Category Archives: Guest Blogs

Spring has sprung in Henley-on-Thames

Guest Blog

Guest blogging at www.proofedbylinds.co.uk is very welcome.

My guest is Sarah Lorrimer-Riley, (a.k.a The Illustrious Peacock). Sarah is a photographer, based in Henley-on-Thames. In her guest post, she talks about Henley and all its charm – as well as her delightful photographs. I hope you will enjoy this article as much as I did!

Spring is (finally) in the air and what better time to pull on your stripy sailor top, fill up a picnic basket and get yourself to the gorgeous Henley-on-Thames?

Henley-on-Thames

In my mind, Henley is one of those rare places that has just a little sprinkle of magic about it. It is the sort of place where, if you look closely, childhood dreams of talking animals and fairy woodlands might just (if you wiggle your nose and flutter your eyelashes) come true. I can’t quite put my finger on the “Je ne sais quoi” but it is woven (with an extra helping of English eccentricity) deep into the fabric of the place.

There’s an awful lot of things to do in Henley, all year round. These include hiring a boat from the wonderful Hobbs of Henley and spending a few hours pootling about on the river, actively enjoying one of the many festivals (Henley Festival, Rewind Festival, Henley Literary Festival to name just a few), taking a trip to the fabulous Kenton Theatre, visiting the River and Rowing Museum for some “Wind in the Willows” action, having a picnic on the banks of the River Thames… The list goes on!

Mooring at Henley

I am imagining that whatever it is that takes your fancy may well include a combination of good food (al fresco or at one of the many gorgeous restaurants that Henley is bursting with), experimental wandering and the river. Everything somehow involves the river in Henley. Sweet Mother Thames. You can even pay for boat mooring using the car park ticket machine! That’s boating dedication for you.

Life buoy

As a photographer living in Henley, I must say there really is something about the light and enchantment of Henley that makes my camera very happy. I feel incredibly lucky to have it all right on my doorstep.

I have put together a little selection of my Henley photographs to whet your appetite. To have a look at some more of my work and my often slightly random ramblings, you will find me here. If you would like a little bit of Illustrious Peacock on your walls then you can also pop over to my Etsy shop (offering 20% off all sales until the end of April 2013 with the code “springsprung”).

Toodle-pip!

Sarah Lorrimer-Riley, aka The Illustrious Peacock

About the Author: Sarah Lorrimer-Riley (a.k.a The Illustrious Peacock) is a photographer, based in Henley-on-Thames. She loves daydreaming, red shoes, blossom on trees and she is slightly in love with Sir Ranulph Fiennes. She has worked with a number of clients, including The Chelsea Physic Garden, and has published several projects which include the much acclaimed “Tube Stories” series. As well as currently working on a book, she has a blog and also an Etsy shop.

To blog, or not to blog: that is the question

London is a perfect place to visit

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Guest blogging at www.proofedbylinds.co.uk is very welcome.

My guest is Angelina Lawson, on behalf of boxoffice, aspiring filmmaker and collector of super hero memorabilia! With Easter holidays nearly upon us, here are her tips on what to do in London.

Explore London – a great capital city

Many people travel to destinations around the world for a variety of reasons. If someone’s idea of the perfect place to visit would have impressive history, all the modern amenities of a big city, top entertainment, and hotel accommodations to fit any budget, then London could be the city they’d consider the perfect place to visit.

Watch the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
This ceremony is known around the world for its pomp and circumstance, and has been taking place for hundreds of years. It occurs at Buckingham Palace at 11:30 am every day during the summer months, and every other day during the winter. All of the palace guards participate in the ceremony and are dressed in historic red tunics and bearskin hats.

Visit Buckingham Palace
During the months of August and September visitors can see the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace. This is where the British Monarchy has lived since 1937. It has 188 bedrooms with 775 rooms in total including 78 bathrooms.

