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Expert Advice from Writers Bureau tutor Heather Cooke on how and when to use first person perspective, Ten Top Tips covers creating the perfect writing environment and Useful Websites and Inspiration, hopefully, do what they say.
Hello Dear Readers,
It’s that lovely time of year again – there’s a chill in the air in the mornings and the leaves are turning wonderful shades of orange and yellow here in the Northern Hemisphere.
Halloween is just around the corner too. And, apparently, this religious celebration is growing in popularity. Although, to be honest, I think the religious aspects have been somewhat lost over time and it has become more about trick or treating. This year a leading supermarket announced that products relating to Halloween had, for the first time, outsold those produced for Valentine’s Day – I can feel an article coming on!
This month’s expert is Heather Cooke – one of my favourite writers for E-Zee – her articles are always really helpful and this one covering when and where to use first person perspective is no exception. Ten Top Tips advises on getting the best out of your time by creating the perfect – or as near as – writing environment. Useful Websites features one to get you writing, one to self-publish one to have a giggle at and Inspiration should give you a good haul of ideas to have a go at.
And, if you want some more expert advice hop over to our blog as this week’s guest blogger is award winning poet and WB tutor Alison Chisholm.
November 22nd to 28th is National Short Story Week. This annual event aims to “focus the attentions of the public and the media on the short story and short story writers, publishers and events. It is intended as a framework for promoting literary events and publications at a national and local level.” The website details stories you can read and listen to, plus you can get involved in upcoming events, such as Winchester Discovery Centre’s Short story showcase on 24th November. There’s a searchable database so you can locate events in your area.
If you are in London this month you should consider visiting the British Library. As well as housing an enormous collection of books and journals, they hold all kinds of events covering a huge range of subjects. This month you can attend the award ceremony of the PEN/Pinter Prize, in memory of Harold Pinter. It is ‘presented annually to a writer whose work ‘encapsulates the principles of freedom and truth’ that Pinter displayed in his writing.’ It’s on 20th October and costs £7.50. Or you may want to join one of the fascinating talks taking place such as The 2010 Panizzi Lectures Lecture One: Ancient Shops and Conversible Men which explores ancient book trade sites. It’s on 27th October, it’s free and on a first come first served basis so turn up early.
In the UK, we’ll have had annual celebration to commemorate the foiling of the plot to blow up the houses of parliament – Guy Fawkes Night aka Bonfire Night – too before I send the next issue to you. So, be safe and enjoy the warmth and crackle of the fire, mouth burning, buttery baked potatoes, wickedly rich treacle toffee and, of course, the fabulous pyrotechnics!
Happy writing!
Shelley
P.S Remember there’s still time to enter this month’s 21st Birthday Celebration Competition to win a copy of our Writing for Children Course.
