Zoom

Online Workshops

March 15, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

I don’t know about you but these days I split time into two categories – pre-pandemic and post-same. I recently ran a workshop for the Association of Christian Writers’ Flash Fiction Group on leap years. One thing coming from that was in recalling the last Leap Year Day was 29th February 2020! Much has changed since then, hasn’t it?!

One positive thing to come from the pandemic was the increasing use of video conferencing via Zoom and the like. It made certain events possible. Ironically it has led to paying gigs for me as workshops. I hope that continues!

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Tags: am writing, creative writing, making the most of online workshops, online workshop tips, online workshops, writing advice, Zoom

Making the Most of a Zoom Workshop

February 24, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

One good thing to come out of the pandemic was the increasing use of Zoom. I used it for family get togethers when meeting in person wasn’t possible. (I still regularly meet up with family members abroad this way too).

A number of writing related activities transferred to this medium so I was able to join in with workshops, listen to talks etc. In the past eighteen months or so, I’ve been invited to run workshops via Zoom on flash fiction. It has been lovely to have paying gigs too! (Would always welcome more of these!).

So I thought for this post I’d look at how to make the most of Zoom workshops if you’re running them/likely to run them in the future. I hope you find this useful.

Tags: creative writing, focus, preparation, the writing life, workshops, Zoom

Writing Techniques in Fiction

July 8, 2022 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

Now this topic could easily fill a book or several so this post can only be a brief overview. I focus on a few things which I have found so useful.

Tags: am reading, am writing, creative writing, drafting, editing time, market research, mixing up your reading, reading work out loud, show don't tell, speech tags, Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. Mslexia Indie Press Guide, writing advice, Zoom

Celebrating with Bridge House Publishing

December 10, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:-

**Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.**

**Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.**

**Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!**

It was great to be able to celebrate with Bridge House Publishing twice in one week this year.

On Thursday, 2nd December, there was a Zoom meeting for those who couldn’t get to the in-person event in London on Saturday, 4th December. There was a quiz, a look at the books published by BHP and its imprints this year (including The City of Stories by Lynn Clement, which I edited), and there were readings.

I read Breaking Out, one of my two stories in The Best of CafeLit 10, which is just one of the many books produced this year.

It was lovely to see so many on screen and I loved hearing the stories.

Tags: Allison Symes, books, Bridge House Publishing, celebration event, creative writing, in-person event, indie publishers, Lynn Clement, reading, The City of Stories, writing event, Zoom

Local Author News – Allison Symes – Crossing Fiction and Non-Fiction

July 23, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:–

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying the book cover credits for Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing.

Many thanks to Gill James at Chapeltown Books for the cover pictures for The Best of CafeLit 10.

Screenshots of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Friday Flash Fiction, and new ACW Flash Fiction Group details were taken by me, Allison Symes.

This summer, I have been kept busy with more Zoom talks. I spoke again to the Dundee City Writers on 19th July and am due to speak to another Scottish group, Byre Writers, right at the end of the month.

This is made possible thanks to the wonders of Zoom and a huge thank you to both writing groups (as I know here and now Byre Writers will make me very welcome!).

I had a lovely time talking about short story writing to Dundee City Writers. I am looking forward to talking about flash fiction writing with the Byre Writers. And there has been plenty else going on too.

Tags: Allison Symes, author talks, Byre Writers, creative writing, Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing, Dundee City Writers, fiction, Mom's Favorite Reads magazine, non-fiction, publication news, The Best of CafeLit 10, Wendy H Jones, Zoom

Local Author News – Allison Symes – Summits, Talks, and Interviews

February 26, 2021 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

For once I’ve summed up my news in my title! January and February have been incredibly busy but fun.

One thing all writers want is to build on what has gone before so we move forward. Those moves forward can be in big steps, little ones, or anything in between. Often one thing leads to another. It is the way of the writing life a lot happens over a comparatively short period and then nothing for a while. A bit like London buses – three turn up near enough at once! But you get used to that.

Feature Image – Summits, Talks and Interviews, Image created in Book Brush by Allison Symes using Pixabay image.

Tags: Allison Symes, author newsletter, Chandler's Ford Today, Continuing Professional Development, email list, international writing summit, lots going on!, podcast, The Writing and Marketing Show, website changes, Wendy H Jones, WI talk, writing a regular column, Zoom

Launches in Lockdown – Part 1

January 22, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

From a writing viewpoint, 2020 had the benefit of:-

1. Zoom.
2. Being able to have some writing events thanks to Zoom!

The major disadvantage was the lack of our usual writing events. This was something I discussed with YA writer, Richard Hardie, last week. He has faced the challenges of the pandemic as author and publisher (see link at the bottom of this post).

But writers and publishers still had books to launch, so I thought I’d look at how authors, including me, managed this during this strange period.

A huge thanks to all of the writers taking part in this series. They have all shared fabulous insights and something that comes across from what they share here is where one way is not possible, others will be.

That is something positive from 2020 I think.

Feature Image – Launches In Lockdown Part 1. Image created in Book Brush using an image from Pixabay

Tags: authors. writing events, book launches, book promotion, lockdown, marketing, online, writing advice, Zoom

Waterloo Arts Festival 2020 Goes Digital – Online Writing Event

June 19, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

The Waterloo Arts Festival is an annual celebration across several art disciplines all based on a theme. This year’s one was Transforming Communities. Previous topics have been Transforming Being and To Be…To Become.

bhp31l — The Bridge House Publishing logo. Image from Bridge House Publishing.

For the last three years, there has been a writing competition as part of the Festival and Bridge House Publishing have been the sponsors behind this. I’ve been privileged to have had winning stories in all three ebooks produced. Each ebook is a compilation of the fifteen winning entries in each year.

The Waterloo Arts Festival goes online for 2020. Pixabay.

Tags: Allison Symes, Bridge House Publishing, ebook launch, online writing event, publication news, Transforming Communities, Waterloo Arts Festival, Zoom

Zooming Around and Cyberlaunch Tips

May 8, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

I trust everyone is keeping well. One aspect of the lockdown I hadn’t expected was finding the video conferencing app, Zoom, and wonder how I’ve not discovered its usefulness before. I’ve been on Skype and What’s App for a while but Zoom has come into its own. For more info do click on this link.

The little boxes here remind me of what you see on Zoom. Pixabay

Tags: cyberlaunch tips, cyberlaunches, From Light to, social media, technology, video conferencing, writers, Zoom

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Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

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Image Credits:-

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.

Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!

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**Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.**

**Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.**

**Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!**