Walk along the Thames and look at all the magnificent sites
The Thames leads people past some of the most notable attractions in all of London. There is Big Ben as well as the London Eye. Within walking distance on the Thames is the Sherlock Holmes Museum as well as the London Canal Museum. There is also Hallows by the Tower Church, which was built in 675 AD as well as many other notable attractions.

Take a red double-decker bus ride
They’ve been featured in such well known movies as Harry Potter, described in countless novels and well worth the experience. Locals will tell you to take the routes that are longest to get the most value for your money.

See Westminster Abbey
The place in the United Kingdom where most of the Kings and Queens of England are entombed. This is where Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was held in 1953, as well as the place where Princess Diana’s funeral was held in 1993.

Visit Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens are known for their stunning beauty and the pleasure they bring children. It’s possible for children to play at the Princess Diana Playground, and interested adults can then go into the palace and view a large assortment of Princess Diana’s dresses.

Buy something at Portobello Market
This is one of the best known markets in the world. Shoppers here can find fantastic deals on everything from antiques to secondhand clothes, fruits and vegetables, fashion clothing and more.

See a play at a theatre
Some of the best plays and musicals worldwide are performed in London. Many of the theatres are historic such as the Harold Pinter Theatre, Currently Old Times at Harold Pinter Theatre holds over 960 people over four different levels. Whatever it takes to make a visit perfect can probably be found somewhere within London.

License Some rights reserved by @Doug88888

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/4574941413/sizes/o/in/photostream/

About Author: This guest post is contributed by Angelina Lawson on behalf of boxoffice, aspiring filmmaker and collector of super hero memorabilia! She also enjoy cooking and occasionally, sketching.

Proofreader meets… Architect

Proofreader meets… Recruitment Consultant

1 Reply

Guest blogging at www.proofedbylinds.co.uk is very welcome.

As part of my marketing strategy to promote my proofreading, editing & copywriting business, I spend some of my time networking. As a result, I have met some wonderful people working in all sorts of businesses. With my innate interest in “all things business” I invited Jayne Johnson, a recruitment consultant, to tell me her business story. Here it is…

Jayne Johnson

I started Better People Ltd Recruitment after working in corporate and high street recruitment for 25 years. I knew there was a market for ethical and tailored recruitment for small to medium sized enterprises. I knew I could offer something more than was on offer for businesses currently. I know my business area very well, having recruited across the Thames Valley and London for most of my career.

My business growth has been achieved through targeted sales calls and mailshots, but the most effective has been referrals through word of mouth. These come about because people have used my service either as a candidate or as a client and they recommend me. I also meet people through my business networking groups who then recommend me to people they know.

My recruitment campaigns are different for each client. I work with each client to establish what is going to work best for them, what sort of assessments and profiling tools they might want to use – if any. I establish which interview questions will elicit the responses we are looking for. I take the brief, go away and only come back when I have around 3 suitable candidates for the client to interview.

I keep up with learning and employment legislation. I recently qualified as a Talent Dynamics Flow Consultant. This enhances the service I can offer my clients through more detailed knowledge of the candidates, saving them money on recruitment and enhancing individual and team performance.

What my clients say – “Jayne has saved me time and money – all the candidates I interviewed were suitable for the role. They all knew everything about us and the job. It was hard to choose between them”.

“We have struggled with this Practice Manager role for a while. Jayne came in, met with us and we didn’t have to do anything else until we interviewed the candidates. We would recommend her highly and will be passing on her details to other practices”.

About the Author:

Jayne Johnson has spent 27 years working in recruitment. Whether she has been running huge multi-million pound contracts for high street recruiters or supporting small to medium sized enterprises as their recruitment partner, it has all been about finding the right people for the job who will stay and add value to her client’s business.

She loves running her own business. It gives her the flexibility she needs to support her teenager who is doing GCSE’s and to continue her love-hate relationship with the gym. It also gives her the time she needs to carefully select her clients and candidates as people who reflect her ethics and values.

www.betterpeopleltd.co.uk

Dear Loved One

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Guest blogging at www.proofedbylinds.co.uk is very welcome.

