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NEW Dorset Flash Fiction Competition

by gailaldwin

The Dorset Writers’ Network is running a flash fiction competition to raise funds to support the valuable work they offer in helping isolated writers throughout the county. The first three winners will receive a book or writing related prize. The best stories will be recorded as a podcast and put on the website. I have been asked to judge the competition, so I’m absolutely thrilled. You can find further details below:

Flash Fiction Competition

New competition from Dorset Writers’ Network, write a story in 300 words. You must include the words: hesitant, string, relative, hand. You can use the words anywhere in the story or in the title. Please make sure that the words make sense in the context of the story. In order to do this, you may wish to add letters to the words, but you can’t take away any of the letters. For example, you can change relative to relatively but not to relation because the ‘v’ and the ‘e’ are missing from the original word. You can check that you’ve included all the words correctly before submission by using the ‘find’ facility. Gail Aldwin will judge the shortlisted entries.

Email or post your entry (Sue Ashby, Corner Cottage, Bridge Street, Dorset SP8 5BA; sue@dorsetwritersnetwork.co.uk). Include your name and contact details (address, telephone, email) – but not on your entry. Entries are judged anonymously, so your name and details must be on a separate document.
There’s a charge of £5 for entry and you must live or work in Dorset. Make cheques out to Dorset Writers’ Network.
You can make more than one entry (£8 for 2 stories, £10 for 3) – there is no limit.
A winner and two runners up will be selected.
Your work must not have been previously published on-line or in print.
The entry must be written by you.
Copyright remains with the writer.
Maximum length is 300 words.
The title is in addition to the 300 words.
Your story must not have won or been placed in another competition.
Deadline for entries is Friday May 31st 2013. The results will be announced on the DWN website where the winners will be published.

If you’re a Dorset-based writer, will you have a go at entering this competition?

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Some good news…

by gailaldwin

This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for, a piece of good news. There’s nothing like a little publishing success to get me refocused and positive. An article on the workshop I delivered at the National Association for Writers in Education (NAWE) conference appears in the current issue of Writing in Education, spring 2013. My name even features on the cover, although the print is probably too small for you to read it here. Also included in the journal is an interesting article on coaching for writers by Elizabeth Forbes and ‘Imaging the Story’ where Paul Houghton considers the role of the visual.

And, more positive news comes from Helen Pizzey at PURBECK! magazine who has included a review of Four Buses for the May/June issue of the magazine.

What keeps you on the tracks for writing?

Dorset flash fiction review

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Spring in Dorset

by gailaldwin

Spring in Dorset has so far meant biting wind, patches of frost and snow. When the sun does appear, it’s absolutely glorious but all too soon it slinks behind the clouds. In spite of the weather, other activity confirms the changing of the seasons. Last year I wrote a piece of flash fiction titled ‘Fish Pond’ which is based upon the annual activity in our garden. You can read about it here.

The ducks have been lurking again, finding the right moment to splash into the pond and feed on the frogs’ spawn. This year, however, David has decided to protect the wildlife by creating fortress fish pond.

It’s not a pretty sight and the ducks have abandoned the garden now in favour of the stream along the road. Not even the neighbours’ cat has ventured anywhere near our place now that the days of scooping out the spawn with his paw are over. The wire is so effective that I’m slightly worried we’ll be inundated with frogs and toads later in the year. I hope I don’t find a frog swimming in the downstairs loo again!

Do you have any quirks to share?

Dorset events flash fiction

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Flash fiction workshops in Dorset

by gailaldwin

Dorset Writers’ Network, Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall

I was delighted to offer two flash fiction workshops locally on Saturday. The first was delivered at a fantastic event in celebration of Dorset Women’s Day, held at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester. The second was in the afternoon, working with some wonderful Dorset writers on behalf of the Dorset Writers’ Network. The content for each workshop varied slightly, but as an overview, I’ve listed some of the activities included.

Definition of flash fiction

Not an easy task, but we did our best to come up with a definition by considering the length, the content, the structure, the process and the purpose of writing flash fiction

Giving it a go – six word stories

Using models from the famous (Hemmingway and Atwood) and the not so famous (shortlisted entries to Fleeting Magazine’s 2012 competition) a variety of six word stories were shared to inspire participants. The resulting writing ranged from the sexually-charged to the humorous.

