Themes crop up all the time in creative writing. Many story and article competitions set a theme. Many writers have a theme in the back of their minds when creating a story or piece of non-fiction writing. Indeed, my theme here is to share tips about writing to themes.
For Writers’ Narrative magazine (which can now be found via Substack), there is a monthly theme the core contributors, including me, write around.
One lovely thing about January, to escape from the fact is it does seem to go on forever, is it gives Janet and I the chance to get to the pantomime again – oh yes it does!
This time, on Thursday 29th January, we went to see The Chameleon Theatre Company perform Camelot The Pantomime, which was written by Ben Crocker. For more information, and a chance to read some of the script, do check out the link.
As you can imagine from a title like this, the pantomime was huge fun. (Images of Monty Python did come to my mind when I saw that title).
[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Company – Review – Camelot The Pantomime
Written by Graham Jackson
This is the first in a short series of articles about Probus, a movement which began over sixty years ago, and, more specifically the local Itchen Valley Probus Club (IVPC) formed in 1989.
The Probus Club movement can be traced back to the mid-1960s, perhaps specifically to Welwyn Garden City Rotary Club whose President is believed to have organised a Coffee Morning for his retired friends. The was successful enough for him to form a luncheon club and the rest, as someone once said, is history. From the outset, Rotary Clubs have historically taken a pivotal role in the development of many Probus Clubs, including IVPC.
February sits on the edge of winter and spring. Snowdrops, crocuses and early daffodils begin to lift our spirits, even though cold nights and frosts still linger. On mild days, take time to tidy borders, cutting back old stems before new growth emerges. In late February cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest.
Prune back shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. Top dress beds and borders with a balanced fertiliser. Cut back late flowering (group 3) Clematis such as Clematis viticella, C. orientalis and C. “Jackmannii” to a low pair of strong buds.
My most recent marketing development has been to have a monthly author newsletter. I started this on Mailchimp but as they stopped their free plan, I moved over to MailerLite. The transition was painless, I’m glad to say, and there are certain things I can now do which I couldn’t on Mailchimp. The important one is being able to schedule my newsletters. I schedule pieces all the time including for Chandler’s Ford Today so I appreciated coming across this feature.
I enjoy putting my newsletters together and work on them throughout the month so there’s no last minute rush to get a newsletter out. It also gives me time to add things as more news and ideas occur to me. It also gives me plenty of time to review my draft ahead of scheduling it so it is good to go on the first of each month.
I have a soft spot for a good spoof. This is because I love stories, films etc., which make me laugh. I also think there is a huge need for these especially at times when the world seems unremittingly grim as it is right now. The dictionary definition of a spoof is something which mimics something else to comic effect and often uses exaggeration to get the laughs.
Other than the word “marketing”, the word “pitching” can be enough to make a writer’s blood run cold. Why? In both cases, it is because we all know it has to be done. We also all know we would far rather be writing.
We also know with pitches we do open ourselves up to rejections. Indeed, it is common to have far more rejections than acceptances for any kind of pitch.
One reason I love conducting, reading, and/or taking part in author interviews is because I often learn what inspires a writer and/or a particular tale of theirs.
Inspiration comes from many sources, which is immensely encouraging to any writer, but it does pay to know where the great “hunting grounds” are for it. It pays not to rely on it coming to you but by actively seeking inspiration, you are in with a much better chance of finding it.
This post looks at inspiration “haunts” I’ve found repeatedly useful and I hope you’ll find them useful too.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas break and may I wish you a very Happy New Year.
One of the things I love about the period between Christmas and New Year is having more time to catch up on reading. The rush of Christmas is over and there are a few blissful days before normal routines kick in again and I use that time to enjoy books. Winter is the perfect time for this, isn’t it?
January may feel quiet in the garden, but it’s a valuable month for setting the tone for the year ahead. Use these short, chilly weeks to review last year’s successes, choose new seeds and plan where everything will go.
A little preparation now pays off in spring. Top up feeders with high-energy food and break any ice on bird baths or ponds.
Thank you to Rev Rachael Hawkins, Minister of Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, for sharing this article with the community:
Dear friends,
Am I the only one who thinks that Christmas celebrations seem to have started particularly early this year? The Christmas adverts always seem to start in early November and the shops seem to start looking to Christmas once the Halloween stock disappears, but it feels as though there is also a desire in people more generally to start celebrations early. For the last week or so I have been noticing houses being decorated and trees going up, only a few, but they are around. One of my favourite memories from childhood is putting the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve. It goes up earlier than that in our house nowadays, but it means that seeing decorations up so early still feels very odd to me.
