Category Archives: Writing

How Can Organizing a Literary Festival be Fun? By Margaret Graham

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Easy peasey, when it’s for a good cause, and you have fantastic writers in support.

The thrust of our fundraising at Words for the Wounded is two-fold. We feel we must earn our donations which help the wounded, and offer opportunities to aspiring writers, and interested readers – hence the writing competitions.

Remember that the three grannies who run the charity absorb all the costs, so every penny goes to the wounded.

Last year, to raise extra funds for the recovery of wounded troops, we grannies, who run Words for the Wounded, decided to throw ourselves out of a plane (with parachutes and a handsome man to cling to, I might add). This year, in August we’re splodging through mud doing a Military Assault Course.

Not quite the same elan, but sons-in-law, who are doing it too, are very much looking forward to not catching us when we toppled from the tyre wall.
skydive organizing a Literary Festival

It seemed, however, a good idea to do something less strenuous in the meantime. A Literary Festival seemed just about the ticket.

First panic: will people come? Build it and see, seemed to be the thing to do. Wasn’t that what Kevin Costner was told about a baseball field?

Second panic: will we attract speakers? Well, let’s try our mates.

So we get on the phone to call a couple of WforW patrons.

Katie Fforde is a Sunday Times No 1 bestseller and a great pal. ‘’Of course,’ she said. ‘Let’s do it. In fact, you and me together, Margaret, chatting.’ Done.

 

margaret graham

Second call to Rachel Cuperman. Rachel writes Midsomer Murders scripts, and if they’re not bestsellers, I don’t know what is.
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Can’t wait. I’ll get my co-writer, Sally Griffiths to come too.’ Done.

Sally
I am kissing the hem of their garments by now.

Penny Deacon is one of the grannies, and a crime writer. She will be talking about her work. Done.

penny landed

A past student, Amanda Hatter, and Catriona Troth, who is a committed member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, are to sit on our self-publishing panel. Me too, me too, to try to keep them under control.

kat4Photo attribution: Ruth Jenkinson

Amanda Hatter.

Catherine Balavage, publisher of Frost Magazine, who would have been with us has a far more important project on the go – a son to be born at about the same time.

Finally, we have a fantastic agent: Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency who is really looking forward to meeting all the aspiring authors in the audience. She will be here for the day, so loads of time for networking.

felicity-trew

Then we have the food: As real foodies the grannies have been planning lunch, with wine, and tea with cake. We’re of an age where life seems to revolve around cake… Join us in pursuit of the calories.

Waterstones will be there, writers will sign books. There will be an artist exhibiting her work. There will be a buzz. It’s the inaugural Literary Festival for Downley Community Centre, which has been fantastically supportive.

So come. Enjoy the day. Tickets in advance to facilitate catering.

It’s been fun organizing it, and will be even more so, on the day.

Remember: the grannies absorb all the costs of the charity every penny we raise goes to where it’s needed.

Where is it needed? See the sort of injuries our service personnel suffer:

https://www.frostmagazine.com/2014/12/wounded-the-legacy-of-war-photographs-by-bryan-adams/

Date: April 18th. 9.30 for 10.00 start until 5.00. Downley Community Centre, High Wycombe, HP13 5TR Tickets £50 to include all refreshments.

Contact: Margaret@margaret-graham.com for information and tickets, or go to www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

 

 

 

THE FAERIE TREE: A Book In The Making

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faerietreejanecableImbolc: When the days are getting longer and the earth is getting warmer, a time of fertility and fire, and of focussing on our own magical gifts and abilities.

Being an author is in some ways akin to parenthood. Although not, of course, quite so important. But it is an act of creation (albeit solitary), nurture, and then letting your offspring go to make its own way in the world.

The last part is the hardest. Time and again while checking the proofs for The Faerie Tree I was assailed by awful thoughts: it’s not good enough; nobody’ll like it; it will fail. Time and again I had to remind myself to have faith in my editor’s view – and in the opinions of others who have read it.

But when your book makes its way into the wider world it isn’t enough to hover at the school gates for twenty minutes then go home and cry. You have to shout about it – tell the world – make them want to buy it.

So the last month has been focussed on marketing – which isn’t necessarily one of my own magical abilities. I know the theory, but somehow I don’t have the knack of pushing myself that some other authors have. I just don’t know how to stand there and say “Buy my book – it’s amazing.”

The first step in marketing is getting your book into places where people can buy it. Matador does a great deal of this for me, particularly the online stuff. On 21st March (or maybe a little before) it will miraculously appear on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Google, Waterstones & WH Smith online. It will be sitting on marketing platforms like Goodreads and I’ve Read That. It will be available for bookshops to order through the industry’s main wholesalers – but the job of persuading them to actually stock it will be down to me.

While the cut price books offered by the big retailers are great for readers they aren’t so good for writers because they have pushed many local booksellers out of business. The chain stores have a stocking policy which rules out local decision making, leaving independent authors and many traditionally published ones out in the cold. Even where they exist the independent book trade can be timid too – before giving it valuable shelf space they have to be sure a book will sell. It’s not their fault – most of them are living hand to mouth and cannot afford to take potentially costly risks. Even on sale or return.

