Later this month, I’ll have the great joy of judging a flash fiction competition for a Scottish writing group (all done via the wonders of email). I enjoy judging and have learned much from the process of doing so in that it has helped me to improve my own work for judging by someone else.
I often use a wide variety of random generators because I need various ways to trigger ideas for characters and stories. Having these different ways of being able to create tales is useful. Mixing up what I use is also good for keeping me on my creative toes!
I see random generators as the modern equivalent of story cubes (I use those too!). I also use books of prompts (and have contributed to some), proverbs and well known sayings (sometimes I subvert these to generate even more tales) but, by far, the method I use most often is the random generator.
When this post goes out, I will be back home, having recently enjoyed another lovely week at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, which is based at The Hayes, Derbyshire. This week sees me immersed in the world of writing, which is just one of many reasons I adore going. It is also the place from where the only German prisoner of war from World War Two successfully escaped and fled back to Germany.
On the writing front, delegates are free to choose which courses and workshops they go to and there is a wide range of topics to choose from too. There is something to suit everyone, no matter where they are at in their writing journeys.
There are four part and two part courses to choose from, as well as the one hour workshops, plus I find I always learn something useful, as well as enjoying being entertained, by the after dinner guest speakers, who are all renowned in their fields.
Last year, a group of U3A folk was able to visit the HQ of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in Eastleigh. It was a fascinating visit as we were given a warm welcome, lots of information and practical advice.
One of the pieces of advice was a recommendation that we had a free Home Fire Safety Check visit to:
• identify any potential fire risks and discuss with the occupier how they can prevent or reduce the risk;
• ensure occupants have working smoke alarms, install where necessary and advise on maintenance and testing;
• ensure occupants have carbon monoxide detectors where needed, install if necessary and discuss the dangers;
• help put together a household escape plan and identify any mobility issues that may impede an evacuation;
• issue fire-retardant bedding, furniture throws and nightwear where needed;
• give basic advice on topics such as falls prevention and smoking.
I made the appointment and awaited my visit. I was told that if an emergency call coincided with my appointment, I’d need to be understanding – of course! But no emergency came and on time, two lovely fire officers (pictured) rolled up in the appliance. I don’t know what the rest of my street thought when they saw the appliance parked up! [Read more…] about The Fire Service Visits!
I don’t know if any survey has been done but, from talking with writers I know and reading interviews over many years, editing elicits a Marmite response. You love it or hate it. There doesn’t appear to be a middle “don’t mind it” option!
My attitude towards editing took a major step for the better on realising good edits were increasing my receiving acceptances. My attitude has gone up further in leaps and bounds since becoming an editor too.
I love word games of all sorts, my favourite being a version of Scrabble I play on my phone. I’m also fond of the Radio Four comedy, I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. It has been on air since 1972. Its original chair was Humphrey Lyttelton and its current chair is Jack Dee. Amongst the many silly games they play on here are rounds involving books, which I adore. No surprises there!
Dead head faded blooms, but leave some to turn into seedheads for the birds. Trim lavender plants by removing flower stalks and about 2.5cm of the current year’s growth. Hoe to keep on top of any weeds. Prune the wispy growth on wisterias, back to 5-7 leaves.
Prune climbing and rambling roses after they have flowered, unless they are repeat flowering. Prune summer flowering shrubs after they have flowered. Cut down wildflower meadows. Ensure Camellias and Rhododendrons are well-watered to encourage good flower bud formation next spring.
I was intrigued to discover The Chameleon Theatre Group were staging Bleak Expectations and was only too glad to go to this show. I remember this as a hilarious Radio Four comedy show which I enjoyed listening to many years ago. Both the play and the radio show were written by Mark Evans.
The title comes from Dickens’s Bleak House and Great Expectations, but there were plenty of other gags connected with the great author.
[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Group – Bleak Expectations – Review
It is with great pleasure I welcome back Val Penny to Chandler’s Ford Today. Val is renowned for her DI Hunter Wilson mysteries and the latest one in the series, Hunter’s Rules, is now out via her new publisher, SpellBound Books. This interview forms part of a blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams (of Reading Between The Lines Book Vlog).
For this post, I will be putting a couple of questions to Lynsey about organising blog tours and what authors need to think about before approaching blog tour organisers.
I’ll also be discussing Val’s new book with Val. We all hope you find this interesting. There will be plenty of useful tips and advice here.
I’m shortly off on my travels again to a major highlight of my writing year, The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick in lovely Derbyshire. I meet up with friends I only see online for the rest of the year (though that is wonderful).
Indeed, one writer I plan to be catching up at Swanwick is Val Penny, author of the DI Hunter Wilson series, whom I’ll be interviewing here again next week. I hope to write more about Swanwick for a later post here but I am running a two part course called Editing as a Writer, Editing as a Competition Judge, which I’m looking forward to presenting.
