample to be taken and tested but the tumour couldn’t be removed due to the high possibility that I’d lose the ability to speak.
After the op and being released I spent the next 7 years having a seizure on an almost daily basis. I only recently found out that I was having what is known in the psychology and medical worlds as a “musical seizure” as I would hear familiar music seconds before it kicked in. I could never figure what the song was though, much to my annoyance, and, still to this day, I have no idea what it was.
When I turned 15, we got the results back from my most recent MRI and were told that now my brain had grown, the tumour had shifted a little and it could now be removed. What a feeling that was! So, after much planning, excitement and packing, my family and I set off to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London for two very special operations which were, and possibly still are, performed only twice a year by a team of incredibly skilled surgeons.
Filled with nerves and excitement (not forgetting teenage testosterone), we were guided to what would be my bedroom for the next three weeks. I’d be living in an average sized room with a metal-framed bed, my own toilet and marble floors with a large window sill I could sit on while listening to SlipKnot with my family in the background complaining about ‘that racket‘.
After a long week of being injected with needles, attached to machines, having blood taken away from me and asking the nurse if my operation could be filmed (that wasn’t possible but they did take some interesting photos), it was finally time to travel to my operating theatre.
Nervously, I sat on my bed, talking and laughing with my parents before the anaesthetic kicked in and I slowly fell into a deep sleep which still couldn’t be beaten today.
Skip forward to around five long hours later and my eyes are flickering open to find myself lying on a bed in a long room filled with children of all ages on both sides of the room who had also recently had an operation.
However, my tumour wasn’t gone just yet. This five hour op was, in fact, to put a number of electrodes attached to a square of thin latex over the tumour so my seizures for a week could be monitored and analysed to see what was really going on inside that cranium of mine.
For a week I was sat on my bed with a bandage around my head which happened to have a load of wires poking out, attached to a strange-looking machine. Through this whole week I was forced to take this machine with me to the toilet, sleep with wires in my head and spend time with my family looking like some sort of robot on charge. It was an interesting week, to say the least.
After the week was up, it was time to go back to theatre to have the electrodes removed and the tumour cut out to be sent off to the labs for scientific research. Or so I imagine.
Repeat the anaesthesia injection and the falling asleep with my mum holding my hand procedure and I’m back on the operating table with my head cut open and the surgeons fiddling away and again, five hours later, I’m lying in bed except this time there are no wires poking out of my head, my brain has lost some weight and my tumour is sat in a jar somewhere.
From what I remember, the doctor telling us that the tumour had successfully been removed with no complications was one of the best-feeling moments of my life. It was like a weight had been lifted and we no longer had to worry about certain things.
I spent the next week in hospital recovering and gaining my strength back along with mass consumption of macaroni cheese, my food obsession at the time and finally, on the seventh day we were packed and walking out of that room, but not before a nurse came into the room with a disc which had ‘Peter Kent G.O.S.H’ written on it. My photos! These would be interesting to see when we got home and still are seven years later.
Since the op I have had the odd seizure here and there but that’s nothing compared to one every day.
It’s now January 2011 and I’m now writing this article and about to begin my second semester of my first year of university, something that had never crossed my mind back in 2003. How our paths change. I suffered from a serious illness and now, here I am, writing articles and studying a degree in English literature and creative writing.
I'm not sure why I chose to write this, as inspiration, or maybe I was bored. who knows? But I kinda like it, even if it's a bit bland and lacking some description. I've improved in 18 months. Honest.
----------------
In the year of 1996 I was diagnosed with epilepsy caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumour on the left side of my brain. MRI scans showed that it was about the size of a golf ball.
A year after the scans and many tests I had my first operation for a tiny sample to be taken and tested but the tumour couldn’t be removed due to the high possibility that I’d lose the ability to speak.
