Blog: Mel's Muse

Successful Step Parenting: Dealing With The Loss Of A Parent

Whenever the subject of single parents marrying again arises, there is a tendency to think that the greatest consideration should be given to the impact of divorce on children. Those coping with the loss of a parent through death appear to receive less in the way of attention. Perhaps the concept of a ‘replacement parent’...

Posted at 19:11pm on 5th June 2009

2 Comments

How To Structure An Article For Success: Eight Essentials

Part 5 of 6 in a Series on Article Writing

The structure of an article – that is the components that make it first grab our attention and then read on – barely register, if at all, when we pick up a newspaper, or read a blog. It’s a little like cleaning your teeth,...

Posted at 14:27pm on 3rd June 2009

Book Review: The Lost Message Of Jesus, By Steve Chalke & Alan Mann

At the heart of this book is the message of hope the Church can offer the world. The message that God’s Kingdom is here, that it’s open to absolutely everyone through Jesus and that it’s good.

The book explores how Jesus’ life exemplified His message of hope that we need to both grasp for ourselves...

Posted at 09:13am on 2nd June 2009

Wife Beating: Should You Warn A Bride-to-be About Her Intended?

Dear Mel,

You read all the time about different forms of domestic violence. Well my best friend’s daughter, who’s never been married before, is about to get married to a man who’s quite a bit older than her and who, I’ve just heard, was divorced for beating his wife up. I know you’re going to...

Posted at 17:01pm on 31st May 2009

Successful Step Parenting: Consider The Impact Of Divorce On Children

Continuing the series on Stepfamilies, this revised and updated excerpt from Mel's book examines the steps that can be taken to avoid some of the problems that may arise for children of divorce.

MARRYING AGAIN used to be the only alternative to remaining single after a divorce but, with a shift in benefit payments in...

Posted at 01:00am on 29th May 2009

Broken Spoken English - When A Polite Request May Inadvertently Be Rude

Creative writing is not always what it seems! It is a temptation, sometimes, to put up on my blog some of the jokey e-mails that circulate, if for no other reason, than to give people a laugh. I have always resisted, however, on the grounds that this is not its purpose.

The inclusion today is...

Posted at 14:21pm on 27th May 2009

4 Comments

Lead Techniques When Writing An Article

Part 4 of 6 in a Series on Article Writing

When writing an article, do you plan for success? Or for failure? Silly question? Possibly!

In the past few weeks, we’ve been considering the secrets of article writing through the lens of knowing your market. That has included the personal experience, professional expertise, and specialist knowledge...

Posted at 17:48pm on 26th May 2009

2 Comments

Marriage And Remarriage: When Two Halves Don't Make A Whole

Following is an abridged and revised excerpt from Mel’s book Stepfamilies, which the BBC recently asked her to debate on the Richard Bacon show. In previous posts, the inference has been that unless the two people embarking on a second (or subsequent) marriage get it right, there is little chance of tackling other blended family...

Posted at 15:02pm on 22nd May 2009

2 Comments

Know Your Market, Know Your Reader, When Writing An Article

Part 3 of 6 in a Series on Article Writing

Whatever you read about the secrets of article writing, one of the first pieces of advice you’ll be given will be to Know Your Market. In blogging terms that means knowing your Brand – as I alluded to in a previous post (see below). But...

Posted at 14:20pm on 20th May 2009

Live With Less: How To Love Working To Live Rather Than Living To Work

I began this article a couple of months ago before Parliamentary Expenses took over as the latest UK soap opera escapism from the real story of boom and bust economics. So I wondered, this morning, whether it would still have any relevance; whether, in fact, it would resonate with you, my readers. But thinking...

Posted at 20:55pm on 18th May 2009

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