The podcast reaches double figures today, and I celebrate another significant date with my first guest, Mr Douglas Anderson. We talk about the song we created together which is all about the famous TV detective Columbo and why his encouragement was needed for it to happen, plus his new audiobook.

Columbo & Coffee: https://soundcloud.com/milomclaughlin/columbo-and-coffee-by-douglas-anderson-and-friends

Dougie's audiobook, What to Talk About When There's Nothing to Talk About: https://soundcloud.com/mr-douglas-anderson/what-to-talk-about-when-theres

An excellent article on the blog Shatner's Toupee on why 70's Columbo outshines the 80's version: http://shatnerstoupee.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/columbo-butterflies-in-shades-of-grey.html

Dougie's interview on Clear-Minded Creative: http://www.clearmindedcreative.com/clearminded-creative-types-broadcaster-writer-douglas-anderson/

Today I talk about how tricky I've found it to get back into the fiction-writing mindset, and share some writing tips from a recent interview I did with Glaswegian author Anne Donovan:

http://www.wow247.co.uk/blog/2014/05/08/anne-donovan-interview-the-way-a-story-forms-itself-always-seems-mysterious/

The main message I took from her was that there's no wrong or right way to go about your creative work so that's the theme of today's podcast.

As a solo freelancer working from home it can be easy to become isolated. Today I talk a little bit about how making time for friends is essential even if you're overloaded with work, and try to explain the Eurovision Song Contest.

A legendary BBC Producer tries to direct the cameras during the Eurovision Song Contest:

http://youtu.be/XTgCLfYdRo4

Ireland's (fictional) Eurovision entry from Father Ted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg

Maybe there are too many artists, or too many bloggers, or podcasters or guitarists. What's the point?

With reference to Julia Cameron and Julian Summerhayes.

https://www.facebook.com/juliacameronlive/posts/730369580332332

https://soundcloud.com/julian-summerhayes/the-continued-importance-of

I've been doing mindfulness meditation for over a year now and I find it beneficial to my health and creativity - but how does it compare to David Lynch's preferred method of transcendental meditation and where do The Beatles fit into it all?

More info:

Headspace: http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/

My review of their Take Ten program: http://www.clearmindedcreative.com/recommended-headspace-take-ten-meditation-course/

My interview with Dr Elise Bialylew, founder of Mindful in May: http://www.clearmindedcreative.com/mindful-in-may/

Transcendental Meditation: http://uk.tm.org/home

David Lynch on meditation and creativity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UHLMVr4vg

As per the rules of #OneThingaDayinMay, I'm doing 5 podcasts a week rather than 7 to give both me and you a break! A quick round up the first week today and I also talk briefly about trying to get on top of my tasks.

Gilliom's G+ page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GilliomWernerClaessens/posts

Support this podcast on Flattr: flattr.com/profile/milomc

Today's podcast was inspired by a great post by Hugh Howey: http://www.hughhowey.com/goals-vs-dreams/

You can hear an equally inspiring interview with him here: http://rockingselfpublishing.com/episode-35/

And if you are interested in self-publishing/fiction (and not easily offended) then check out the Self-Publishing Podcast: https://selfpublishingpodcast.com/podcasts/

and Fiction Unboxed Kickstarter (funding ends May 21 2014): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1027829739/fiction-unboxed-change-the-world-with-a-story

Support this podcast on Flattr: flattr.com/profile/milomc

In this episode, a big thank you to everyone for the lovely feedback on yesterday's podcast, a few words about why letting people know you are behind can be helpful, and contemplating the 12 stages of burnout.

Further reading: http://blog.pickcrew.com/how-to-bounce-back-after-burning-out/

Support this podcast on Flattr: flattr.com/profile/milomc

A very personal podcast today, about my tendency to fluctuate between hyper-enthusiastic and closed-off, negative phases in my life, and how that hasn't helped when it comes to establishing a regular creative practice.

Support this podcast on Flattr: flattr.com/profile/milomc

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/clearmindedcreative

http://www.mountainshores.net/

http://www.margaretpinard.com/

http://www.mind.org.uk/

http://www.samh.org.uk/

Getting ‘back on the horse’ after you let a creative practice (or any positive habit) slip is one of the hardest things to do -especially if your failed attempt plays out publicly.

After the unfortunate demise of my seemingly bullet-proof plan to post on this blog once a week throughout 2014, I wrote an angry, sweary post using the Day One app’s publish feature (not ‘one day’ as I mumble in the podcast) that complained I was bored of blogging. (I’d only advise reading that if you are comfortable with a man at the end of his tether dropping the F bomb with alarming regularity.)

But what better way to return to the fray than with another challenge that involves the risk of public embarrassment?

This time I’m taking a leaf out of my friend Michael‘s book, or should I say I am shamelessly copying his One Thing Today Podcast, of which he’s recorded an impressive 699 in 3 years.

Listen to the Clear-Minded Chronicles Micro-Podcast #1 for more info and if you want to get new episodes, you can follow me on SoundCloud, or you can find the usual social media, RSS and email links on the About Page at http://www.clearmindedcreative.com