In a few lines, describe a landscape from a bird’s eye view. Next, zoom in and write a short story, including 2 characters and a conflict. Write the story in a third person omnipotent point of view : ie. the narrator knows everything about the characters. Where is it, who are the characters, what is the conflict?
Finish the story: ‘If it all goes wrong, I’m not paying for it’ Who, what, where? Write a short story using this snippet of dialogue.
BLINK OF AN EYE – 26 great stories. We have a few spare copies to buy. £5.50 a copy plus postage which is £1.53 for one or two. Payment is by bank transfer. If you would like a copy please email me with your address and i will see if we have any left. All profit is going to Young Carers charity, children who look after their parents or siblings who need a bit of care themselves.
As a project for this second lockdown, we invited you to submit a short story in any genre of up to 600 words. This was not a competition but we selected 26 of the best and published them in a booklet.
Below is the list of a dozen words. The story had to incorporate at least 5 of the words in any way you like. If you want to try this, give your story a catchy title
Here is the list of words – Remember to use a minimum of 5.
Bluebottle Clock Fur Lavender Train Ella Fitzgerald Nylon shirt High heels
Seaweed Turpentine Burnt Toast Bonfire
Ready, steady, GO… ENJOY! Alex writingeventsbath@gmail.com
Also, see the new video i made, in between lockdowns, of Rachel Ward and her new book – Expiry Date. Please scroll down.
Im afraid this workshop is cancelled but I may do another workshop on the same theme later in the year, or next year – Please email if you would like to be on a list of interested people.
Meanwhile, Mary Griese, a favourite workshop leader, has had her first novel published by Y Lolfa and my conversation with her on video is below, so please scroll down, and get the book! It’s dark (Welsh Noir) beautifully written and a good read.
These workshops with Alex and her guest authors, are for anyone interested in writing a memoir, or wants to in use their own life as material in a novel or short stories. If you are writing fiction, the exercises will give you plenty of material for those telling details that bring a work alive.
We will do writing exercises to trigger memories, and look at examples of different types of memoir.
Just as in a novel we enjoy a beginning, middle and end, a memoir needs a structure. We will look at the different structures you can adopt to help shape your narrative and help you plan your project. Lots of hands-on creative writing exercises to get you going, or keep you going. Beginners and experienced writers very welcome.
Try writing a short love story. Think Wuthering Heights rather than Mills & Boon, avoid cliches, be bold.
Write a short story featuring a pair of shoes, but write it in the first person, present tense.. for example, ‘I am walking down the street when I ..’