After the op and being released I spent the next 7 years having a seizure on an almost daily basis. I only recently found out that I was having what is known in the psychology and medical worlds as a “musical seizure” as I would hear familiar music seconds before it kicked in. I could never figure what the song was though, much to my annoyance, and, still to this day, I have no idea what it was.
When I turned 15, we got the results back from my most recent MRI and were told that now my brain had grown, the tumour had shifted a little and it could now be removed. What a feeling that was! So, after much planning, excitement and packing, my family and I set off to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London for two very special operations which were, and possibly still are, performed only twice a year by a team of incredibly skilled surgeons.
Filled with nerves and excitement (not forgetting teenage testosterone), we were guided to what would be my bedroom for the next three weeks. I’d be living in an average sized room with a metal-framed bed, my own toilet and marble floors with a large window sill I could sit on while listening to SlipKnot with my family in the background complaining about ‘that racket‘.
After a long week of being injected with needles, attached to machines, having blood taken away from me and asking the nurse if my operation could be filmed (that wasn’t possible but they did take some interesting photos), it was finally time to travel to my operating theatre.
Nervously, I sat on my bed, talking and laughing with my parents before the anaesthetic kicked in and I slowly fell into a deep sleep which still couldn’t be beaten today.
Skip forward to around five long hours later and my eyes are flickering open to find myself lying on a bed in a long room filled with children of all ages on both sides of the room who had also recently had an operation.
However, my tumour wasn’t gone just yet. This five hour op was, in fact, to put a number of electrodes attached to a square of thin latex over the tumour so my seizures for a week could be monitored and analysed to see what was really going on inside that cranium of mine.
For a week I was sat on my bed with a bandage around my head which happened to have a load of wires poking out, attached to a strange-looking machine. Through this whole week I was forced to take this machine with me to the toilet, sleep with wires in my head and spend time with my family looking like some sort of robot on charge. It was an interesting week, to say the least.
After the week was up, it was time to go back to theatre to have the electrodes removed and the tumour cut out to be sent off to the labs for scientific research. Or so I imagine.
Repeat the anaesthesia injection and the falling asleep with my mum holding my hand procedure and I’m back on the operating table with my head cut open and the surgeons fiddling away and again, five hours later, I’m lying in bed except this time there are no wires poking out of my head, my brain has lost some weight and my tumour is sat in a jar somewhere.
From what I remember, the doctor telling us that the tumour had successfully been removed with no complications was one of the best-feeling moments of my life. It was like a weight had been lifted and we no longer had to worry about certain things.
I spent the next week in hospital recovering and gaining my strength back along with mass consumption of macaroni cheese, my food obsession at the time and finally, on the seventh day we were packed and walking out of that room, but not before a nurse came into the room with a disc which had ‘Peter Kent G.O.S.H’ written on it. My photos! These would be interesting to see when we got home and still are seven years later.
Since the op I have had the odd seizure here and there but that’s nothing compared to one every day.
It’s now January 2011 and I’m now writing this article and about to begin my second semester of my first year of university, something that had never crossed my mind back in 2003. How our paths change. I suffered from a serious illness and now, here I am, writing articles and studying a degree in English literature and creative writing.
How to Earn Money Blogging Online
This is an article I wrote for a writing job I recently started. but after some consideration I thought it might as well go on here as this is, essentially, my portfolio.
I was asked to write an article on how to make money within the blogosphere and so here it is, in all its glory, read over and edited.
Also, expect to see a few more articles popping up on here in the near future as I'm working on getting everything I've written in the past 2 years online and readable in one place (dodgy sentence structure there, I know, but I'm feeling lazy tonight).
---------------------
In addition to social networking and emailing, blogging is one of the most common things or activities the Internet, or World Wide Web, is associated with today. Many websites allow users to create a blog, short for web log, or connect to their own or other Internet users’ blogs via links sometimes known as a ’blogroll’.
If you visit a popular search engine such as Google and search for a blog on your subject of choice you will be very likely to come across thousands of blogs on that one subject, from literature to film and everything in between.