My guest is Karen Elliott, aka the Word Shark, from North Dakota. I “met” Karen through blogging; we have become electronic penpals. She caught one of my posts, liked it, and invited me to guest blog for her. Here’s Karen’s “return” post. Enjoy!

Dear [Loved One]: I am a writer

My name is not Shakespeare, Poe, Bronte, or Rowling, but I am a writer just the same.

I may not be a doctor, lawyer, or executive chief, but my writing – to me – is just as critical. Can you indulge me, just a few moments?

You read articles in People, Sports Illustrated, Time, or Cosmo about the problems with celebrities and their children, the latest athlete arrested for drugs or spousal abuse, the trouble on Wall Street, or how to apply your make-up for a night on the town. However, when I try to talk to you about the article in Writer’s Digest about e-book vs. print book or how to improve my web presence, you give me the hand wave and say, “Who cares?”

Letter to a “loved one”

You’ll spend a half hour with your nose in a catalog for new clothes, a new computer, or new hunting gear. I’ll spend a little time trying to find that just-right creative writing class or the perfect book for getting my novel to market, and you tell me I’m wasting my time.

I supported you when you wanted to start a small business, when you wanted to get out of a small business, when you wanted to start a new job, or retire. When I have a great idea for a new book or realize the book I’m writing must be shelved, you say, “Oh well” without lifting your head.

I’ve spent hours in the car with you to get to the ball game, watch the ball game, and get home from the ball game. I’ve watched, waved, and smiled as you pull out of the driveway on your way to that week-long hunting or fishing trip or when you were going for a girls’ weekend at the spa. But when I plan a day-long workshop at the local university or a weekend conference in Vegas or Seattle, you ask me, “What about the kids?” “What about dinner?”

I’ve sympathized over your aching joints or shin splints, your aching back, and your stress-related headaches. But when I describe my tired, bloodshot eyes or I’m afraid I might have carpal tunnel, you remind me you told me I shouldn’t spend so much fruitless time at the computer.

I’ve observed as you spend hours watching L&O marathons, night after night of Dancing With The Stars or American Idol or weekend sporting events. But if I ask for one hour of uninterrupted time to hash out a new outline or finish my edit, you complain.

You go online and spend hours sifting through junk email, silly chain mail, and funny pictures. You play farm games, card games, or puzzle through Sudoku. I spend online time with writers, agents, publishers, editors; I learn about writing, how to query an agent, or how to land a publisher. And you wonder why I don’t do something productive.

You regale me with stories of the quirky character at the grocery store, the fabric store, or the paint guy at Home Depot. But if I try to describe one of my book characters, one of my villains, or my protagonist’s triumph, your eyes glaze over.

I agreed when you wanted to upgrade to a $1,000, 54-inch TV, when you wanted another new car or yet another pair of designer leather boots. Yet you scoff when I want to spend $500 on a weekend writers’ conference or a professionally-designed website.

You spend hours tending your garden, washing and waxing your F-150 baby in the driveway, or creating the perfect lasagne. But you tell me I’m wasting time when I struggle over the perfect paragraph, the perfect opening line, the perfect surprise twist.

I celebrate with you when your second cousin in Alaska has her first baby, your aunt and uncle buy a retirement condo in Florida, or your friend in Arizona graduates from ASU. The birth of my novel is barely a blip on your radar.

I have coddled you through the flu, knee surgery, and that pesky rash. I have consoled when you were depressed and commiserated with you over what the boss had the nerve to do on any given day. Yet when I try to tell you how much mind-bending, sleep-losing trouble I’m having with my final chapter, you suggest I just give it up.

You will read a book if it’s on the NYT Best Sellers list (by someone you don’t know and have no hope to ever meet), a tell-all book by a politician you didn’t vote for, or a memoir by your favorite sports figure. Why won’t you open my manuscript?

