Yesterday I ran a writing workshop in Birmingham. During the day we covered the basics of writing for both entertaining and for information-giving. But for two hours in the afternoon we also talked about the book business and how to get published. I shared my experiences with self publishing, PoD, digital printers and dealing with packagers and Harper Collins.
I had some great feedback from everyone in the group. The same response that I got when I ran it in London a couple of weeks ago.
Must repeat it again soon. I enjoyed it and so did the participants.
Email me if you want to know more.
Showing posts with label Practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Practice. Show all posts
Monday, 19 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
Fast Fiction for #WAG29 - Coffee & Scissors
This week's WAG (Writing Adventure Group) is about habits: ours, a characters, or someone I've observed (we're all such stalkers). It can be anything from the unconscious way someone touches their face when they talk, or a deep-in-their-bones addiction. Your piece can be as long or short as you want, using any form you like. No Rules! Now Write!
As a challenge I thought that I'd write in the second person point of view. Not sure if it works, what do you think?
You'd already got your coffee when Pauline plonked her bag on her usual table and joined the back of the queue. You watched as she fidgeted while she waiting to order her particular brew - a three-shot cappuccino with soya. You took a sip of your own and saw the barista pass her a stack of magazines from the back room.
It was exactly the same last week. She took them to her table and went back to collect her coffee and almond croissant. Glancing at your watch you wrote the time in your notebook and checked what you'd written last Tuesday. The same to a tee; day, time, table, coffee, croissant, magazines and scissors. "Strange," you thought. "But that's what eccentric mystery authors must be like."
You took a deep breath because you needed to go for it before she got stuck in with the scissors. Getting up, you nonchalantly wandered off towards the toilet. But as you passed her table you did a double-take and said, "Pauline Prentice, isn't it?" She looked up and smiled. That's when you knew deep inside that the interview would work out.
As a challenge I thought that I'd write in the second person point of view. Not sure if it works, what do you think?
Coffee and Scissors
You'd already got your coffee when Pauline plonked her bag on her usual table and joined the back of the queue. You watched as she fidgeted while she waiting to order her particular brew - a three-shot cappuccino with soya. You took a sip of your own and saw the barista pass her a stack of magazines from the back room.
It was exactly the same last week. She took them to her table and went back to collect her coffee and almond croissant. Glancing at your watch you wrote the time in your notebook and checked what you'd written last Tuesday. The same to a tee; day, time, table, coffee, croissant, magazines and scissors. "Strange," you thought. "But that's what eccentric mystery authors must be like."
You took a deep breath because you needed to go for it before she got stuck in with the scissors. Getting up, you nonchalantly wandered off towards the toilet. But as you passed her table you did a double-take and said, "Pauline Prentice, isn't it?" She looked up and smiled. That's when you knew deep inside that the interview would work out.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Story Starters or 20-word Openers
I recently discovered a chat room on Twitter where people suggest the opening 20-odd words for a story - story starters. So now I often try and do some as a warm-up before I write my 250 words each day. Here are a few of them.
- They sat down together. Brian wiped his palms on his grubby jeans and looked up. "Catherine," he said without any emotion. #storystarters
- The tight dress showed all her bulges - you could't call them curves. She stifled a yawn and scanned the coffee shop as he... #storystarters
- Henry was reaching down for another CD so he didnt see the traffic stopped ahead. But he did look up in time to scream. #storystarters
- Louise mouthed the headline with a terrified expression. "Sadistic rapist freed after mistrial." #storystarters
- His arm was down her back, his hand on her slim waist. She sat contented. They were both in their 70s and still in love. #storystarters
- He nodded and his eyes had that bleary look. Soon his chin fell onto his tie and the light glistened off his shiny head. #storystarters
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
My 250 Words a Day Challenge
I've had a bad bout of writer's block over the last couple of months, but it's now starting to clear.
So I've set myself a challenge - to write over 250 words a day for six days every week. And when I've achieved that I'll go for 500 a day.
A good start today as I've done over 350!
So I've set myself a challenge - to write over 250 words a day for six days every week. And when I've achieved that I'll go for 500 a day.