It is a way of informing Internet users of the latest Hollywood blockbuster or letting them know what you think of Emily Bronte’ Wuthering Heights. It is also a way of maintaining a portfolio of your art or writing which is easily accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.
Blogging, however, doesn’t just need to be a hobby. It can also be a way of earning a bit of extra cash on the side. By applying your skill, which we’ll assume is writing here, you can soon start earning from 30 to 100 pounds a extra month.
Many bloggers and Internet users like to tell you that within 24 hours you will have a steady monthly income of around £10,000. This, unfortunately, is very unlikely.
However, with the three Ps - Patience, Persistence and Perseverance - you can start earning a bit of extra money on the side, simply by working in the comfort of your own home.
Blogging from home is a great part-time job for parents, students, the retired or even full-time workers who are looking to kill, but not waste, a little bit of their extra time. It is also very productive, rewarding and fun, and you only need two things: a computer or laptop and an Internet connection. Once you have these you’re just about ready to go.
Below is an extensive guide which will help you with making money in the online blogging universe, or as it is commonly known, the Blogosphere.
Your Portfolio
This is probably one of the most important things a writer needs if they want to start making money with their skill. Potential employers and/or fans will want to see what you have written in the past and a portfolio (preferably online) is a great way to show these employers what you have written in the past and your level of skill.
Your portfolio can be of anything: fictional pieces, poetry, reviews or even your daily thoughts on what is happening in the world. Instead of spending a large amount of money on web hosting and URLs, sign up to a free blogging service such as Blogger (www.blogger.com), Wordpress (www.wordpress.com) or even Deviant Art (www.deviantart.com).
Once you’ve signed up to one or more of these websites, start uploading your work. Uploads can be done at any speed daily, weekly or even fortnightly, but when first building your portfolio, it would be best to upload a piece around twice a week. Make sure that the blog is easily accessible with a simple name and that the posts are laid out well and east to read and/or follow. Also include a small personal profile and, if you have one or both, a link to FaceBook or Twitter which will allow people to follow and keep up to date with your work.
Another way to start building a portfolio is by writing for free, which I’ll cover in the next section.
The Three Ps: Patience, Persistence, Perseverance
The next thing you’ll need is what I like to call the three Ps: Patience, persistence and perseverance.
Patience - This is very important when looking for work as a blogger. As I mentioned in the previous section, a good way to build a portfolio up is by writing for free. It also helps to gain traffic to your blog.
At first, the concept of writing for nothing may sound very unattractive, but there are hundreds of people on Gumtree and Craigslist who are looking to build content on their own websites, and you could be the perfect person to help with this. Not only that, but many website owners will help you with building traffic by adding a link to your website or blog at the bottom of your article or story. These non-paying website owners can be found in the Community > Creative Writing section of Gumtree and the Jobs > Writing/Editing section of Craigslist.
If an ad sounds attractive to you, paid or unpaid, contact the poster straight away and give them some background info on yourself as well as a link to your online portfolio and some contact details. Make yourself sound professional but not overly egotistical.
Paid jobs, however, may be far and in between, but if you keep searching, you will be able to find them.
Instead of simply scrolling through ads, why not post one yourself? While on Gumtree, Craigslist or both, post an ad selling your writing services. If you are confident in your writing you will be able to sell yourself with a cleverly worded ad. Your ad, which will be free to post, doesn’t need to be elaborately worded or exceptionally long, it just needs to include a small profile (e.g. “I am a student studying English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East London”), the services you are offering and some contact details, preferably a phone number and email.
Persistence - Unfortunately the writing world is sometimes so full of freelance writers that website owners are currently not looking for anyone else to write for them. This isn’t the end of the world, though. While out of work, continue to build an online portfolio and post or update your Gumtree and Craigslist ads every week.
You may begin to think that there will be no jobs or money in writing for you. With persistence, however, you will get there and start making some money with that skill you’ve spent many years building up.
