The Hidden Glasgow Forums

I know there are plenty of excellent photograhers on these forums, and I just wondered if there are also some writers. I've had a good look around, and found lots and lots and lots on spelling but not so much on writing itself.

Any fellow writers lurking? Do you write for a living, or try to, or is it recreational?

We don't have time to write stuff because we spend most of our time with our heads in a dictionary.

i indulge in some poetry and parodies.

banjo wrote:i indulge in some poetry and parodies.

Gaun, geez a McGonagall parody, then.

8cats wrote:I know there are plenty of excellent photograhers on these forums, and I just wondered if there are also some writers. I've had a good look around, and found lots and lots and lots on spelling ::): but not so much on writing itself.

Any fellow writers lurking? Do you write for a living, or try to, or is it recreational?

What sort of thing are you looking for?

And what is recreational writing?

... the kind you don't need to do and could give up anytime.

John wrote:... the kind you don't need to do and could give up anytime.

That would be my definition too. I think I'm just finding it hard to think of example situations.

Graffiti, Crosswords, Postcards, Blogging...

By recreational I just meant writing in your spare time or for a hobby, rather than trying to get published or make money. I suppose it would include stuff like blogging. I've done a mixture of blogging/submitting to places that I know don't pay any money, and writing to try to get ££. I was just interested in seeing if there was a wee group of writers in here as well.

(nearly cross-posted with Brigit there......yep, all those are recreational )

Well
I dabble
problem is I should dabble on a regular basis
problem with that is I am such a procrastinator
problem with that is

banjo wrote:i indulge in some poetry and parodies.

Would be interested to hear more about these!

I used to write as a hobby many years ago. I has a routine of starting something new every night and spending a hour on it. The intention was to make the process of having ideas easier.

OUR TOWN

they say theyre going to rebuild our town
theyve just spent three decades pulling it down
they started with the women and then
one by one they picked off the men

theres nothing left of the shipyard but a ghost of a cran
that once was the signal of hope for every man
your apprenticeship to life was guaranteed
but now it stands abandoned in the dust and the weed

their nepotistic tendencies confirm our fears
theyve passed on their destructive ways to their sons and heirs
now can you tell me how red is our clyde
when theres million pound houses with two people inside

i may die with asbestosis and an arthritic hand
but i have lived a life that they will never understand
they silenced us when we spoke of our fears
so they can keep their stocks and shares and crocodile tears.

THE LEGACY

goths and punks and daytime drunks
with blank expressions stare
amongst litter and used needles that gather everywhere
is this what was intended when they gave us three queens square
turf accountants charity shops every kind of pawn
in this the new millenium why havent we moved on
sure apathy has won the day
there are no protest marches
and god forbid how did we live without floodlit railway arches
relocated call centres
plenty choice of money lenders
no room though for new inventors
no need for them at all
but hey weve treated you real good
every kind of fast food
and just to keep you in the mood
a great big bingo hall
goths and punks and daytime drunks
with blank expressions stare
amongst litter and used needles that gather everywhere
is this what was intended whenthey gave us three queens square
who cares.

COULDNAE CATCH A CAULD

i used to fish on the canal,naebody there just me and my pal
and oh what whoppers we could tell aboot the ones that got away
was it two feet was it three it was on my hook did you not see
a restaurant would have took that from me
was the war cry in oor day
one eel wull saw was as long as a car,he christened it the jaguar
if truth be told it could fit in a jar
ach boys will be boys
a penny hook a yard of gut agarden cane fetched oot the hut
and off oor wull and i would strut
to while away the hours
but to our eternal shame we never did bring any hame
we were just two boys in a mans game
two dreamers having fun
getting chased away from the best spot
ootside singers where water was hot
was the closest thing we ever got to living out our dreams
you see dreams were free and for wull and me
dreams were all that we could afford
and i passed today where we would play
we never knew the meaning of bored
so rest in peace wull my good friend
and once again pal thanks
for the days we went and the times we spent
upon the nolly banks.

They're fab! Very well observed and I like the wee touches of humour. Have you had any published?