OU Poets newest Anthology published

Today I have received my copy of Openings 31, the 2014 Anthology from The Poetry Society of the Open University. Eagerly I looked inside to see which page my poem was on - it's page 26. Copies of Anthologies can be bought from their website. You can also see past copies there (but not the latest). Number 30 has a poem of mine in it should you like to go searching!

Poetry and Music at The Ram Jam Club

LiTTLe MACHiNe

Last night I went for a walk through poetry from Homer to Carol Ann Duffy care of the group LiTTLe MACHiNe at Rhythm& Muse at The Ram Jam Club in Kingston. The group, who set poetry to music, performed their show Epic in two sets.  We skipped through 3,000 years of poetry history in sixty minutes which included drama and comedy! Some highlights – an extract from Gilgamesh and Chaucer, Shakespeare, Byron, Shelley and the war poets (Seigfried Sasson and Wilfred Owen). They were brilliant performers, both in musicianship and personality.

The group tour around the country (do check out their website) the visual backdrop to their show includes pictures of the poets and the words to the poems.

Rachel Rose Reid

The evening was part of Kingston Connections Festival of Stories and included two poets from the floor as well as Rachel Rose Reid who is writer-in-residence at the Charles Dickens Museum in London   Rachel has performed stories and songs for Billy Bragg, Southbank Centre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Last night she told stories from Africa, about Woody Guthrie and about London and Charles Dickens, somehow managing to slide between the old and new worlds. She has a lovely voice and recites her poetry and stories from memory. Rachel keeps you listening (and sometimes participating) because you did not want to miss a word. The stories were funny and poignant and she is an excellent performer, knowing how to instantly engage her audience.

The evening was brilliant – a combination of poetry, stories and music that stay with you on your way home.

(The Ram Jam Club is an intimate setting behind The Grey Horse Pub in Kingston.  Comfy seating, a glass of something from the bar and there you are, up personal with the performers – just how I like it.)

Poetry at the Southbank Centre

As part of The Southbank Centre's Festival of Love which open this weekend there are free activities in the foyer for all ages. The Emma Press will be there promoting their latest anthology Mildly Erotic Poetry with readings by some of the poets featured. These will take place in the Royal Festival Hall near the Ballroom from around 12 noon to 5pm. Sounds like a good day if you are nearby and can get along.

An every-day story......

The BBC ran a news item a day or so ago about a guy who wrote, produced and played all the parts of a radio series. Originally written for hospital radio it switched to BBC Wiltshire and has run for forty years. This is a remarkable achievement and I found it fascinating. You may have seen this already but if not, do take a look here. Sadly the writer/producer/actor is retiring so it will be no more.

What I've been doing since my last post!

The heading for this post sounds like one of those school writing assignments on 'what I did on my holidays'. Well, we never went abroad - Isle of Wight virtually every year! Not that I'm knocking it but I couldn't face going there for many years afterwards. Still in family tradition we did take the kids there one year....only one year! And what I did on my school summer holidays included using my imagination to fill up the days. For example I drew up what today one might call a sort of fantasy football game which is why from time to time I look to see what Hartlepool are doing (sadly still in the same division I believe). I also had a brief spell drawing clothes, thinking I was a fashion designer. Now anyone who knows me will laugh their socks off at this because I can barely thread a needle and have to work up to sewing a button back on. In fact after having to sew buttons on my dressing gown several times I could face it no more. I waited until there was two buttons left hanging and then went out and bought a new one......without buttons!

As usual I am moving away from my subject. The last time I wrote I said I was taking a break. The break is really from courses, which I have done rather a lot of lately (and I've still not finished the final one). I was looking at some of my other stories, looking for something I could adapt for a flash fiction entry and then found a site running a Found Poem competition. I love writing found poems and set about composing one and then looked at my old serial idea. Actually, it is more a soap which I'd love to run online. I printed off the four episodes and hunted down the roughed out profiles and seriously began thinking about profiling with pictures. This came up in the online course Start Writing Fiction......about sourcing pictures for characters and I'd always wanted to do it. So I went out an bought a magazine and a Saturday paper with obligatory bundles on magazines they come with and set to looking for suitable pictures for my characters. I wanted ordinary people, not celebs, because though no one would probably recognise them from my descriptions, I would and it would put me off.