Keeping it short

Using a piece of paper with a pretty picture prompt (a bit larger than a post-it note) participants produced pieces of flash fiction by drawing on the senses. Something about writing on a small piece of paper seems to focus the mind on careful word selection allowing participants to keep the writing short.

Using stereotypes

This is a quick way into writing. Using prompts from the addictive television series ‘Come Dine with Me’ some useful characters sketches were drawn

Putting yourself in the shoes of a photograph

By looking at a range of black and white photographs, participants were asked to imagine that they were the photographer and to write a short piece of fiction considering their relationship with the people in the photograph and to think about why the photograph was taken

Making an origami book as a form of self publishing

This involved a demonstration and the distribution of a pre-prepared book containing one of my flash fiction stories. If you want to know how this is done, you’ll have to attend one of my workshops in the future.

A big thank you to everyone who attended the workshops – you were generous in sharing your writing and it was a pleasure working with you. If you would like me to deliver a workshop to your writing group, please get in touch using the ‘contact me’ page.

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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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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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#Fridayflash: Your Life

by gailaldwin

Your Life is a 250-word story included in Four Buses.

‘Your life’ll be unrecognisable in a few hours,’ the midwife smiled. Kirsty sucked on the mouthpiece, the gas and air made her eyes glassy. Limp stands of hair framed her face and her cheeks were flushed.

‘No it won’t.’ Jez tossed the golfing magazine onto the bed and paced around the room. ‘The baby’ll fit into our lifestyle.’

‘You might find that difficult.’ The midwife read her watch as she took Kirsty’s pulse. ‘Babies don’t come to order. Yours may not sleep, the baby might be a reluctant feeder or plagued by colic.’

‘I doubt it.’ Jez opened the overnight bag which was stuffed with scented candles, massage oil, and world music CDs. He dug to the bottom and pulled out a zip-bag containing nuts. Tucking into the almonds, he realised he’d missed breakfast in the rush and already it was past lunchtime. He made an excuse to slip out of the room, then headed for the canteen.

Kirsty was dozing when he returned so he tiptoed to the armchair. The broadsheet rustled as he folded the pages and she opened her eyes.

‘They’ve given me an epidural to help with the pain,’ she said.

‘You’re doing brilliantly.’ Jez took her hand and traced the lines on her palm with his finger. ‘I’m so proud of you. I love you, darling.’

‘You’ll love me even more when I give you a son.’

‘Indeed,’ said Jez. ‘Only make it quick, there’s a drinks party starting at six.’

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The Next Big Thing: Paula’s Secret

by gailaldwin

I’ve admired the short stories and flash fiction written by Angela Williams under the name of Susan Carey for sometime time now. Like me, Angela’s work has featured on the 1000 words website and her story was chosen for inclusion in the National Flash Fiction Day e-anthology for 2012. Angela lives in Amsterdam, and is a member of Writers Abroad. When she shared information about the group’s annual anthology on her blog, it gave me a chance to think back to my expatriate days in Papua New Guinea and I submitted a story that was accepted for publication in ‘Foreign Encounters’. I was delighted when she tagged me in ‘The Next Big Thing’ blog chain and I answer the questions below:

What is the working title of your next book?

My latest novel started life as ‘First Time Mums’ but then graduated to the new working title of ‘Paula’s Secret’.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I started work on this manuscript during the summer of 2012. I’d written a couple of pieces of flash fiction about those first few months after childbirth, when relationships shift to give priority to the baby and I thought there was mileage in the idea.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a romantic comedy and I’m new to this genre. I met Allie Spencer at a story slam in Shaftesbury and when I read a couple of her books and some others, I thought I’d like to give it a try.

Which actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Paula is the main character, previously dotty about her dog but once Baby Boo arrives, she refocuses her attention. She’s juxtaposed with her best friend Kirsty, who is also a new mother and struggling to use the same methods that brought her success in the workplace to become a model parent. It’s the different approaches to parenting that bring humour to the novel and I guess Ann Hathaway would be a good lead.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Kirsty struggles to make the most of family life with her new-born and when Paula won’t reveal who is the father of her baby, Kirsty decides that bringing her best friend’s family together is her next priority.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I won a competition during 2012 to have sixty copies of my fiction collection ‘Four Buses‘ printed, so I know all about the rewards and pitfalls of self publishing. It may sound mad but getting the book into print isn’t my priority at the moment. I’m much more concerned with getting the writing to the best possible standard.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

The first draft took five months and it’s currently in a drawer waiting for me to gather my wits and tackle it again. I’m planning to begin the rewriting at the end of January, then I’ll be going full pelt ready to submit a decent draft to the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme at the end of August.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I haven’t read many books written about new mothers although when I was researching titles I came across one or two. ‘The Hand that First Held Mine’ by Maggie O’Farrell is a good example of how the arrival of a baby casts light into the shadows of personal experience. But I can’t begin to compare ‘Paula’s Secret’ to such an accomplished novel and it’s not in the same genre, anyway.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Getting positive comments on the short stories and flash fiction that I’ve written has encouraged me to try writing with strong themes, on a bigger scale.

