Hello, I'm Simon Wright and welcome to my website! I've set it up to showcase some of the writing that I do. To start with, I've included a page to showcase my comedy sketches, plus some TV format sketches and a Short Stories page. There's also a writing resources page, a couple of pages that feature links to some personal finance and sports-related articles that I have written and a page about the Wright side of the Moone comedy shows that I've been involved in producing.
**New Content** - Date last updated: Wednesday 2nd November 2011
Ever found it difficult to get motivated to write? I'm sure that's a pain that all writers have suffered, so here's an article on motivational ploys to ensure you continue to write:
http://www.helium.com/items/2248982-writing-tips-good-motivational-ploys-to-get-yourself-to-write
I've also added a link to Mari Demha's excellent blog, which is entitled "The Diary of an Amateur Writer":
http://thediaryofanamateurwriter.weebly.com/index.html
With Halloween having just passed, here's a link to a short Halloween story: http://www.helium.com/items/1007971-short-stories-the-halloween-mystery
Meanwhile, away from tales of ghosts, vampires and other monsters, the scariest thing right now is the economy. So budgeting has become all the more important. Here's an article on why budgets fail: http://www.helium.com/items/2246595-money-tips-why-budgets-fail
**Some Highlights**
What is a Child Trust Fund: http://www.helium.com/items/1816800-child-savings-trust-fund
Understanding your tax-free Child Trust Fund options: http://www.helium.com/items/1817886-child-trust-fund-investment-options
How to open a pension for your child: http://www.helium.com/items/1819991-open-a-pension-for-your-child
Birth partner's role when an emergency c-section is recommended: http://www.helium.com/items/1814791-partners-support-when-c-section-is-required
How to register a child's birth in the UK: http://www.helium.com/items/1814272-register-in-birth-in-the-uk
More changes were announced to the tax-free ISA rules during the recent budget. And whilst the limit inceases announced are not as big as some had hoped, they are still better than no increase. To get details of what was announced, check out this article: http://www.helium.com/items/1786984-changes-to-the-isa-tax-free-limits-201011
Are you thinking of getting on the property ladder? If so, here's an article that outlines five mistakes that first time home-buyers sometimes make, so that you won't make them! http://www.helium.com/items/1644662-mistakes-home-buyers-should-avoid
I've added an article to the My Sports articles page on the history of football trading cards and stickers. It covers such brands as A&BC, Topps, Panini, and Sun Soccercards.
I've had five articles purchased by www.theorypedia.com . All these articles are about fantasy football and cover a range of theories about why so many people undertake this pastime. Here are links to the articles:
Fantasy Football Theories: Americans Care More about Football than Retirement: http://www.theorypedia.com/Fantasy_Football_Theories_Americans_Care_More_about_Football_than_Retirement_t4bc15c19.html
Fantasy Football Theories: Selfish Gene/Selfish Team: http://www.theorypedia.com/Fantasy_Football_Theories_Selfish_GeneSelfish_Team_ta3b9228e.html
Fantasy Football Theories: America's Original Contribution to Virtual Reality: http://www.theorypedia.com/Fantasy_Football_Theories_Americas_Original_Contribution_to_Virtual_Reality_t46411ebe.html
Fantasy Football Theories: Addiction Response Hypothesis:
http://www.theorypedia.com/Fantasy_Football_Theories_Addiction_Response_Hypothesis_tc4ae270d.html
Fantasy Football Theories: Variable Reinforcement: http://www.theorypedia.com/Fantasy_Football_Theories_Variable_Reinforcement_t4903bc58.html
I've also updated my Writing Resources page to includes details of an opportunity for comedy sketch writers. A radio show, called Watson's Wind Up, is seeking submissions for their new series, which could be a perfect opportunity for someone!
I've had two articles purchased by a website Theorypedia.com. The first was about the connection between vampires and teenagers, which can be found here, http://www.theorypedia.com/ . And the second argues that pop/country music crossovers are about as worthwhile as Italian basketball! That article can be found here, http://www.theorypedia.com/Darius_Ruckers_Country_Crossover_-_Like_Italian_Pro_Basketball_t9e4d5959.html . (On a minor grumble, Theorypedia changed part of the article so where they talk about sporks it should have been about humanzees ...)
Find out what eating an elephant has got to do with financial freedom, on the My Finance articles page. And guest writer Lucy Edington explains why you're never too old to write, on the Writing Resources page.
I've updated the Writing Resources page to include details of a website that I've discovered, called Prizemagic.co.uk , that provides details of writing competitions. And I've also updated my list of favourite websites to include a website called Leverage This! It will appeal to people who have an interest in writing and who hate incorrect writing or horrible business jargon. The articles 'Leverage is NOT a verb' and 'Aberdeen Group Break World "Leverage" Record!' appealed in particular.