One problem with writing something on the scale of a soap is that you have a lot of characters but I did find almost enough for my needs. I cut them out, wrote their character names and then on my newly roughed out (printed) profile sheet I began adding bits of information. I also looked through what I had written of the story to see if there was anything else useful to add, which there was.

I was actually up at 4.30am this morning and worked on my profiles and editing for the four 'episodes' for four hours -  time flew! I have a hard back book where I will stick my pictures and write out a profile for each character. The course I took offered a website link (actually it might have been a link posted by one of the other students) which had a comprehensive sheet for profiling and I might use that, at least part of it. That was the good thing about the course - all the links and advice. The really useful stuff I copied and pasted into a word document so I can refer to it when I need.

One thing that has become evident from profiling with pictures is that descriptions (always something I struggle with) has become easier and I have begun to bond with my characters! Not only that but now I have matched couples, families and included some family history potential new stories are emerging. One of the reasons I gave up with this project was because I was running out of steam. Suddenly my head is filled with ideas and new characters. I've even thought about writing short snatches of ideas down ready to fit them in when I need them.

I realise that I have left my novel (at about 30,000 words) and although my next scene is there in my head I've not been back to it. I'm thinking that I should profile these characters properly. I have done lots of profiling already but not with pictures. This might help in the long run.

My main worry with the resurrected project is whether it will work in the form I am writing it. As I said it is like a soap so written more direct and the scenes are short, often punchy. There is humour (I do not want it to be a depressing EastEnders soap!) and a play on names/occupations which is left over from my very first idea of writing it as a comedy! I have changes some names but kept some. I wonder about this. All my doubts creep in as I still feel very raw around the edges in writing stories. I think I might run it past a friend of mine who writes mainly stories and has taken courses in script writing and writing for radio to get her take on it. The pieces I am writing are still in novel form as it isn't a play, it's something in between maybe. It would just be nice to get another pair of eyes on it. At the end of the day I write for myself and the idea of writing it for online view also poses problems. Will anyone read it? I'd have to work a long way ahead. How many episodes do I write? Can I maintain it? Is the writing any good? Will it actually work as it is? How frequently do I post? Am I mad? Ah!

All these things are going around in my head but I must admit the characters and their stories are overtaking those thoughts.

I'll let you know what decisions I come to but if you have any thoughts or advice do comment.  Meanwhile I am also writing and editing poetry. A good phase. Hope it lasts!

Start Writing Fiction...the end!

I worried. I pondered. I edited. I worried! Yes, the short piece of fiction was finally completed, submitted and I've received feedback on it. Originally I read my story to my son full of enthusiasm (me, not him!) but his comments were a little negative about certain parts. However, his comment about a gun I mention in the story was helpful because he was able to tell me that the shotgun would not react the way I'd mentioned. So I asked what would and I changed the description to a hand gun. (I never asked him how he knew this!) So, research what you don't know.....or think you do know!! Don't guess - check.

From his other comments I made some small edits but I worried about it. I went on to the Facebook page with my concerns - they are a lovely group. I submitted the story yesterday and this morning I had three reviews, all positive, a few comments about how perhaps I could expand certain areas but two people really enjoyed it and one mentioned my research!!

I can relax now. I have completed the course and come through it much better than I expected. I still don't think my story writing will ever take over from my poetry writing because I'm not moved to write stories with the same urgency but maybe that will come in time. How knows. I don't know where my writing fits either, certainly not the mainstream women's magazines. My stories can be a bit wacky and I've noticed that since I've been reading more crime/thrillers I've been writing more in that direction but the research needed for those is immense and I don't think I would have the patience. Anyway, it has certainly helped me look at my novel in a new light - lots of editing, should I ever finish it!

There is a link on the course to the OU OpenLearn site which runs a creative writing course and I may visit in time but I have promised myself a break. I have one other course to complete online (nothing to do with writing) and I have signed up for a one day study course next month on First World War Artists including a visit to the Imperial War Museum. That's it, for now. Summer is coming and the outdoors beckons. Perhaps if I get bored I might return to my novel!

In case you are inspired, FutureLearn intend to run the course again this year. It's free, interactive, supportive and a great way to get you writing. You never know where it might lead.

Writers tips??

This came via a student on the Start Writing Fiction Facebook Page. Love it!