I was intrigued, however, by a comment I heard recently asking whether decorations are going up early because people need it. Decorations, lights, coming together for meals, making time to do something special all give moments of joy and when people are struggling, when life feels hard, having those moments can be valuable. Life does feel hard for many people at the moment and so the comment made me see those early decorations going up in a different way. [Read more…] about Christmas Message 2025 from Rev Rachael Hawkins
It is hard to believe, sometimes at least, just how quickly another year has gone by. I make a point of taking some time out to review how my writing year has gone and what I’d like to see happen in the next one. I’ve found writing things down for this makes it more likely I will take at least some steps to try and achieve what is on my writing wish list.
On Saturday 6th December 2025, I had the great joy of being back at the wonderfully named Theodore Bullfrog in Charing Cross, London, for the annual Bridge House Publishing Celebration Event. This, along with The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, is a major highlight of my writing year.
[Read more…] about Back At The Theodore Bullfrog with Bridge House Publishing
Ten years ago, Steve Allen set up the Chandler’s Ford Community Produce and Craft Market. Several times a year he runs the market at the Brownhill Community Centre. Lots of people love going to the market, chatting, browsing, and buying, and getting to know our neighbours and local makers and crafters.
Unfortunately this will be the last Chandler’s Ford Community Produce and Craft market, and Steve has decided to close the market after this year.
The last market day will be on Saturday, 13th December, from 10am to 1pm, at Brownhill Community Centre (next to Co-op) and there’ll be Christmas gifts for friends and families.
Tidy up fallen leaves from lawns, paths and beds to prevent rot and slippery surfaces. Compost them if dry. Protect tender plants with fleece, cloches, or straw. Bubble wrap pots (especially terracotta) to stop them cracking in frost. Check ties and supports after windy weather. Cut back
dead perennials if you haven’t already – or leave some seed heads for birds and winter interest.
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for December 2025
It is with great pleasure I welcome Heather Beveridge, who writes as Hetty Waite, to Chandler’s Ford Today to discuss her new book, Evolve. This interview forms part of a book blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams of Reading Between The Lines Vlog.
Heather and I have a mutual acquaintance in the form of Scottish crime writer, Val Penny. We have a certain writers’ school in common too, The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick.
[Read more…] about Author Interview – Introducing Heather Beveridge/Hetty Waite – Evolve
I am fond of short story collections for various reasons, not least of which is the fact they gave me my way into being published. My first story in print was A Helping Hand in the Bridge House Publishing anthology Alternative Renditions back in 2009.
Coming right up to date, I am also pleased to say another short story of mine, The Family Legend, has recently been published in Bridge House Publishing’s Magi anthology. I’m looking forward to celebrating that book at the Bridge House Publishing celebration event in London next week, which is always a fun event.
Review – The Business of Murder
Written by Mike Standing
Presented by Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Senior Thespians
The last week in October proved to be a busy one for Janet and I. As well as going to see The Chameleons perform The Ghost Train on the Thursday (30th October), Janet and I went to the Dovetail Centre on the Saturday afternoon (1st November) for a murder mystery play, The Business of Murder by Mike Standing.
[Read more…] about Review – The Business of Murder by Mike Standing
I was intrigued when I heard The Chameleon Theatre Company were going to stage The Ghost Train, written by Arnold Ridley, actor and playwright (1896-1984). If that name seems familiar, it is because it is, given Arnold Ridley is best known for his role as Private Godfrey in the classic Dad’s Army. But it was also known he was a writer and The Ghost Train is his best known work.
Janet and I went to the opening night on Thursday, 30th October and were gripped by the story. There were plenty of twists and turns. Was there something supernatural going on here or was it a con or could it be both?
[Read more…] about Review – The Chameleon Theatre Company – The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley
It is always a joy to welcome fellow authors to Chandler’s Ford Today, especially when they are fellow Bridge House Publishing writers. Penny Dale, who writes as Penny Rogers, is someone I have often chatted to at the Bridge House Publishing Celebration Event held annually in December.
Penny has had many stories in The Best of CafeLit anthologies. Indeed she and I have had our work in the same books but it is a great joy to congratulate Penny on her forthcoming book, Amelie at the Window.
The title story started life as a short story but other stories about Amelie’s life emerged in response to popular demand and this led to the book being written. It is written in two halves as a collection of short stories about the people who lived in a fictional small town in France in 1914 and again in 1924. So much happened in those ten years.
[Read more…] about Author Interview – Introducing Penny Rogers and Amelie At The Window