You read numerous blogs every week about cupcake-decorating, care and feeding of a Labrador, how to paint a War Hammer figurine, or how to grow the perfect rose bush. Why won’t you sign up for my blog?

I hope we never have to talk about the death of my dream. I’m afraid you won’t listen.

***

Karen Elliott

About the Author: Karen was raised by a mother who wanted to be an English teacher and who worked for Merriam-Webster as a proofreader and an aunt who could complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in a day. Their favorite expression was, “Look it up!” Karen reads punctuation and grammar manuals for fun. Her favorite book is the dictionary.

Karen is an editor and proofreader, blogger, writer, and grandmother. Visit her blog. Connect with Karen on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. See her new website at The Word Shark.

Round the (guest blogging) world in 80 days!

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Phileas Fogg

Am I a modern day Phileas Fogg? Hmm…

In 1872, the fictional character Phileas Fogg, wagered he could make it around the world in 80 days. He would explore the world, using trains… boats… balloons… elephants. It was a worldwide journey into the unknown.

In 2012, the non-fictional character Lindsay McLoughlin – me! – tried to establish an around the world guest blogging reputation in 80 days. I would explore the web, using LinkedIn… Google+… Twitter… Facebook. It was a worldwide web journey into the unknown.

I ventured into blogging territory writing about networking, well-known expressions and proofreading, broadcasting them across my social media. My posts first caught the attention of Belinda Weaver of Copywrite Matters via Twitter in October. My “travels” had taken me to Melbourne! Given that Twitter had made the introduction, I wrote a post entitled “What creates noise but is quiet at the same time?” (One of my favourites!)

My guest posts continued with articles around guest blogging and ghost writing for the 10-12 Business Club and Athena networking groups, respectively. I was back on terra firma - on home ground in the UK.

The next thing I knew, I was in North Dakota in January, guest blogging for Karen Elliott. It’s brutally cold over there at the moment, I can tell you! This time, I wrote “I called my daughter an apple cart!“, an amusing little article that Karen has said has brought her a fresh influx of followers, fans and friends from the UK. (I like to think I might have made some impact!)

My next stop is the beautiful – and hopefully warmer – Cape Town! I have been invited by Lisa Steyn…

I have been around the (guest blogging) world in (perhaps a little more than) 80 days! My host bloggers in Melbourne, North Dakota, the UK and Cape Town have all been very welcoming. Through the social media and their blogs, I have learned a little bit about their lives and lifestyles. I have “brought home” some great friends from my experience on these travels, and I am looking forward to working with them again.

Am I a “Phileas Fogg”? Probably not… but a proofreader, copywriter and guest blogger for business and marketing materials… Yes!

Photo credit: garryknight / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Guest blog…great! Um, what now?

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Guest blogging at www.proofedbylinds.co.uk is very welcome.

My second guest is Lisa Steyn, aka the Cape Town Copywriter, from South Africa. I “met” Lisa through blogging; we have become electronic penpals. I caught a couple of her posts, “liked” them, and then invited her to guest blog. Here’s what happened next…

Day 1

I am on fire! It’s the New Year and I’m bouncing around with enthusiasm…yes I am ready to take on the world (even my poor husband has a hard time keeping up with me!) That super energy wave results in my blog being unleashed on the world. Whoa…goal!

Day 2

6am (I blame this on child) – I sneak off to my computer (I have been banned due to excessive blog mania). I open my email – I am a serious blogging queen! I have two, yes really, two likes on my first post. I’ve hit the big time now…you get my drift here of peppered sarcasm? Off I go to vigorously like other posts and find some really interesting stuff. This is the life.

10am – Another victory…second blog post done and dusted! I have to almost physically restrain myself from bombarding people every half hour with my written word. I rationally tell myself that there comes a point where people will want to shoot me for irritating them with constant messages (luckily my marketing hat is working today). Wait, there are 2 likes AND a follow on my second post. How can my heart bear this excitement? Just need to lie down and breathe.

Wow! I’m on fire! Supplied courtesy of Microsoft Office Images.