1 Avoid alliteration. Always.
2 Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3 Avoid cliches like the plague. They are old hat.
4 Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
5 Be more or less specific.
6 Never generalize.
Seven Be consistent.
8 Don't be redundant. Don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
9 Who needs rhetorical questions?
10 Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
11 Never write one word sentences. Period.
12 Think long and hard before writing anything that could be misconstrued as sexual innuendo.
13 Never put things in parenthesis (under any circumstances).
14 Always check your speling - and don't rely on a spell cheque programme.
15 Above all else, be terse. Don't carry on and on. No one likes to keep on reading and reading and not go anywhere with it. Make sure that your reader understands exactly what you are really trying to convey in as few words as absolutely possible.

Learning from the best....Maeve Binchy's life and way of writing

I've just finished reading Maeve Binchy, The Biography by Piers Dugdeon. Being a fan of all Maeve's writing I was interested to find out more about her as a person. What came across in the book is how Maeve used her past environment, situations and overhead conversations to bring those books to life. Not only did I learn about Maeve but also about Irish history (something I've a no little about).

 Maeve's view on the world as she saw it, the things should wanted to convey came out through the words and actions of her characters.

What I also loved was learning about the way she worked - how she drew her characters and ideas and I found myself saying 'I do that'! I loved the fact that she drew maps of where her characters lived (I do that for anything longer than a short story), how she used the mixed method for character building (taking aspects from several people as well as inventing). She worked alongside her husband Gordon Snell, who wrote many children's books, sitting each end of a desk in a studio with large windows. They would critique each others work and have 'sulking time' (something I do when I get rejections!).

Maeve did so much in her life. She went to University, became a teacher, worked in a Kibbutz  for several summers, wrote for The Irish Times and other newspapers and wrote plays. Then of course there were her short stories and novels, some of which were made into films. Once when she visited Jerusalem she lost her faith, having felt that everything she had been told and taught was a lie. She found peace in the spirituality of a once yearly festival at Cumann Merriman through their promotion of Irish Culture. When Maeve's health began to fail and publicity touring became too much she went into retirement but soon she was producing stories again and I was thrilled that there was another batch of books of hers to read. Maeve travelled widely and in her early years her travels were written and published in The Irish Times. She was an incredible lady and the biography made me see her stories in a whole new light as her life runs through them. It makes me want to re-read her books. Writers are always given the advice to write what you know. Maeve did just that which is probably why they work so well. She once apologised that her stories did not contain graphic sex. She  reckoned that her love life wasn't that exciting and she wouldn't know how to describe whose limbs went where! She then wrote a story about a girl who goes in search of a book to tell her what to do when she sleeps with her boyfriend. Maeve never let anything go to waste!

Getting close to a finished piece of fiction

Into week seven of the Start Writing Fiction course with FutureLearn. We are nearing the end of the whole course. Next week is the last one. Like others on this course I am working towards a 1,000 word fiction story to be posted and reviewed by other students.

Although I had done some short pieces of between 200 and 500 words for character building when it came to writing a story none of the characters I had written about or the pieces I started really worked in this context and I was stumped. I had a few false starts which I abandoned after a few sentences because they didn't interest me and I couldn't see where they were going. As I began again a voice took over and a character started emerging. I began the story as a serious plot but it soon became obvious that it didn't want to be serious and skipped into a bit of a farce! I've always gone with gut feelings so I went with it and let it follow whichever direction it seemed to be going. I was worried I wouldn't reach close to the word count, then that I'd go over but when I'd finished I was at around 940 words. I read it back and liked it. I did a small amount of editing and have let it lay for several days.

This week we are beginning our editing properly and I have looked at my story and amended a few things. We have also been looking at how we read and we were asked to write a review of a book we liked and one we didn't. The notes we were given for considering books was comprehensive and useful and no doubt I will be referring to them when I next write a book review!

This is the only course with FutureLearn where I have signed up to their Facebook page. Hopefully that will keep going after the course finishes as it is a nice way to keep in touch with others and offer mutual support.

For some on the course (there are well over 20,000 people on this) they have struggled or they felt it was too basic. With something like this you get from it what is relevant. Yes, some of the stages have been very basic but there are new learners here and for me it was nice to have things reinforced and to comment on questions asked by those with less experience and to comment on my own doubts and share ideas. There is quite a mixture of learners and I've been enjoying this course from the beginning. Nothing seems too scary!
For me it's been a chance to try my hand at fiction writing and to receive feedback without the hell of reading it out in a class!  Not only this but the course is free! I have gained confidence in my ability to write and even I can see that I'm not as bad as I thought I was at writing. Of course the proof will be in the 1,000 piece to be submitted next week. However, one thing I have learnt is that some people will enjoy it and some will hate it. Having seen the comments on a story we had to read, it was obvious that everyone has a different opinion because everyone has preferences which is why we choose  to read the books we do and not others.

