Stories from Laura Denning and Jean Grimsey and a bit more music than I usually stick in but I simply couldn't resist!
As promised, here are the details for the poetry workshop coming up in a couple of weeks. Led by Chris Waters this should be of great interest to any writer keen to develop their skiils at portraying and interpreting landscape.
Voicing the Landscape
A poetry-writing workshop with well-respected poet and writing tutor Chris Waters
Recent poetry collection 'Arisaig' published with Mudlark Press (2010), prize-winning finalist in the Plough Competition 2010 and Poetry Wivenhoe 2011, poet-in-residence at the Appledore Book Festival September 2011.
at the Barefoot Barn, Chagford
Sunday Nov. 6th 11 am - 5pm
Your chance to give voice to your experiences of the landscape through poetry, word-crafting and wordplay with a very experienced and accessible poetry tutor. Workshop costs £15 – 30 for the day including teas/coffees.
Run by Moor Poets (www.moorpoets.org.uk)
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Episode 3
Stories from Jean Grimsey and Michelle Heatley and, as promised, here are the tips I heard during the presentation of the BBC Short Story prize:
"I set up a situation, then things go terribly wrong – as they always do in my books."
"Scientists and artists seem to make incongruous bedfellows, but they are closer than you think, both are engaged in seeing the world as honestly and clearly as possible."
"I like to grab the reader quickly, give them a lot of information quickly and also to use the voice of the character to give out a lot of information about that character’s background and mood and tone of the whole piece. I also like to be able to control the pace at which the reader takes the story in – all in one sitting."
And from the winner:
"I try and hit all the five senses every two pages – it’s just a rule that’s ingrained – to make it visceral and authentic."
And comments from the chair of judges on waht she looksfor in a short story:
“stories that drop you straight into the middle of the situation and have forward momentum. They need to be page turners, you must want to know what is going to happen.
"Also, since this was a radio competition the story had to read well on air, it had to progress logically, because a listener can’t refer back."
All useful stuff
Keep the stories coming in - a great response so far but always room for more.
"I set up a situation, then things go terribly wrong – as they always do in my books."
"Scientists and artists seem to make incongruous bedfellows, but they are closer than you think, both are engaged in seeing the world as honestly and clearly as possible."
"I like to grab the reader quickly, give them a lot of information quickly and also to use the voice of the character to give out a lot of information about that character’s background and mood and tone of the whole piece. I also like to be able to control the pace at which the reader takes the story in – all in one sitting."
And from the winner:
"I try and hit all the five senses every two pages – it’s just a rule that’s ingrained – to make it visceral and authentic."
And comments from the chair of judges on waht she looksfor in a short story:
“stories that drop you straight into the middle of the situation and have forward momentum. They need to be page turners, you must want to know what is going to happen.
"Also, since this was a radio competition the story had to read well on air, it had to progress logically, because a listener can’t refer back."
All useful stuff
Keep the stories coming in - a great response so far but always room for more.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
season 2 episode 2: Dystopia
As promised on the show and as a follow up to the talk about Dystopian writing here are a few tips and guidelines I have gleaned from the web and my 'buy me and you won't have to do any work yourself' writing books. As always with these sorts of things they should be treated as suggestive rather than prescriptive - a bit like the Pirate's Code. In fact, one of the most creative and productive responses to any statement about writing that proclaims to be a rule is to prove it wrong.
Anyway:
Dystopian Writing
Potential story elements
a story set in the future - near or distant - but often written in the past tense
a focus on a current emerging trend that the story will put out front as the overpowering norm in society
The story might have a central governing power that is omniscient
the society is somehow dehumanised and lives in fear and ignorance
the protagonist somehow refuses to conform
the outcome shows how the protagonist fails in their attempt to rebel/escape or change society
Things to consider
Where and when is the action taking place?
What is different about technology?
Who is in charge? How did they get there?
How do the rulers rule?/control?
How does society view sex and violence?
How does society view religion?
How does the economy work? How does the workforce function?
What is family life like?
What happens to disobedient people?
Hope this all helps and look forward to seeing a pile of dystopian submissions coming in - it could be fun!
Anyway:
Dystopian Writing
Potential story elements
a story set in the future - near or distant - but often written in the past tense
a focus on a current emerging trend that the story will put out front as the overpowering norm in society
The story might have a central governing power that is omniscient
the society is somehow dehumanised and lives in fear and ignorance
the protagonist somehow refuses to conform
the outcome shows how the protagonist fails in their attempt to rebel/escape or change society
Things to consider
Where and when is the action taking place?
What is different about technology?
Who is in charge? How did they get there?
How do the rulers rule?/control?
How does society view sex and violence?
How does society view religion?
How does the economy work? How does the workforce function?
What is family life like?
What happens to disobedient people?
Hope this all helps and look forward to seeing a pile of dystopian submissions coming in - it could be fun!
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Show #1 - Flash Fiction compilation
Launched the second season last night with an episode devoted to some of the great flashes from the last series. It was all quite cathartic really, feeling like an ending and a beginning, a clearing of the way for the new stories that are coming.
While I have a healthy pile of submissions there is always room for more, so please keep the work coming in, details at the top of the page.
While I have a healthy pile of submissions there is always room for more, so please keep the work coming in, details at the top of the page.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
New Season
I am happy to announce that Soundart Stories is back for a second season on Soundart Radio. As before, the show will go out every fortnight on a Tuesday evening, but at the earlier time of 7pm. This is good, because the Archers is usually rubbish on a Tuesday . . .
I have received a good haul of stories over the summer, but, as always, would welcome more, so please keep them coming in.
