Paul Cowdell

@paulcowdell@hcommons.social
502 Followers
451 Following
1.1K Posts
I research (library & field), write on, & talk about folklore. Am proud to have been described as an 'expert in morbid eschatology' and a 'cannibalism celebrity'.
Bloghttps://humphreywithhisflail.blogspot.com
Researchgatehttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Cowdell
AcademiaDOTeduhttps://herts.academia.edu/PaulCowdell
Paul CowdellNov 6
Mx KraneNov 6

Writers! What's your favourite way to write your first draft?

 Please boost for reach, thanks.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

Analogue (pen & paper)
9.1%
Word document
29.5%
Specific writing software (tell us which in replies?)
36.4%
It depends on what you're writing (explain in replies?)
13.6%
Other (explain in replies?)
11.4%
Poll ended at .
Paul CowdellNov 1
Ruth SalterNov 1

Edinburgh University begins compulsory redundancies and closes Institute for Academic Development.

(Apologies for the Tab link) https://thetab.com/2025/10/31/excl-edinburgh-university-begins-compulsory-layoffs-with-department-set-to-be-axed

In the final months of writing my thesis I relied on IAD resources for information that I simply could not find through my department or school.

Feeling for the staff facing compulsory redundancy; wtf at the UofE so symbolically disregarding academic development.

#EdinburghUniversity #UofE #Academia #PhDLife

Excl: Edinburgh University begins compulsory layoffs with department set to be axed

Seven staff in the Instute for Academic Development are set to lose their jobs when the department closes

The Tab
Paul CowdellSep 26
'I like big charts and diagrams' - Len Deighton on writing.
#bookstodon
Paul CowdellSep 17

Nice new piece by the splendid Ross Macfarlane on @publicdomainrev about an interesting 1842 collection

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/curious-bequests/

*A Collection of Old English Customs, and Curious Bequests and Charities* (1842)

A compilation of historical gifting traditions in England, with a focus on the peculiar.

The Public Domain Review
Paul CowdellSep 2
Hey #bookstodon. Any suggestions for a good starting point to get my head round Prester John narratives?
Paul CowdellAug 14
Partner extremely made up to have received a late birthday present of @TarkabarkaHolgy's Dancing on Blades
Show threadPaul CowdellJul 27
Gosh. This was really, really good.
Paul CowdellJul 25

#IoW types! This
Ventnor Fringe has seen some cracking #storytelling sets from members of Island Storytellers, individually and collectively.

This year's sets by group members culminates Sunday evening with this excellent-looking show by one of my favourite local tellers, Merl Fluin, 'Tales That Topple Tyrants'. https://purchase.vfringe.co.uk/EventAvailability?EventId=22002

Paul CowdellJul 21

I this weekend went to my first ever #storytelling festival. Interesting.

Not the least joy for me was hearing a shout-out by one teller for the website of @SimonRoyHughes. I mentioned this later to one of my IoW travelling companions, who told me happily that she'd been given his Asbjørnsen and Moe collection for Christmas. There appears to be a better class of troll in Cowes.

Paul CowdellJul 3
Had not been expecting to cheer my partner up inordinately by singing the verse of Babes in the Wood where the children die, but there you go. Small joys, small wins.