the writer is a lonely hunter

writing by Gail Aldwin and other authors

Feb 12

Spring writing workshops

by gailaldwin

I’ve been invited to deliver several flash fiction workshops in the coming months and I’m delighted at the prospect. To give you an idea of what I’ll be covering, please see the outline below:

Flash fiction, keeping it short

Everyday lives are packed with tasks and activities that leave little time for reading or writing at length.  Flash fiction has the ability to fit into the breaks and provides satisfying stories with all the elements of a longer piece of fiction.  ‘Keeping it short’ is an interactive workshop that explores opportunities to incorporate flash fiction into your creative life and will use examples to share:

  • Flash fiction at its best
  • Starting points for writing flash fiction
  • Ideas about the definition of flash fiction
  • Websites and journals that publish flash fiction enabling writers to reach a wider audience

What do you think?  Have I got all the bases covered?

Dorset events flash fiction writing

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Feb 5

What is flash fiction?

by gailaldwin

A friend recently left a comment on my blog, asking for a definition of flash fiction.  While I flippantly said it’s fiction usually written in less an 500 words, it did occur to me that further elaboration may be appropriate.  So, although there isn’t an agreed definition, I hope you get the flavour of flash fiction from the following.

Flash fiction provides a window into the experiences of others, short enough to digest in one sitting.  Frenetic lifestyles make short fiction relevant and accessible. It offers bite-size pieces of fiction that are satisfying and a relief from the grind of everyday life. The length of the work is short, anything up to 500 words (or 1000 words in USA) constitutes flash fiction.

Frequently written in one go, flash fiction can be completed from start to finish in one sitting, allowing the writing to burst with energy.  Prompts such as images, single words, or a line of poetry may stimulate the writing. Others suggest that flash fiction is a distilled version of a longer story and includes all the necessary parts such as characters, plot, dialogue and theme but these are presented by suggestion rather than written in detail. The chinks in the writing leave room for the reader’s imagination.

Sitting alongside short stories and novels flash fiction does not attempt to replace them. The brevity of flash fiction is one of its charms and because it can be drafted within a short timescale, it’s a useful tool for honing writing skills.

Do you agree? Please leave a comment!

Dorset flash fiction writing

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Jan 30

Lit Up! event: a life in writing

by gailaldwin

Along with writing friends Sarah Scally and  Fiona Murphy, I spent an excellent day on Saturday at Bournemouth Library learning how to make a living from writing.  That is, how to fund your writing through grant applications, residencies and commissions.  The workshop was organised by Lit Up! and provided practical advice, presentations and talks by poet Andrew McMillan and project organiser Amy Mason.

Andrew McMillan and Amy Mason

Andrew McMillan and Amy Mason

By the end of the day, I’d made several new Twitter friends, generated fresh ideas for projects and came away with inspiration for new pieces of creative writing. The event more than lived up to its billing, a unique day full of tips on putting together bids, planning and executing successful writing sessions. Thank you very much Amy and Andrew for sharing inside information on how to get the most from the Arts Council.

Top tips included

  • subscribing to Arts Jobs  for regular updates on paid and unpaid writing opportunities
  • using the language of the brief to frame your application for residencies and writing opportunities (refer to target audience, outcomes etc)
  • drawing upon help from others to support your application, for example, references from other writers, project coordinators etc
  • Seek advice and support from the Arts Council. The Relationship Manager for the south-west is kate.offord@artscouncil.org.uk
  • the importance of tangible outcomes from writing sessions and workshops such as a celebration event or production of a pamphlet of work

By drawing on the ideas from the day, and combining these with the experience I’ve gained from workshop delivery at conferences and writing groups, I now feel much more confident in designing and seeking funding for my own literary writing project.  The only trouble is having the time to map this out.  My full-time work commitment is likely to go on until the end of August but with redundancy possible, I may be well be poring over my notes before too long.