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

Floosie the Husky-cross dog has a significant role in the story!

I’d like to tag a wonderful writer of historical fiction, Carol McGrath, who is hugely knowledgeable about the medieval period. She’s a great on-line friend, tweeting early in the mornings and her blog Scribbling in the Margins, provides posts from all over the world. I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with Carol during a writing retreat in Cornwall and another which she hosted in Portugal. Carol is an attentive listener and when I share my writing, her feedback is erudite. She’s a great companion, story-teller and adventurer. I can’t wait to read her first novel, which she wrote while undertaking post-graduate studies at the Royal Holloway University. ‘The Handfasted Wife’ will be published in 2013.

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#Friday Flash: You never know

by gailaldwin

At the Winchester Writers’ Conference in July 2012, I won first place in the ‘Slim Volume, Short Edition’ competition. The prize gave me the opportunity to have sixty copies of Four Buses printed. This is a collection of short stories and flash fiction and the piece below comes from this book. For further information about Four Buses, please click here.

You never know

Taking a break from pruning roses, I sit on the wall and study the street. The windows of the terraced houses stare over the cars parked bumper to bumper in the residential bays. The bloke that lives two doors along is washing his car, and he nods at me while he sloshes a bucket of clean water over, indicating that the job is done. A bee sounds in my ear then heads for the jasmine bush. I take off my gloves and enjoy the spring sunshine that chases over my arms.

Joel turns the corner into the street, his hair is a mass of dark curls and he’s clutching a large, rectangular object. I dread to think what he’s bought at the car-boot sale this week. Other kids spend their pocket money on sweets, but Joel’s into collecting. He thinks he’ll unearth a treasure that no-one else has spotted. I blame my mother: they spend too much time watching antique shows on afternoon TV when Joel’s supposed to be doing homework. But I can’t complain, she offers the childcare for love not money.

He’s got the edge of the painting balanced on his trainer and with each step he moves a little closer to home. I cross the road to help him, and he lets me take one end. It’s heavy, the frame is chipped and the canvass spotted with mould. We rest it against the wall and I take a step back to admire his purchase.

‘Hmm, is it a ship?’ I ask.

‘It’s a sailing boat out on a wild sea. There are waves blasting against the hull. See the mast leaning? It’s likely to be a painting of the Cutty Sark or some other important vessel.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘Look at the frame.’ He points to the place where a label displays the artist’s name. ‘He’s got to be important with a name like War Wick.’ I laugh – Joel hasn’t learnt how to pronounce Warwick – and he stares at me accusingly.

‘That’s a giant-sized purchase you’ve made this week.’

‘I know.’ He widens his eyes giving a flash of blue and smiles. ‘I was lucky to get it.’

‘How much did it cost?’

‘Two pounds,’ he says. ‘A man tried to buy if off me once the deal was done. That must mean it’s a worth something. He offered me a fiver but I’d said he’d have to go higher than that.’

‘Are you sure he wasn’t being kind? Didn’t want you to be out of pocket with a dud?’

‘I don’t think so.’ His shoulders hunch and I wish I’d never shared my suspicion. ‘I thought we could put it in the lounge. It’s got a wire to hang it by and everything.’

I’m thrown by Joel’s suggestion. There’s no way I’m ruining the wallpaper to display that monstrosity.

‘Wouldn’t it be better in your room? I mean it is your special purchase after all.’

‘No.’ He stares at the painting. ‘I want to share it with you, Mum.’

‘You’re right, darling.’ I swallow my objections. ‘Perhaps we can find a place for it in the hall. Important paintings are usually hung above the stairs.’

‘D’you really think it’s important?’

‘It could be.’ I choke on my lies. ‘You never know.’

‘You’re right.’ He nods his head. ‘You never know.’

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On the road with ‘Four Buses’

by gailaldwin

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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