https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/ Recent content in The Ink & Ivy Blog on R.J.Cheale Hugo en-gb Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-seeds-that-are-not-mine-on-ai-and-the-publishing-industry/ Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-seeds-that-are-not-mine-on-ai-and-the-publishing-industry/ A novel competition’s ban on any work “touched by AI” sent me back to my two desks — one where I write of candle and horse, one where I build the very systems that rule was written to keep out. Here is my case for the human in the loop. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-marker-in-the-mud/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-marker-in-the-mud/ Before you can plant the rose, you have to dig the bed. Discover how a simple journalist’s device – TK, ‘To Come’ – can keep your first draft flowing, one marker in the mud at a time. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/breathing-room-the-art-of-spacing-your-days/ Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/breathing-room-the-art-of-spacing-your-days/ Like plants that need space to thrive, the creative practice requires breathing room. Discover how planning margins transformed my morning routine. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-study-of-enjoyment/ Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-study-of-enjoyment/ We often study what we think we ought to, rather than what loves us back. By dissecting the films, songs, and stories we truly enjoy, we gain the understanding needed to craft scenes that bloom with genuine life. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-joy-of-discovery-on-getting-lost-to-find-your-way/ Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-joy-of-discovery-on-getting-lost-to-find-your-way/ Efficiency has its place, but wonder is found off the beaten path. I explore how turning off the SatNav—and the outline—can reveal the true heart of a story. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/nurturing-the-flow-of-a-writing-life/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/nurturing-the-flow-of-a-writing-life/ A busy life can feel like the enemy of art. I learned my daily commute was not dead time, but a secret incubator for nurturing my novel in life’s stolen moments. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-true-compost-heap-turning-reading-into-living-knowledge/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:29:20 +0200 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/the-true-compost-heap-turning-reading-into-living-knowledge/ Physical books hold our hearts, but digital tools can hold our insights. I discovered how to create a true compost heap of knowledge that turns reading into lasting wisdom. https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/cultivating-creativity-on-writing-communities/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:29:20 +0200 https://rjcheale.com/inkandivy/blog/cultivating-creativity-on-writing-communities/ Some seeds need greenhouse conditions to grow—so do writing communities. Here’s how I learned to cultivate creative partnerships that flourish through structure, patience, and mutual encouragement.