Which skills would you like to develop for a life in writing?

Dorset events Libraries Reading writing

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Jan 23

Cue for a story…

by gailaldwin

I’m taking a break from working on the romantic comedy I completed before Christmas. I thought that if I give it until the end of January, I’ll have had enough time to return to it afresh. Meanwhile, I’m developing on a few short stories and flash fiction to keep my creative mind active. So far this year, I’ve entered five competitions and have stories lined up to enter a couple more. The spreadsheet is filling up and although I know most of the stories will bounce back, if I revise and resubmit, there is a chance of publication and maybe even a prize.

Ideas for fiction come to me from life. I seem to be writing quite a lot about families at present, with my sixteen-year-old son providing the stimulus.  Little things get lodged in my mind. Take Saturday, for example, he says to me:  That’s a stupid rule, Mum. Why do I have to unload the whole dishwasher when I only need one cup?

Right, down to work…

Dorset

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Jan 15

Update: Bookshops in Dorset

by gailaldwin

books-441866_1920

Following my tour of independent bookshops a few years ago, I thought it was time for an update.  I’ve honoured each bookshop with a ‘best of’ category, hoping this might tempt you to visit.

Best of bookshops for atmosphere: Serendip, Lyme Regis

Situated in the seaside town, this bookshop is a must for all visitors.  Once inside, the atmosphere tempts you to linger, with great lighting and eclectic background music.  Step further into the shop and you’ll find seating for comfortable book-browsing.

Best of bookshops for location: The Book Shop, Bridport

 

 

Directly opposite Buckey Doo Square, where the weekly market sprawls across the pavement, you’ll find Book Shop. Right at the heart of the town, Book Shop does what it says on the sign, sells books to customers in a knowledgable, straightforward and efficient manner.

Best of bookshops with a bonus: Winstone’s, Sherborne

This is one of the largest bookshops I’ve come across, double fronted with a generous children’s section. The shop is easy to navigate and has staff on hand to answer queries. As a bonus, Winstone’s also sells  delicious coffee.

Best of bookshops with friendly staff: Gullivers, Wimborne Minster

Close to the Minster, Gullivers is a family run business, committed to community involvement. The staff are enthusiastic about their role in promoting reading with families and children and organise book-related events such as the Wimborne Literary Festival.

Best of bookshops for quirky stock: Black Pug Books, Wimborne Minster

This bookshop sells ‘loved and used books’ and is well worth a visit.  Occupying the front room of Victoria Sturgess’s house, you’ll soon feel at home there, poring over the shelves.

Best of Bookshop I’m planning to visit: Westbourne Book Shop, Bournemouth

Owned by the Angel family who also run Gullivers in Wimborne, this shop provides a good excuse to visit Bournemouth (as if you need one). There’s also the Westbourne Book Binge to look forward to in 2018.

Best of Dorchester: Waterstones

Staff at Waterstones in Dorchester are amazingly helpful and the manager, Jan Jaggard, is generous in supporting workshops delivered by the Dorset Writers’ Network.  There will be a flash fiction workshop hosted at Waterstones on 13 May 2018. Click here for more details.

With all these shops selling a range of high quality literature, it’s no wonder the county is full of people interested in books, reading and writing.

Dorset Reading writing

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Jan 9

Black Pug Books, Wimborne

by gailaldwin
Victoria Sturgess, in the bookshop

Victoria Sturgess, in the bookshop

Black Pug Books has been open in Wimborne every Thursday, Friday and Saturday since October 2012. As a newcomer to the town, Victoria Sturgess has made her mark on the popular thoroughfare by opening a bookshop full of ‘loved and used books’ at 24 West Borough. Sitting in Victoria’s front room, it is a pleasure to be surrounded by a hand chosen collection of out-of-print books. The shelves groan at the sheer weight of choice and I was delighted to purchase ‘An Outpost in Papua’ by Arthur Kent Chignell an account of missionary work in the early 1900s.  Anything written about Papua New Guinea interests me, owing to my experience of living in Wabag, Enga Province during the 1980s.

wimborne 002Victoria has always wanted to run a book shop and began purchasing books that would form the stock three years ago.  Paperbacks are a sideline (along with LPs, cigarette cards and magazines) and these are displayed in a wheelbarrow that is set outside the front door whenever the shop is open.  Victoria encourages customers to knock on the door to gain access outside normal opening hours or you can telephone ahead for special visiting arrangements.

