About my approach

My approach to writing is to have 20 or so titles and write them at the same time. Sometimes I concentrate on one book with the view to finishing it; I usually need a publisher’s deadline for that to happen. Otherwise I might work on three or six books (whatever) during a day - the stimulus is an idea, a happening, something I feel should be in two or more books or chapters. For example, several of my books have sections about one or more of the Ombudsmen. If a new law on Ombudsmen happens I dive into the six (say) books that need editing.

Several books have chapters on Information. As a result I have enough written material, notes, cuttings and so on to write the page of Contents for a book on property information. It is not really started but I have a joint author and at least 25,000 words on paper or in my mind.

With the reader in mind I attempt approach a particular subject, e.g. Boundaries and Enclosures, with the belief that my reader will want to achieve the following:

• An understanding - of the professionals’ and other players’ approaches, methods and jargon
• A saving of time - by pinpointing relevant issues
• A comprehension - of policies and practices
• The identification - of ranges of options and solutions
• For problem solving - insights into situations.

Each book provides insights into the subject by examining:

• governmental and organisational policies and structures
• roles and activities of the principal players
• policies and practices of administration
• approaches to dispute resolution
• procedures and standard the evaluation of performance
• enforcement and counter-fraud practice
• the history of the subject
• in solving problems the search for options and choices.

To illustrate this some extracts from the draft chapters of one of next year’s publications Boundaries and Enclosures Handbook are given on the pages of My writings.