As I read on a website recently “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out” (Lord Zion, 2012). What this means is that to succeed you may have to repeatedly post small ads online or reply to ads, but if you remain consistent and patient success will come your way.
Perseverance - Success doesn’t come without its difficulties and obstacles. This is why, sometimes, you will need to push yourself to achieve success. Continue searching for writing jobs online as well as posting ads and building a portfolio. The bigger the portfolio and the more ads you post, the more likely you are to score a job in writing.
Consider the Benefits First
There is an endless amount of benefits in blogging from home. The first is just that - working from home. Here is the top three.
When you are at home you’re at your most comfortable. Rather than sitting in a stifling office from 9 to 5 you can relax in your living room or home office with your laptop in front of you and an endless supply of tea and biscuits. This is especially good if you are a person who likes to spend time alone.
The next benefit, and my favourite, is being able to listen to music of my choice. Rather than hearing the office radio playing in the background I am able to visit YouTube or my own personal music library and choose an album that I am in the mood for. This can be very motivational if music is a big interest for you.
Alternatively you may choose to have the TV on. This, however, can be very distracting and you may find yourself watching TV instead of working.
Thirdly, you can choose when to have your morning, lunch and afternoon breaks so rather than waiting for 1 o’clock to come around before you can eat again, you can eat as soon as hunger or thirst strikes.
Start Small and Increase
Like with anything it is best to start writing for a small charge and then increase your charges as you progress. When you start getting offers for writing jobs a good price to charge is around the £3 mark. It’s not a large amount, but it is something. As you begin finding more writing jobs, increase your charge by, for example, £2.
Similarly, increase your word count with each new job. Start writing news articles with 300-500 words a time. These can be done in under an hour and require very little research. It also keeps you up to date with the latest news on the niche of which you are writing about.
Following on from the short news articles, try writing some reviews with a word count of around 750-1000 words a time followed by advice articles at around 2-3000 words. These longer articles you can charge £15 to £20 for.
It could take up to a year or possibly longer for you to progress to this stage, but it can be very rewarding in the long run and every piece you write will go towards your portfolio.
Use Social Networking Sites to Gain Traffic
The past five years has seen a huge boom in online social networking. Today it is hard to find someone who isn’t a member of FaceBook or Twitter and before these two sites there was MySpace.
If you watch a fair amount of TV or browse the Internet frequently you will notice that almost every programme you watch and website you visit has its own FaceBook page. This website which was once limited to one university in America is now a part of daily conversation, and for good reason too.
Users can view and build fan pages, upload notes (FaceBook’s version of a blog) and photos, connect with friends and family and share links and music videos with a simple copy and paste. This is why writers and other such artists should and often do have their own pages. By creating a page the artist will be able to connect it to their blog and keeps fans or “likers” updated with their newest piece of masterful art.
Twitter, on the other hand, is a newer website, but almost as popular as FaceBook has become. Known as micro-blogging, Twitter allows the user to post an update limited to just 140 characters. The user can connect to or contact others by using a simple tagging option which involves placing the ‘@’ symbol in front of a username and sending their message. They can also “follow” their favourite celebrities, musicians or writers with a quick click of the mouse.
This is another great way to guide traffic towards your blog or portfolio. If you’ve written a review of a film, book or musical piece, guide the creator or actors towards the review by writing a simple Tweet to them. They’ll be very grateful, especially if you’ve given them a positive review.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
As mentioned at the beginning, blogging will not give you an income of £10,000 a month. Therefore you should keep working at your current job and use the blogging job as a form of extra income, however little it may be.
If you have a savings account, why not put everything you earn via blogging into this account and then treat yourself to a nice meal sometime or maybe buy that new mobile phone you’ve had your eye on?
With the way the economy is right now anyone who has a full-time job should consider themselves very lucky and quitting that job may end up being a very big mistake. This is why, once you start earning a bit of money blogging, quitting your current job should remain at the back of your mind, not the front.