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Dorset Reading

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Dec 12

On the road with ‘Four Buses’

by gailaldwin

BOOK LAUNCH 1

Here I am signing copies of ‘Four Buses’ which was launched in Dorchester on Saturday.  I was delighted to have friends and fellow writers join me for the event, where I read a few stories from the collection and sold copies of the book. It was great to have friends who travelled from London and Cambridge to spend the launch with me, and a local friend who hurtled back for a wedding in Stafford, so keen to get her copy of ‘Four Buses’. I was thrilled when she emailed me today, saying she’d read the collection straight through in one go, and loved the way the stories were, ‘not spelled out yet were so clear.’ It’s good to accept praise from someone I really respect.

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authors Dorset events flash fiction short stories

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Nov 28

Party venue: institution of mechanical engineers

by gailaldwin

When I booked my ticket for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s winter party, I had no idea that it was to be held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  At One Birdcage Walk the building is just around the corner from Westminster Palace and about a 30 minute walk from Waterloo.  Fortunately, by the time my train arrived, the wind had died down and the rain had turned to drizzle.  Even though I’d been advised to wear glitter tights, my outfit of black trousers and a top seemed appropriate and also suitable for travelling.  My only concession to party-wear were my shoes:  pointy with kitten heels. Although my toes cried for mercy with every step I managed to see the evening out without crumpling in a corner and although the acoustics in the library were appalling, I was able to chat with a number of writing friends.

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Dorset Libraries views visits

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Nov 20

Plaza or Odeon? Take your pick

by gailaldwin

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and with a population of around 20,000 it now boasts TWO cinemas. When we first moved here six years ago I was delighted to live within walking distance of a cinema and I’ve been a regular visitor to the Plaza ever since.

Built in the 1930s the Plaza has been updated to provide an all-digital, four screen, 3D and live satelite enabled modern cinema. Some new releases come to Dorchester very quickly but I ran out of luck one year waiting for Atonement to arrive and had to slip along to Weymouth to see the film.  That said, with tickets charged at £2.50 during the week and £3.50 on Friday and Saturday nights,  going to the Plaza is a brilliant and cheap night out.

However, we have an interloper on the Dorchester cinema scene with the Odeon three-screen cinema newly opened in Brewery Square.  The development is on the site of the former Eldridge Pope brewery and will have several new restaurants, shops and housing when it’s completed. In the meantime we have Carluccio’s and the Odeon to keep us guessing as to what the final facilities will be like. But with another cinema, therein lies a dilemma.

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Dorset visits

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Nov 8

A visit to Winstone Books of Sherborne

by gailaldwin

Winstone’s is situated at 8 Cheap Street, towards the top of the town in Sherborne.  The shop is double fronted and light streams into the space that contains a huge range of books. As well as shelves along the walls, there are central displays and stands for book-themed gift cards.  A quarter of the floor space is dedicated to children’s books and the owner, Wayne Winstone has worked hard to establish links with schools to promote reading as an important life experience for children of all ages.

The children’s area is inviting with a couch, a rocking horse and a standard lamp to entice families to stay and browse.  Children are invited to review books and as part of the Sherborne Literary Festival, a short story competition for children was held.

Wayne has been successful in attracting authors to deliver talks and book signings at the shop and recent events included a book launch by Sarah Challis. Read the rest of this entry »

authors competitions Dorset events Reading writing

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