This month we have expert advice from Rob Innis on how to ensure your work is stored safe and sound, Ten Top Tips advises on how to make your dialogue convincing. Useful websites helps in that area too as well as offering some markets and a research site. And hopefully, you’ll find some fun and something to inspire you in the end note.

• Editor's News
• Successes
• Expert Advice
• Top Tips
• Useful Sites
• Inspiration

Hello Dear Readers,

May has arrived and I can finally feel the warmth of spring seeping into my poor, cold, damp bones. Then seeping out again as the weather fluctuates from warm to cold and back again! I thought I might be able to put my trusty hot water bottle away for this year but I think I’ll keep it handy for another couple of weeks yet.

So, this month’s expert is Rob Innis – ex-editor of Chapter and Verse. He’s advising you on how to keep your work safe and sound whilst it’s on your PC – always useful to know as most of us don’t claim to be computer experts. Ten Top Tips and one of the useful websites cover creating convincing dialogue – something all fiction writers should read. Useful Websites also highlights some under-used markets and a valuable research tool.

This month’s 21st Birthday Competition is to win our Freelance Journalism Course. All you have to do is click here and make up a funny caption for the photo you see. No rude or offensive ones though please.

If you are up for socialising this month you should try to get to Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath on May 20th for a workshop on Renga. Never heard of Renga? Neither had I. Apparently it’s, “a unique group 'collaborative' linked verse poetry form: each verse moves on and shifts away from the previous verse which brings out the ingenuity of the writers involved.” – sounds fun! It’s £24 and is from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Click here for more details.

You could also try out this 4-day Creativity Workshop, from the 18th June until the 21st June, at the Meta Centre in New York’s Chelsea district. It aims to “explore ways to expand our creativity through a series of exercises including guided visualization technique, automatic drawing and writing, map making, memoir, and storytelling.” Sounds fun and it’s only three hours per day – 10.30am until 1.30pm – so it won’t be too taxing. It is $850 for the four days and, if you are at college in the USA, you can claim the hours as undergraduate and graduate credit.

If travel writing is your thing you should try to attend the Immrama – Lismore Festival of Travel Writing over the weekend of 12th June. There are lots of activities to keep you busy, including creative writing workshops, talks with Ranulph Fiennes and literary evenings, at various venues around Lismore. Events range from free to €75.

Have a great month!

Shelley x

P.S Don’t forget to enter our 21st Birthday Caption Competition to be in with a chance of winning a Freelance Journalism Course!