I was delighted to learn that one of my articles on writing has made its way across to a French audience. The article is on the "Best ways to write a comedy scene in a novel" and has been translated into French by Sandrine Midopé Djengué for her website, “Du verbe à la plume” (from speech to words). The article can be found at http://www.duverbealaplume.org/techniques-d-ecriture-creative/l%e2%80%99humour-dans-une-scene-de-roman/ . The English version is also available here, http://www.helium.com/items/1463005-how-to-write-effective-funny-comedy-scenes-in-a-novel
I've been going through a creative writing phase, adding some poems and novel excerpts to Helium.com. If you go to my 'Short Stories' page, you'll find links to a couple of the novel excerpts. One's about a guy who finds out that his sweetheart's dad is a convicted gangster. The other's about witchcraft. So quite different themes!
Are you a writer? Have you ever worried about having to write a love scene? Maybe you're scared that you'll end up with a nomination for the Bad Sex annual awards? Well, fear not and instead check out my article on how to write romantic love scenes. You'll find it on my Writing Resources page. And I've now added an article about how to write a comedy scene. Who knows, you could even combine the two and write a comedy love scene?!
I've updated the Writing CV page with details of two freelance articles that have been published in the Chartered Banker magazine in the UK.
I've added a link to my new Helium Zones page, which is entitled Simon Wright's Writing Resource Zone. It provides more information on the art of writing.
Other places where you can find my writing / work:
http://www.helium.com/users/41516 - I contribute to articles on a wide range of topics for the Helium website and am a steward for the Personal Finance section of that site.
http://www.helium.com/zones/show/1362 - Here's my Helium Zone, entitled Simon Wright's Writing Resource Zone. It contains a host of information about writing, such as how to write comedy sketches and how to get over writer's block.
http://www.theorypedia.com/user/Simon_Wright.html - Theorypedia is an interesting website that provides suggested theories on a wide range of topics. Definitely worth checking out their site and this link is to my Theorypedia page.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6728627 - Check out the CosyPsycho "shop" that my wife and I have set up on www.Etsy.com. Etsy is a site dedicated to providing you with access to a whole range of handmade crafts and art, and CosyPsycho will feature some of my wife's crocheted cuddly toys and some photos that I've taken from around the world. To begin with, we've posted the crochet pattern for Declan the anteater. He'd be a very good project for someone who is getting into their crochet and will be greatly enjoyed by your kids.
www.ukauthors.com - This site features all kinds of creative writing and I have included several sketches on it. For budding writers (and even experienced ones), it's a good website to get feedback on your work. It also contains details of writing competitions which can be really useful.
www.abctales.com - You can find a crime short story, called 'Cowboy's last stand', on this website that I wrote and which was selected as one of their cherrypicked articles. Here's the direct link to it, http://www.abctales.com/browse-story/10/15/36/date/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperbackwrighter - Okay, so it doesn't feature any of my writing but on my flickr page you can see some of my mainly photos. Currently it includes some nice holiday photos from Donaghadee and Union Hall, both of which are seaside villages in Ireland.
Referring websites:
<a href="http://www.internet-heaven.co.uk/stuff/add.php">UK Link Exchange Free Web Directory</a>
Links to other writers' sites:
Lucy Edington's Helium articles: http://www.helium.com/users/511383/show_articles
Mari Demha's blog, entitled "Diary of an Amateur Writer": http://thediaryofanamateurwriter.weebly.com/index.html
M.J. Joachim's blog on Financial Issues and Concerns: http://heliumsfinanceeducatesmjjoachim.blogspot.com/
Du verbe à la plume website: www.duverbealaplume.org . (This is a French writing website that has included a translation of my "Best ways to write a comedy scene in a novel" article)
If you are a writer and have a website, then why not get in touch (using the contact form at the bottom of my home page) about having a link to it? Perhaps in return, you could reference my site on your website, so that we both generate extra visitors?
Other favourite websites:
www.reddit.com - a place to catch the latest news as it happens
www.planetrock.com - My favourite radio station's website
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk - A very funny spoof news website
http://leveragethis.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/leverage-is-not-a-verb/ - A website that explains incorrect uses of the English language in a humorous manner.
www.aerosmith.com - My favourite rock n'roll band's website
www.arsenal.com - My favourite footie team's website
Other interesting trivia
Writing must be in my family's blood. To prove this, here are a couple of books to check out:
'She left her heart in China' by Jane Wright. Available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/She-Left-Her-Heart-China/dp/0953612201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220124508&sr=8-1 , it tells the story of Doctor Sally Wolfe who was a medical missionary in China. Sally Wolfe was a relative of mine and Jane Wright is my mum! The book was from a limited stock production and I see that the seller on Amazon has put quite a cheeky price tag on it!
'Jasper Wolfe of Skibbereen' by Jasper Ungoed-Thomas. Recently launched and available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jasper-Wolfe-Skibbereen-Ungoed-Thomas/dp/1905172710/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220124704&sr=1-1, this tells the story of Jasper Wolfe who was a well known lawyer and local character in West Cork at the time Ireland was partitioned. My connection with the Wolfe family is via my maternal grandmother and Jasper Wolfe would have been distantly related to her. More info on Jasper Wolfe can be found on his Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Wolfe .
Finally, it might not be writing-related but a quirky fact that I discovered recently is that I am distantly connected to a former world heavyweight wrestling champion! Danno O'Mahony was world champion in 1935 and he even has his own Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danno_O%27Mahony. As I said it's a very distant family connection but Danno had some Wolfe relatives which is certainly good enough to see him featured on this page!