One thing that strikes me about the earlier time is the opportunity it provides to broadcast some stories suitable for a younger age group - so if this a a genre that interests you, pleae do not hesitate in submitting. Child and teen fiction might make an interesting topic to cover in the show in the same way we discussed flash fiction last season.
Anyway, looking forward to it immensely.
I have received a good haul of stories over the summer, but, as always, would welcome more, so please keep them coming in.
One thing that strikes me about the earlier time is the opportunity it provides to broadcast some stories suitable for a younger age group - so if this a a genre that interests you, pleae do not hesitate in submitting. Child and teen fiction might make an interesting topic to cover in the show in the same way we discussed flash fiction last season.
Anyway, looking forward to it immensely.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Show #13 12 - 07 - 2011
The last show of the season, and packed, with stories form Anna Lunk, Michelle Heatley and Jennifer Moore.
I would like to make a further call for submissions for the autumn season. Obviously, the show feeds on your words, without which you would just be listening to me banging on in some sort of weird vanity show. Not that you would be listening, if that ever came to pass, so it would be a great boon to us all if I was able to gather up a few good armfuls of submissions over the summer from which to draw upon for the next set of shows, so please keep the stories coming in.
Riptide opportunity
a publishing opportunity that should interest many of you. Riptide is a highly regarded literary journal put out by Exeter University and it is currently accepting submissions for its next issue. Now the deadline is the end of this month, so you need to get your skates on, but what makes this particularly relevant, is that they are looking for Devon-themed stories, up to 5,000 words, and short Devon-based memoir pieces. This is a submissions guideline from their website:
Interpret ‘Devon’ as you wish – Devon past, present and future, Devon from the outside or the inside, its topography, its cities, towns, villages and people. Set your story in a real part of Devon or in your imagined version. We want to be surprised. As always we’re looking not for the obvious, but for the undercurrent.
Anyway, for more details look at the website on www.riptidejournal.co.uk
Well, that’s it for now. Thirteen shows, 31 stories from 18 authors covering so much territory and so many viewpoints. It has been a privilege to present them. I would also especially like to thank all our readers for the great effort and professionalism they have given the show, to Chris, Jan, Jonathan, Martin, Jenny, Dot, Veronica, Alan and, of course, Amanada.
I hope we will all be back in the Autumn, but, that will depend on your contributions, so keep them coming in.
Have a great summer
I would like to make a further call for submissions for the autumn season. Obviously, the show feeds on your words, without which you would just be listening to me banging on in some sort of weird vanity show. Not that you would be listening, if that ever came to pass, so it would be a great boon to us all if I was able to gather up a few good armfuls of submissions over the summer from which to draw upon for the next set of shows, so please keep the stories coming in.
Riptide opportunity
a publishing opportunity that should interest many of you. Riptide is a highly regarded literary journal put out by Exeter University and it is currently accepting submissions for its next issue. Now the deadline is the end of this month, so you need to get your skates on, but what makes this particularly relevant, is that they are looking for Devon-themed stories, up to 5,000 words, and short Devon-based memoir pieces. This is a submissions guideline from their website:
Interpret ‘Devon’ as you wish – Devon past, present and future, Devon from the outside or the inside, its topography, its cities, towns, villages and people. Set your story in a real part of Devon or in your imagined version. We want to be surprised. As always we’re looking not for the obvious, but for the undercurrent.
Anyway, for more details look at the website on www.riptidejournal.co.uk
Well, that’s it for now. Thirteen shows, 31 stories from 18 authors covering so much territory and so many viewpoints. It has been a privilege to present them. I would also especially like to thank all our readers for the great effort and professionalism they have given the show, to Chris, Jan, Jonathan, Martin, Jenny, Dot, Veronica, Alan and, of course, Amanada.
I hope we will all be back in the Autumn, but, that will depend on your contributions, so keep them coming in.
Have a great summer
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Collective Perspectives
Here is some more information on the Collective Perspectives project I mentioned in the last show. Well worth a visit.
SpinDrift Dance Company presents
Collective Perspectives Week
11th–16th July across the South Hams
• Forging connections between art forms •
• Facilitating creativity for local communities •
Photographers, dancers, musicians, print-makers and singers offer their interpretations of Dartmouth Harbour and Church of St Peter, Revelstoke, near Noss Mayo
Exhibition of all professional and schools work
11th–16th July • Kingsbridge Community College • 3.30–7pm • Free
Installation
Wednesday 13th July • Dartmouth Harbour • 5pm • Free
Performances of artists and local schools
Friday 15th July • Kingsbridge Community College • 6pm • £3
Performances of professional and community groups
Saturday 16th July • Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman, Revelstoke
• near Noss Mayo • 6pm • Donations on the door
For more information, contact Suzie West at: suzie@spindriftdance.org.uk
SpinDrift Dance Company presents
Collective Perspectives Week
11th–16th July across the South Hams
• Forging connections between art forms •
• Facilitating creativity for local communities •
Photographers, dancers, musicians, print-makers and singers offer their interpretations of Dartmouth Harbour and Church of St Peter, Revelstoke, near Noss Mayo
Exhibition of all professional and schools work
11th–16th July • Kingsbridge Community College • 3.30–7pm • Free
Installation
Wednesday 13th July • Dartmouth Harbour • 5pm • Free
Performances of artists and local schools
Friday 15th July • Kingsbridge Community College • 6pm • £3
Performances of professional and community groups
Saturday 16th July • Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman, Revelstoke
• near Noss Mayo • 6pm • Donations on the door
For more information, contact Suzie West at: suzie@spindriftdance.org.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)