I’m always looking at ways to freshen up the blog and keep it relevant. There are times when the creative juices dry up and you feel you’ve taken one too many trips to the well. On other occasions, you pour your heart and soul into a post, only for it to sink without trace. Then there are the brainwaves that never see the light of day, but instead wither on the vine. So, I’m aiming today to commit to a number of writing projects which I’m seeking to progress throughout the remainder of this rollercoaster year.
These will give the blog a degree of structure and consistency which it lacks at times, and allow me to explore issues and pastimes close to my heart. That said, I don’t want to be so rigid as to not be able to write about anything that catches my eye on any given day. But the ideas listed below are the foundations of what I hope to blog about over the next few months. I’m hoping I can clamber back into a daily routine and approach the noble art of blogging as a passion as opposed to a chore.
1. Writing Matters – with a new novel out in October, I’m now looking towards my next writing challenge. I plan to start work soon on the latest instalment in the Kirkwood Scott Chronicles.’ With the working title of ‘No Longer Forsaken,’ it will be the third, and possibly final, book in the series. But fear not as I also have a couple of spin off projects in the pipeline, which all form part of the KSC series. You’ll be able to obtain regular updates on my writing via the blog.
2. The Elephants In Our Rooms – mental health is a topic very close to my heart and one of the reasons I started the blog was to talk about my OCD and educate people about this much misunderstood mental illness. I will continue to do so and hope to create a safe environment here where people can share their own mental health experiences and learn from others who have walked, or are walking, a similar path. We need to talk about the elephants in our rooms otherwise they will trample all over us.
3. Thoughts From The Prancing Pony – regular visitors to the blog will know what a massive Lord of the Rings nerd I am. I’ve been meaning to re-read the trilogy for ever and have now estimated that I can do so by the end of the year, at the sedate pace of seven pages a day. I’ll blog about my thoughts on the Tolkien classic and whether it still captures my attention and imagination like it did when I first read it over…cough…ahem…thirty years ago.
4. The Bible Is Hard – as I struggle with my forever fractured faith I document some passages of the Bible where I’ve hit the proverbial brick wall. In the hope that somebody out there will be able to throw some light on the proceedings. The conversation is open to all – Christians, agnostics, atheists and people of other faiths and beliefs. Is there an afterlife? Was Jesus the Son of God, a prophet or just an all round good bloke who wanted to make the world a better place? Let’s find out together.
5. The Family Von Black – ‘The Sound of Music’ was one of my late father’s favourite films. All it was missing was a cameo from John Wayne and he would have probably described it as perfect. I’ll continue to write about our day to day life in gloriously damp Northern Ireland as we emerge bleary eyed from lockdown to find out with some trepidation what the world has been up to. There’s never a dull moment with three teenagers and a crazy border terrier in the house.
So there you go. Plenty to mull over. As ever, blogging is a two way street so I’d love to hear your thoughts on my ideas. What do you think? Do any of them strike a particular chord with you or do they stink the house out? Is there anything else that you think I should be writing about? I’ll clear the stage and leave the floor open to you all. Thank you, as ever, for your continued support of my writing and the blog. It will always be appreciated.
Black Thoughts 
I’ll look forward to reading all of your posts, though I cannot promise to comment on them all. Religion is not my ‘thing’ but if I have a view, I’ll certainly share it. I read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings many more years ago than you, so it will be interesting to hear your thoughts. (I don’t plan to read them again – I’m too busy for that, and I don’t know how you fit it all in!) Good luck with the launch of book 2 and the writing of book 3.
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Love all the ideas! Can’t wait to read it all!
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There is an afterlife, but not as we know it 🙂 it is the resurrection of people (the dead) at the end of the thousand years of Christs Kingdom when also the judgement takes place. The seven thousand years is this Millenium, the eighth thousand years will be the beginning of a paradise on earth. Revelation or Apocalypse to some, chapter 20. and Rev 3;14 reveals Jesus as the firstborn of all creation, (please use the cross-references to confuse yourself more).
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Thank you for the information.
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Looking forward to it Stephen
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I’m excited to see your new posts.
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Thank you Amanda 🙂
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I love your blog plan and I look forward to your future posts, especially the posts regarding Lord of the Rings because I am also a massive Lord of the Rings nerd.
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Thank you. First one has been posted 🙂
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Can’t wait to see the new content. Congrats on the book success. God bless you!
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Thank you very much. Did your daughter enjoy it?
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My daughter? 🤔
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Sorry. I must be mixing you up with another blogger.
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Lol no problem. How are you?
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I’m well thank you 😊
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The way you approach every topic with an open mind is refreshing. And the way you express your opinions constructively provides an encouraging environment for others to do the same.
I look forward to your future posts, particular those from categories 2 and 4.
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Thank you Hamish. Hope you enjoy ‘Skelly’s Square’ as well 🙂
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I’m laughing at the idea of a John Wayne cameo in The Sound of Music. and now I’ll be thinking all day of where they could have fitted it in! 😂 I’m a great fan of everything Von Trapp … and Von Black. I’ read The Hobbit (years and years ago, but didn’t get round to reading The Lord of the Rings … I’d probably evolved on to my horror phase by then – Rosemary’s Baby, The Devil Rides Out, etc.). Writing matters, the Bible and Mental Health all go down well with me. Sounds like plenty to keep you busy and us content. 🙂
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Thank you Lesley. Happy to please you 🙂
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I look forward to the writing tips, the Bible puzzlers, your mental health insights, and the updates on your family’s comings and goings. Those posts always edify and enlighten me.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Looking forward to this 😃
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Thank you Heather 🙂
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Sounds great. Will be reading.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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As to your 4th point, I’d like to recommend a book, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. He was a apologist who came to know Jesus through his need to disprove His claim.
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Thank you for the recommendation Diana
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