Book Review - The Red House (Mark Haddon).... and looking at writing characters

I've just finished reading The Red House by Mark Haddon and again I am writing my review here because it has made me think about the writing process.

I have to say that when I started the book I struggled to get a handle on it because Haddon flicks from character to character so quickly - in this case a family get together for a holiday in a country house - a brother and sister, their respective spouses and their children. Haddon writes from each person's view point. I decided that I need a longer period of time reading to get into the book,. This is what I did and then things began to make more sense and the characters came alive with all their hang-ups, secrets and prejudices. What I liked about the book was how Haddon got into the mind of each character, what they did, what they thought, even down to the basic everyday stuff. The characters ranged from an eight year old boy, three teenagers and their parents who are in their forties. He understood how each ticked and how each came to terms with different aspects of their own lives and those around them.

In week five of Start Writing Fiction we are looking at how to develop our characters. This has come at the right time coinciding with having read Mark Haddon's book and my own attempts in characterisation in my novel. I've realised that my main character has much more there that I can use to bring her alive. I don't know why it's just dawned on me because I've read loads of books in the past that delve deeply into the mind of characters but Haddon's book was a light bulb  moment. I've found his book really helpful and this week on the course should also get me thinking more about what I can do to flesh out a character. I am looking forward to it.

In The Red House, Haddon doesn't neatly wrap everything up at the end of the story but you have a sense that the week spent together as a family has changed each person. They themselves have developed and for some they have come to an understanding about themself for the first time. The family domestic scenario is an interesting one, specially when you add a second marriage, an affair, religion, sex and questions about sexuality. There's a lot in this novel to unpick and to question.

So I've catalogued...now I've analyised my collection

Project complete - Files full of poems

I've finally finished sorting all my poetry and filed it all away. I now have two A4 files with a mixture of published and unpublished poems. I have thought about putting all the published ones in a separate file but right now I can't face any more!

This was a very enlightening exercise and several things came to light. I devised a crude analysis sheet and spent the evening finding the answers. Here are some things I found:

• The first poem I had published was in 1996, however when I was much younger I had a poem published in True Romances magazine (I used love those - strange how your taste changes as you grow older!). Somewhere I have the cutting.
• I have had approximately fifty-seven poems published. If that sounds a lot I have to admit that in the first few years of publication it was through a magazine I would not use now and the anthologies were vanity type but I knew no different then. The quality of my poetry then was not great but they still published them! Broken down more I'd say that at a guess the first twenty-six poems published fell into that category!
• I have had ten competition wins, three firsts, five second and two third prizes, plus a highly commended. Of these I am most proud of the latest one - The New Writer Prose & Poetry Awards which was a second prize. Most of my wins were through minor small press competitions but none the less I was excited about them and they are confidence builders and we all have to start somewhere.
• I've appeared in eleven anthologies, but several of those were the vanity type, but not the more recent ones. 
• I've had six poems translated, most of which have been published previously.
• I have been most frequently published in
  Areopagus, a Christian writer's magazine. It is a small press magazine in which I am regularly published and is a niche market. I've subscribed for many years and the Christian market gave me my first breaks.
• The most used letter to start a title in my poetry is T (in a big way!)
• The least letter used to start a title in my poetry is evenly spread - one each for q, u, y and z (that's got you wondering!)

What stood out most as I was going through everything was how much my writing has changed and improved, which is good to know! I look at the early stuff and am almost embarrassed. Over all these years I've often wondered whether I was wasting my time and now I know that I should keep going. It's certainly been a long haul and I still have dreams and goals. Maybe I will never realised them fully but I will keep on trying and hopefully my writing will also keep on improving.

Looking through my poems I came across quite a few, what I call 'nice poems'. They will never win me prizes but I'm not sure I want to take them apart either as I like them as they are. I also found lots of poems in the 'almost ready' stage and lots of first drafts. Seeing them on paper rather than in a compute file where I skip over them, I realise that there is lots of material to work with. This morning I was flicking through a few and began editing a couple.

I am so glad to have finally done this exercise for many reasons but mainly to see how far I have come...slowly but surely.

Now on to the next project......