6pm – I ask my husband to please check my heart as I think I’m having a heart attack. ‘No’, he says calmly, “You are fine!”. Now that I know I am not having a heart attack…I stalk back to my computer. Not only have I still got my amazing two likes, and one astronomical follow, I have also been asked to guest blog…hence the reason for my near death experience from excitement. I am a rock star and fame is just around the corner for me! Lindsay McLoughlin has asked me; yes me, to please be a guest blogger. At this point I am absolutely sure that I am going to go stratospheric in the blogging world. I excitedly go back to Lindsay with a resounding YES please! I am amazed at the friendly support and the honour of being asked. Tomorrow is the day I will tackle this.

Day 3

6am (yes child again…or is it addiction?) – back with my new best friend, the computer. I grab my tea and settle down to write an amazing article for Lindsay. Ok, I’ll just quickly check my emails and then come back to it.

Day 4

What have I done? Image supplied courtesy of Microsoft Office Images.

10am – Oh my word what am I going to say?

Day 5

11am – Seriously, what am I going to write about?

Day 6

5pm (can you see the pattern here in time?) – Eureka! I’ve got it! I’m going to write about my first dip into guest blogging! The result…I’m sure you can see how important I’m going to be in the blogging world based on this one article alone. Yes? Can you feel it?

6pm – I’ve cracked it…let me just read over it and check it (I am a proofreader after all). Anxiety…I can’t send this, Lindsay is going to hate it. Affirmation…no it’s fine, she’ll enjoy having a bit of a laugh. Anxiety! Affirmation! Anxiety! Affirmation! Eventually acceptance – let me just send it and see!

6:10pm – There it goes. Need. To. Have. Drink.

Let’s just wait and see!

What’s the point of all this rambling?

Ok, I’ll try and be serious now! The ultimate point to this article, diary or rant (you decide) was to show thanks to fellow bloggers, and especially to Lindsay. I have been amazed at the network of supportive people…everybody genuinely wants to help each other. That’s a real rarity today. I flip through ‘Freshly Pressed’ and when something catches my eye I immediately show my support to give a blogger a boost and a positive word. We all need that at times. This is a general theme of all bloggers, definitely not just me.

Thank you Lindsay for the opportunity and here’s to bloggers uniting!

As I’m sure you gathered from my ‘amazing’ amount of likes, I have a long way to go. The beauty and excitement is in the journey to getting there. But with support like this we can all go a long way!

Please feel free to visit my blog. Thank you.

Don’t Stop Me Now…! I’m blogging

1 Reply

Water-skiing

I’ve never been much of a water-skier. However, this year I have left miscellaneous brochures, newsletters, flyers and other marketing collateral in my proofreading wake.

Hanging on tight to the ropes, I extended my services to include editing and copywriting. Great! Clients were now giving me blank pieces of paper and asking me to write the copy myself. I’m particularly proud of a management case study I wrote to compare and contrast a democratic hamburger joint manager with the autocratic style of a cafe manager. The challenges in each copywriting case have been unpredictable – but definitely surmountable – unlike my water-skiing experiences!

With the “likes” of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, I had natural outlets to play with my words and – more than that – communicate them! Over recent months, I have written several blogs and guest blogs. I am also inviting guest bloggers to write for my own website. So… as Queen famously sang: “Don’t Stop Me Now. I’m having a good time!” I’m blogging and loving every minute of it.

One of my goals for 2013 is to establish a reputation for quality blogging. To that end, feel free to share, tweet, comment and “like” this blog – and thank you.

Writing to make yourself understood

Lindsay McLoughlin

Proofed by Linds

Category Archives: Guest Blogs

Spring has sprung in Henley-on-Thames

To blog, or not to blog: that is the question

London is a perfect place to visit

Proofreader meets… Architect

Dear Loved One

Guest blog…great! Um, what now?

Don’t Stop Me Now…! I’m blogging

Follow “Lindsay McLoughlin”