Inevitably many sales are online (The Cheesemaker’s House sales to date are about a 50:50 split ebook and paperback, with half the paperbacks being sold through Amazon) so the marketing focus has to be here too. The first thing I did was organise a blog tour so I am at least guaranteed some coverage around the launch date. The next thing is to make sure the book is available for reviewers, booksellers and librarians to download via Netgalley. And book a Netgalley promotion to make sure it stands out from the crowd.

Other marketing musts are updating my website (www.janecable.com) ready for the beginning of March; moving my Amazon author profile to their new format (long overdue); and polishing up my Goodreads profile, Twitter masthead and Facebook page.

And if that wasn’t enough I’ve also got this really crazy idea to create a faerie tree for my home city of Chichester. I’ll certainly need more than a little help from the hidden folk to pull that one off…

 

 

 

Askerswell Short Story Workshop by Wendy Breckon

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photo 1ASK

One of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon, is to share ideas with other writers and learn one or two writing tips.  On Saturday 17th January, the car ambled through the country lanes to Askerswell near Bridport, for a short story workshop.  Accompanied by a rather large notebook and a trusty pen, I bumped into other like minded people as we walked up the path.  The flyer for the Dorset Writers’ Network said, ‘let your imagination fly’, and that is exactly what we did.  In the warmth of the cosy surroundings of Grey Cottage, our excellent tutor, Frances Colville guided us towards creating the perfect short story.

Askerswell Short Story Workshop by Wendy Breckon

The twelve writers gathered around the table, listened, scribbled down ideas, exchanged helpful notes and read their work.  There is something magical about listening to other peoples’ writing.  All so different.  Quite fascinating. Wonderful.

Frances is a very accomplished writer.  She gave us a clear understanding into the composition of a good short story.  I found her tips very helpful and thought provoking.  One of the constructive ideas she presented to us, is to hot seat your chosen character. This technique is valuable for gaining further appreciation of characterisation; such as understanding his or her personality; age; relationships with others or individual motives. Either, ask yourself the questions about the person you have created, or ask someone else to ‘hot seat’ you.  Both are effective tools to consider when writing a short story.This was very helpful, for gaining an extra insight into the creation of our own characters.

Askerswell Short Story Workshop by Wendy BreckonOur tutor made a number of further practical suggestions; the important use of dialogue in short stories; the inclusion of dramatic tension and how to achieve it, and the necessity for vigorous editing.  Reading your story out loud is very important for getting the sense of rhythm and pace.

A worthwhile exercise to do at home, (which I immediately applied to my own writing), with great success,  is to explore a written piece and the application of descriptive words.  Are they the best ones to choose?  Are you using cliché and words that are too obvious?  Frances suggested, that as writers we underline each one, and think of them on an individual basis.

photo 4ASK

Four o’clock.  It was the end of the session.  Chairs were placed under the table. Notebooks and pens disappeared into bags.  Coffee cups pushed to one side.  Everyone left chatting, heads buzzing.

Frances Colville gave us lots to think about in her invaluable and absorbing session.  I could have stayed for another two hours.

photo 5ASK

So now, it’s time to think of an idea!  If you want to take part in the competition, create a story with a maximum of 500 words.  This should be set in Dorset, have a strong sense of place and have equally strong characters.  The winners will be chosen for the e-book anthology and the closing date is the 31st March.

So, let those thoughts slide on to the page  and your imagination fly. Without any further hesitation get writing.

 

 

Short Story Workshops Across Dorset by Margaret Graham

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writing

One of Frost’s favourites, author Kate Kelly, who wrote of her experiences at the Edinburgh Festival is featuring as a tutor at one of the free Workshops taking place across Dorset over the next two months.

Short Story Workshops Across Dorset by Margaret Graham

In an effort to reach aspiring writers living in rural communities a series of free-entry creative writing workshops for adults has been devised and take place at twelve venues across Dorset between 12 January to 14th February.

Amongst the tutors is another familiar name. Frances Colville who arranged the Bridport Slam, won by one of Frost’s most fun writers, Wendy Bracken, is teaching. Frances herself has featured in Frost in A Day in the Life. In addition, there is Tracy Baines who I taught, and who is a successful short story writer, so lots for the aspiring writer to enjoy.

Perhaps they would like to enter the Words for the Wounded writing prizes? www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

writing, writing workshops, short, workshops, writing, Dorset, Margaret Graham

The short story workshops will kick-start DWN’s first e-book anthology. For anyone and everyone who enjoys writing or would like to learn to write short fiction check out the communities listed here: Winfrith Newburgh, Sturminster Marshall, Cerne Abbas, Askerswell, Durweston Horton & Chalbury, Martinstown, Stalbridge, Verwood, Crossways, Upwey, Bourton

To book a place, email sue@dorsetwritersnetwork.co.uk

Taking part gives you free entry to Dorset Writers Network e-book competition. Competition launch event is on Saturday 24th January – 2.30pm – at Dorchester Library.

Come along to hear Natasha Solomons reading from her work and celebrate the launch of Dorset Writers Network’s e-book competition.  Advance booking essential, telephone Dorchester Library on 01305 224440.