Conclusion
By now you should have a basic grasp or idea of how to start earning money by blogging online. It is not the easiest of things to do, but if you are passionate about your chosen field of skill and interested in making some money out of it and getting your name “out there”, you can and will succeed.
More than just a money maker, blogging is a great way to build a portfolio, gain some fans and use your spare time to do something productive and educational. Below is a list of useful websites which you will be able to use for blogging, advertising and networking. By using all or most of them you will soon be seeing your writing on various websites and blogs which are read by hundreds of people a week.
Useful websites
www.gumtree.com - This is where you will post one of your ads selling your services. It is simple, fast and best of all, free.
www.craigslist.com - Similar to Gumtree, Craigslist is also free.
www.blogger.com - Blogger is one of the world’s most popular blogging websites, and for good reason too. With one email you can create numerous blogs. You will be given your own URL and all blogs are archived by year and month. Blogger, however, is a much more communal rather than business-like host. Best used for a personal portfolio.
www.wordpress.com - Wordpress is a much more business-like and professional looking blog. When starting a business online this will be your best choice.
www.ezinearticles.com - An excellent website to help with getting your name into the Blogosphere, Ezinearticles allows you to “Submit your best quality original articles for massive exposure”. And best of all, it’s free.
www.twitter.com - A micro-blogging service which helps you to connect with millions of users around the globe.
www.facebook.com - According to mostpopularwebsites.net, FaceBook is the second most popular website in the world (updated Monday, August 20th 2012) just behind Google. It allows you to connect with friends and family, “like” and create fan pages and upload photos and notes.
I was asked to write an article on how to make money within the blogosphere and so here it is, in all its glory, read over and edited.
Also, expect to see a few more articles popping up on here in the near future as I'm working on getting everything I've written in the past 2 years online and readable in one place (dodgy sentence structure there, I know, but I'm feeling lazy tonight).
---------------------
In addition to social networking and emailing, blogging is one of the most common things or activities the Internet, or World Wide Web, is associated with today. Many websites allow users to create a blog, short for web log, or connect to their own or other Internet users’ blogs via links sometimes known as a ’blogroll’.
If you visit a popular search engine such as Google and search for a blog on your subject of choice you will be very likely to come across thousands of blogs on that one subject, from literature to film and everything in between.
It is a way of informing Internet users of the latest Hollywood blockbuster or letting them know what you think of Emily Bronte’ Wuthering Heights. It is also a way of maintaining a portfolio of your art or writing which is easily accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.
Blogging, however, doesn’t just need to be a hobby. It can also be a way of earning a bit of extra cash on the side. By applying your skill, which we’ll assume is writing here, you can soon start earning from 30 to 100 pounds a extra month.
Many bloggers and Internet users like to tell you that within 24 hours you will have a steady monthly income of around £10,000. This, unfortunately, is very unlikely.
However, with the three Ps - Patience, Persistence and Perseverance - you can start earning a bit of extra money on the side, simply by working in the comfort of your own home.
Blogging from home is a great part-time job for parents, students, the retired or even full-time workers who are looking to kill, but not waste, a little bit of their extra time. It is also very productive, rewarding and fun, and you only need two things: a computer or laptop and an Internet connection. Once you have these you’re just about ready to go.
Below is an extensive guide which will help you with making money in the online blogging universe, or as it is commonly known, the Blogosphere.
Your Portfolio
This is probably one of the most important things a writer needs if they want to start making money with their skill. Potential employers and/or fans will want to see what you have written in the past and a portfolio (preferably online) is a great way to show these employers what you have written in the past and your level of skill.
Your portfolio can be of anything: fictional pieces, poetry, reviews or even your daily thoughts on what is happening in the world. Instead of spending a large amount of money on web hosting and URLs, sign up to a free blogging service such as Blogger (www.blogger.com), Wordpress (www.wordpress.com) or even Deviant Art (www.deviantart.com).