I thought it might be useful to share some tips as to how to make the most of any writing event you might go to, whether it is a week long residential one like Swanwick, or a single day event. (I am hoping to get to another of those soon too run by the Association of Christian Writers).
One disadvantage to the writing life is it is a sedentary one. I compensate by walking the dog and swimming, though not at the same time! As well as being aware of the need to compensate for a stationary job, there are other ways in which writers need to think about their fitness. This post outlines some of those.
Prune early-summer flowering shrubs, such as Philadelphus, once they have finished flowering. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out up to a fifth of old, woody stems. Cut back hardy geraniums to ground level after they have had their first flush of flowers to encourage new foliage and more flowers later in the year.
Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Dead head bedding plants, roses and herbaceous plants to encourage more flowers. Make sure fruit trees and bushes are well watered to support the developing fruits. Stone fruit trees such as plums and cherries can be pruned this month.
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), renowned writer and poet, came up with his “serving men” which are an inspiration to all writers. Part of his poem on the subject reads:-
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
Do check out the full version via the link to The Kipling Society.
I would add in the question of “what if” as a useful addition to these six. How can all writers benefit from these questions? Let’s take a look.
It is a great pleasure to welcome Maressa Mortimer back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Maressa and I are members of the Association of Christian Writers.
If you’ve been tempted to think you don’t have time to write, Maressa may encourage you to think again. She writes around her home life of four children, who are home schooled, a dog, and the demands of her husband’s job as a church minister.
[Read more…] about Author Interview: Maressa Mortimer – Going Downstream
It is a great pleasure to welcome back Jennifer C Wilson to Chandler’s Ford Today. Jennifer’s new book, published today, is 31 Days of Writing, which will be so useful to a wide range of writers.
Amazon Buy Link – Pre-order link
Blurb for 31 Days of Writing
31 Days of Writing draws on the prompts and exercises from seven years of North Tyneside Writers’ Circle. Whether you’re wanting to build scenes for a work-in-progress, or generate ideas for short stories/poems, there’s something for everyone in this collection, to keep the inspiration flowing for a month of writing…
[Read more…] about Author Interview: Jennifer C Wilson – 31 Days of Writing
I run a monthly Zoom workshop on flash fiction writing for the Association of Christian Writers. It is great fun to do and the online aspect helps so much as the members live several hundreds of miles apart so we could never get together in person.
I usually set a monthly theme and then set exercises based on that. Sometimes I will prepare an answer to an exercise to show as an example but most of the time I will write on the night of the meeting with the other members.
As we are all aware, the parliamentary constituency of Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh is newly re-organised and most electors have had little opportunity to see their candidates in person.
In Chandler’s Ford, all potential electors are invited to a special event to see and hear from the parliamentary candidates for Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh.
Date and Time: Sunday, June 23rd, 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road, SO53 2GJ
Organised by Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford and Chaired by Bishop Geoff Annas, Acting Bishop of Southampton, the meeting is open to all electors in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh, of all faiths or none.
Please come and support this and hear from the candidates to help inform your vote, for an evening of discussion and engagement.
Remember to arrive early to secure your seat.
It was such a pleasure to welcome back Jenny Sanders to Chandler’s Ford Today last week where we discussed her new devotional book, Polished Arrows. Devotionals are a specialised form of writing and she discussed the joys and challenges she faces here.
This week, Jenny is sharing thoughts on marketing and book launches. There are some great tips here for any writer thinking along these lines which may prove useful to you.
After 6 years’ research, Chandler’s Ford resident Sohail Husain has published this remarkable book – Beyond Beliefs.
Beyond Beliefs is an incredible true story of a German refugee, an Indian migrant and the families left behind.
Now you can Meet the Author Sohail Husain, on Monday 24th June, at Dovetail Cafe at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, from 2pm to 4pm.
This epic memoir recounts the compelling and extraordinary tale of Sohail’s parents and grandparents, whose lives were engulfed by four momentous events of the 20th century: the First World War, the Great Depression, the Partition of India and the Holocaust.
His parents were separated by birthplace, race, faith, language and age, but their common experience of unimaginable loss and upheaval ultimately brought them together in London.
Their love story was complicated and unconventional, but enduring. It is a testament to human spirit overcoming tragedy and adversity. [Read more…] about Beyond Beliefs by Sohail Husain: The Incredible True Story of a German Refugee, an Indian Migrant and the Families Left Behind
Pinch out tips of new growth on figs at the end of month, when the shoots have 5 leaves. Stop cutting asparagus now and topdress with a general purpose fertilizer. Regularly pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes. Summer prune gooseberries.
Sow salad crops at 2 week intervals. Plant out pumpkins and squashes, put straw around strawberries. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for June