A good start today as I've done over 350!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
An exercise from a workshop on Writing Effective Dialogue
I attended a workshop on Writing Effective Dialogue at the Birmingham Book Festival last weekend. For the the first exercise the tutor played a recording of a normal conversation and asked us to write our own interpretation. This is what I wrote.
Sarah pushed open the heavy door, reached in and pulled at the light cord. The room gradually filled with a dull glow.
“It's big,” said Stephen. “Am I the only one using it?”
“Yes, it's all yours.”
“Fantastic.”
“It used to be the morgue.”
“Ah, that would explain the strange smell.”
Sarah walked almost 30 feet to the end of the room and pressed a couple of buttons on the control panel that was fixed on the wall. Stephen heard the slow hum of the air conditioning as it started up.
“That should clear it in a few minutes,” Sarah said when she got back.
“Thanks.”
“You can rearrange the tables any way you like.”
“Great.”
“When you've finished just make sure you get them to complete those forms,” she said pointing to a pile of papers by the water dispenser in the corner.
“OK.”
“We've put your stuff is in that cabinet and I'll bring your people up in half an hour or so. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Yes please, milk no sugar.”
“OK, I'll leave you to it and get one send down.”
“Great,” said Stephen as he walked to the cabinet in the corner and struggled to remove a large black leather bag.
--o0o--
Sarah pushed open the heavy door, reached in and pulled at the light cord. The room gradually filled with a dull glow.
“It's big,” said Stephen. “Am I the only one using it?”
“Yes, it's all yours.”
“Fantastic.”
“It used to be the morgue.”
“Ah, that would explain the strange smell.”
Sarah walked almost 30 feet to the end of the room and pressed a couple of buttons on the control panel that was fixed on the wall. Stephen heard the slow hum of the air conditioning as it started up.
“That should clear it in a few minutes,” Sarah said when she got back.
“Thanks.”
“You can rearrange the tables any way you like.”
“Great.”
“When you've finished just make sure you get them to complete those forms,” she said pointing to a pile of papers by the water dispenser in the corner.
“OK.”
“We've put your stuff is in that cabinet and I'll bring your people up in half an hour or so. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Yes please, milk no sugar.”
“OK, I'll leave you to it and get one send down.”
“Great,” said Stephen as he walked to the cabinet in the corner and struggled to remove a large black leather bag.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Started Writing Fiction After a Five Week Break
I had a coffee in Birmingham yesterday and watched a young couple chatting a couple of tables away. I was fascinated by the fact that he only ever looked at her when she talked. So I wrote these 200 words this morning as writing practice.
Her finger flicked over the touchpad and his face zoomed out to fill the screen. He looked sexy with a three-day stubble and short dark hair gelled all spiky. She could see his hairy chest in V neck of his red polo shirt and clearly saw the bluebird tattooed on the right side of his neck. Or was it his left? She was never sure with video chat. He was going on about the latest computer game and she was mesmerised by the sight of his lip stud flashing in the light. It was in the corner of his mouth and every now and then she got a glimpse of his tongue stud. They always turned her on.
He leaned back and scratched his chin. ‘The stubble must be itchy,’ she thought. Suddenly he stopped mid-sentence and froze. ‘Damn,’ she said. ‘Blood thing’ s locked again.’
Video Chat
Ami stared at the laptop with Harry’ s voice in her earphones. ‘Why didn’ t he ever look at her when he talked?’ At first she’ d thought he had another computer screen to one side. But sometimes he looked to the other way, so it couldn’ t be that. Maybe he just didn’ t like to chat face to face.Her finger flicked over the touchpad and his face zoomed out to fill the screen. He looked sexy with a three-day stubble and short dark hair gelled all spiky. She could see his hairy chest in V neck of his red polo shirt and clearly saw the bluebird tattooed on the right side of his neck. Or was it his left? She was never sure with video chat. He was going on about the latest computer game and she was mesmerised by the sight of his lip stud flashing in the light. It was in the corner of his mouth and every now and then she got a glimpse of his tongue stud. They always turned her on.
He leaned back and scratched his chin. ‘The stubble must be itchy,’ she thought. Suddenly he stopped mid-sentence and froze. ‘Damn,’ she said. ‘Blood thing’ s locked again.’
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