Once you’ve signed up to one or more of these websites, start uploading your work. Uploads can be done at any speed daily, weekly or even fortnightly, but when first building your portfolio, it would be best to upload a piece around twice a week. Make sure that the blog is easily accessible with a simple name and that the posts are laid out well and east to read and/or follow. Also include a small personal profile and, if you have one or both, a link to FaceBook or Twitter which will allow people to follow and keep up to date with your work.
Another way to start building a portfolio is by writing for free, which I’ll cover in the next section.
The Three Ps: Patience, Persistence, Perseverance
The next thing you’ll need is what I like to call the three Ps: Patience, persistence and perseverance.
Patience - This is very important when looking for work as a blogger. As I mentioned in the previous section, a good way to build a portfolio up is by writing for free. It also helps to gain traffic to your blog.
At first, the concept of writing for nothing may sound very unattractive, but there are hundreds of people on Gumtree and Craigslist who are looking to build content on their own websites, and you could be the perfect person to help with this. Not only that, but many website owners will help you with building traffic by adding a link to your website or blog at the bottom of your article or story. These non-paying website owners can be found in the Community > Creative Writing section of Gumtree and the Jobs > Writing/Editing section of Craigslist.
If an ad sounds attractive to you, paid or unpaid, contact the poster straight away and give them some background info on yourself as well as a link to your online portfolio and some contact details. Make yourself sound professional but not overly egotistical.
Paid jobs, however, may be far and in between, but if you keep searching, you will be able to find them.
Instead of simply scrolling through ads, why not post one yourself? While on Gumtree, Craigslist or both, post an ad selling your writing services. If you are confident in your writing you will be able to sell yourself with a cleverly worded ad. Your ad, which will be free to post, doesn’t need to be elaborately worded or exceptionally long, it just needs to include a small profile (e.g. “I am a student studying English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East London”), the services you are offering and some contact details, preferably a phone number and email.
Persistence - Unfortunately the writing world is sometimes so full of freelance writers that website owners are currently not looking for anyone else to write for them. This isn’t the end of the world, though. While out of work, continue to build an online portfolio and post or update your Gumtree and Craigslist ads every week.
You may begin to think that there will be no jobs or money in writing for you. With persistence, however, you will get there and start making some money with that skill you’ve spent many years building up.
As I read on a website recently “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out” (Lord Zion, 2012). What this means is that to succeed you may have to repeatedly post small ads online or reply to ads, but if you remain consistent and patient success will come your way.
Perseverance - Success doesn’t come without its difficulties and obstacles. This is why, sometimes, you will need to push yourself to achieve success. Continue searching for writing jobs online as well as posting ads and building a portfolio. The bigger the portfolio and the more ads you post, the more likely you are to score a job in writing.
Consider the Benefits First
There is an endless amount of benefits in blogging from home. The first is just that - working from home. Here is the top three.
When you are at home you’re at your most comfortable. Rather than sitting in a stifling office from 9 to 5 you can relax in your living room or home office with your laptop in front of you and an endless supply of tea and biscuits. This is especially good if you are a person who likes to spend time alone.
The next benefit, and my favourite, is being able to listen to music of my choice. Rather than hearing the office radio playing in the background I am able to visit YouTube or my own personal music library and choose an album that I am in the mood for. This can be very motivational if music is a big interest for you.
Alternatively you may choose to have the TV on. This, however, can be very distracting and you may find yourself watching TV instead of working.
Thirdly, you can choose when to have your morning, lunch and afternoon breaks so rather than waiting for 1 o’clock to come around before you can eat again, you can eat as soon as hunger or thirst strikes.
Start Small and Increase
Like with anything it is best to start writing for a small charge and then increase your charges as you progress. When you start getting offers for writing jobs a good price to charge is around the £3 mark. It’s not a large amount, but it is something. As you begin finding more writing jobs, increase your charge by, for example, £2.
