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This month’s expert advice from tutor Lesley Cryer covers the all important concept of Show Don’t Tell, Ten Top Tips shows you how to quadruple your chances of being published and double your fees, plus there’s the usual mix of student successes, useful websites and inspiration.
Hello and welcome to Autumn,
Nippy mornings and the nights drawing in – seem familiar?
Well, for those of you in the northern hemisphere anyway. I am in disbelief that Halloween is almost upon us again! But, instead of just talking about that, which would be the obvious thing to do, I thought I would have a nosey at what other events happen in October that get overshadowed by Halloween. The 21st hosts Apple Day in the UK, 24th is United Nations Day, 28th is Ochi Day in Greece to name just three, plus there are numerous month-long observances, especially in the USA, such as National Dental Hygiene, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Domestic Violence and Infertility months and it is World Blindness Awareness Month too – phew!
Expert Advice covers the age-old, but super important, concept of Show Don’t Tell, which many new writers struggle with. If that’s you, don’t despair – Lesley Cryer is here to help. By the end of this article you’ll have no trouble understanding what it means. Dave Cullen provides you with inspiration this month – thanks Dave for taking the time to send me your story, I’m sure it’ll inspire many of our readers.
Ten Top Tips covers the area of photography. Photographs can quadruple – yes, I did say quadruple – your chances of being published and give you the possibility of doubling your fees, so they are well worth including in your submission. And, if you really can’t take them yourself, or rope your friends into it, there’s a website in Useful Websites that should solve your problems.
Just harking back to Halloween for a moment, here are some eerie coincidences that might get your spine tingling. Did you know, for instance, that Mark Twain was born on the day Halley’s Comet appeared in the night sky? He then predicted his own death would occur 75 years later when the comet re-appeared, which it did – spooky. I was also shocked to hear that so many Richard Parkers have been cannibalised so, if you know any, don’t let them go on a sea voyage! Facts like this could make for some interesting articles. See Useful Websites for more information.
Also featured in Useful Websites is an unusual route to publication that could just prove to be a real gem for convincing publishers that there’ll be a market for your work.
Sue Wilkes, one of our tutors, has a new book due out on 30th October. It’s called ‘Regency Cheshire’ and focuses on the shenanigans of the great county families, often at the expense of the humble peasant folk. Another of our tutors, Jackie Cosh, also has just published her first book ‘Alzheimers: The Essential Guide’ which is pretty self-explanatory. It is on sale here.
I know that writing can be a lonesome occupation – hours sitting in front of a computer or scribbling down notes can seem tiresome even if writing is your passion. One of the best ways to freshen up is to get out and about so here are a few ideas for where you could go this month.
If you fancy some performance poetry you should show up early to the open-mic sessions on Monday evenings at The Long Valley, Winthrop Street, Cork. The next one on the 26th October is the O Bheal Jazz Poetry Night featuring BACRA MeN and Romanian poet Denisa Mirena Piscu. Entrance is free and the night begins at 9.00pm. More information here.
If you can commit to five Sunday afternoons and live near Muswell Hill in London you may want to book yourself a place on the final Creative Capital Creative Writing Workshop session of 2009. They begin on the 15th November and end on the 13th December. It’s £75.00 for the five afternoons, places are limited to 10 per workshop so there is a great deal of flexibility as to what can be covered and ‘yummy biscuits’ are provided! More information can be found here.
Our Writer of The Year Competition is now accepting entries. We’d like to know how being on one of our courses has changed your life – are you now a full-time writer? Do you make thousands of pounds from your historical novels? Or, are you happy to have had only one article published? Let us know and be in with a chance of winning yourself £250! If you don’t win you could be one of our runners-up and still bag a healthy £50.
Finally, our flash fiction winners are available to view here – congratulations to Terry Prince.
Cheerio for now,
Shelley x