Similarly, increase your word count with each new job. Start writing news articles with 300-500 words a time. These can be done in under an hour and require very little research. It also keeps you up to date with the latest news on the niche of which you are writing about.
Following on from the short news articles, try writing some reviews with a word count of around 750-1000 words a time followed by advice articles at around 2-3000 words. These longer articles you can charge £15 to £20 for.
It could take up to a year or possibly longer for you to progress to this stage, but it can be very rewarding in the long run and every piece you write will go towards your portfolio.
Use Social Networking Sites to Gain Traffic
The past five years has seen a huge boom in online social networking. Today it is hard to find someone who isn’t a member of FaceBook or Twitter and before these two sites there was MySpace.
If you watch a fair amount of TV or browse the Internet frequently you will notice that almost every programme you watch and website you visit has its own FaceBook page. This website which was once limited to one university in America is now a part of daily conversation, and for good reason too.
Users can view and build fan pages, upload notes (FaceBook’s version of a blog) and photos, connect with friends and family and share links and music videos with a simple copy and paste. This is why writers and other such artists should and often do have their own pages. By creating a page the artist will be able to connect it to their blog and keeps fans or “likers” updated with their newest piece of masterful art.
Twitter, on the other hand, is a newer website, but almost as popular as FaceBook has become. Known as micro-blogging, Twitter allows the user to post an update limited to just 140 characters. The user can connect to or contact others by using a simple tagging option which involves placing the ‘@’ symbol in front of a username and sending their message. They can also “follow” their favourite celebrities, musicians or writers with a quick click of the mouse.
This is another great way to guide traffic towards your blog or portfolio. If you’ve written a review of a film, book or musical piece, guide the creator or actors towards the review by writing a simple Tweet to them. They’ll be very grateful, especially if you’ve given them a positive review.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
As mentioned at the beginning, blogging will not give you an income of £10,000 a month. Therefore you should keep working at your current job and use the blogging job as a form of extra income, however little it may be.
If you have a savings account, why not put everything you earn via blogging into this account and then treat yourself to a nice meal sometime or maybe buy that new mobile phone you’ve had your eye on?
With the way the economy is right now anyone who has a full-time job should consider themselves very lucky and quitting that job may end up being a very big mistake. This is why, once you start earning a bit of money blogging, quitting your current job should remain at the back of your mind, not the front.
Conclusion
By now you should have a basic grasp or idea of how to start earning money by blogging online. It is not the easiest of things to do, but if you are passionate about your chosen field of skill and interested in making some money out of it and getting your name “out there”, you can and will succeed.
More than just a money maker, blogging is a great way to build a portfolio, gain some fans and use your spare time to do something productive and educational. Below is a list of useful websites which you will be able to use for blogging, advertising and networking. By using all or most of them you will soon be seeing your writing on various websites and blogs which are read by hundreds of people a week.
Useful websites
www.gumtree.com - This is where you will post one of your ads selling your services. It is simple, fast and best of all, free.
www.craigslist.com - Similar to Gumtree, Craigslist is also free.
www.blogger.com - Blogger is one of the world’s most popular blogging websites, and for good reason too. With one email you can create numerous blogs. You will be given your own URL and all blogs are archived by year and month. Blogger, however, is a much more communal rather than business-like host. Best used for a personal portfolio.
www.wordpress.com - Wordpress is a much more business-like and professional looking blog. When starting a business online this will be your best choice.
www.ezinearticles.com - An excellent website to help with getting your name into the Blogosphere, Ezinearticles allows you to “Submit your best quality original articles for massive exposure”. And best of all, it’s free.
www.twitter.com - A micro-blogging service which helps you to connect with millions of users around the globe.
www.facebook.com - According to mostpopularwebsites.net, FaceBook is the second most popular website in the world (updated Monday, August 20th 2012) just behind Google. It allows you to connect with friends and family, “like” and create fan pages and upload photos and notes.
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