After several great sessions during December and January the group is taking another enforced break as I have to return to UK for further medical treatment. Thank you to all the loyal, regular members who turned up. Sorry to miss those off-island or unable to join us. I will be back asap and hope to reconvene as soon as I am able. Watch this space!
I recent weeks we wrote from a single sentence as stimulus,looked at rhyming slang, dialect and acronyms and their use (or misuse (!) in writing. We wrote about things we liked and disliked and used current events as starting points. Finally we used everyday objects to create ideas for characters.
Here is a Brain Teaser we used in one session, just because we love playing with words!
Sue.
Unusual Words
Look at the words in list A. Use your knowledge, skills and linguistic expertise to match them to the meanings in list B.
A.
Anthropophagy
Zenana
Cavil
Halitus
Satyriasis
Comiconomenclaturist
Seneschal
Triskaidekaphobia
Undergrope
Apostasy
Mardy
Swikedom
B.
1. Breath or exhalation.
2. To make trivial objections to something.
3. The practice of eating human flesh; cannibalism
4. The renunciation of a belief, principle or affiliation that a person previously held.
5. Treachery; betrayal; deceit.
6. Sulky; whining
7. The part of a house in which women and girls are secluded in India and Iran.
8. To delve into; to learn; to understand.
9. Excessive or uncontrollable sexual desire in men (the male equivalent of nymphomania).
10. An abnormal fear of the number 13
11. (In the Middle Ages) the steward in charge of the household or estate of a lord or prince.
12. Someone who collects or studies funny personal names.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Coming up - Writing Sessions
The following writing sessions are planned to take place at Bar Cohiba on Fridays from 11am to 1pm. Please join us if you can.
12 November 2010 - ´Starting out´ with help from Ken Follett´s Master Class
19 November 2010 - Post Conflict Stories
17 December 2010 Taking the reader to a place through effective description
24 December 2010 Research and first draft (Ken Follett)
Starting back in the New Year on 07 January 2011
Watch this space for further details.
12 November 2010 - ´Starting out´ with help from Ken Follett´s Master Class
19 November 2010 - Post Conflict Stories
17 December 2010 Taking the reader to a place through effective description
24 December 2010 Research and first draft (Ken Follett)
Starting back in the New Year on 07 January 2011
Watch this space for further details.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
News and suggestions for resuming sessions of the writing group.
November 2010
After an enforced absence of several months, due to medical treatment in UK, I am back on the island for three weeks. I have to return to UK but will be back in Lanzarote for Christmas.
Creative Writing Group
Would any of the group like to come to a few sessions between now and Christmas? We could meet on 12 November, 19 November and 17 December and even 24 December (although I expect people might be too busy preparing for Christmas on 24th). We could then probably start back on 7 January and continue until I have to return to UK for the next stage of treatment, for which, as yet, I do not have a date.
Sandie returns to the island this week and is keen to meet up and see everyone either for writing or socially. Ann and Jim hope to return asap after their daughter’s visit (She is there now) so Ann may join us.
NB: You might like to become a follower on the web page/blog which means you would be alerted when new information is posted.
After an enforced absence of several months, due to medical treatment in UK, I am back on the island for three weeks. I have to return to UK but will be back in Lanzarote for Christmas.
Creative Writing Group
Would any of the group like to come to a few sessions between now and Christmas? We could meet on 12 November, 19 November and 17 December and even 24 December (although I expect people might be too busy preparing for Christmas on 24th). We could then probably start back on 7 January and continue until I have to return to UK for the next stage of treatment, for which, as yet, I do not have a date.
Sandie returns to the island this week and is keen to meet up and see everyone either for writing or socially. Ann and Jim hope to return asap after their daughter’s visit (She is there now) so Ann may join us.
NB: You might like to become a follower on the web page/blog which means you would be alerted when new information is posted.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
News and Information
The Creative Writing Group Session on Friday 07 May 2010 will be the last one for a week or two as I have to go to UK. The Junior group, on Saturdays will continue with Lynn holding the fort. If you wish to contact me or want any information about the groups please contact Rita in The Book Shop, Costa Teguise, 10.00H - 18.00H during the week or Lynn, in the Book Shop on Saturdays, 10.00H - 14.00H and also keep an eye on this blog space for news.
Sue
Sue
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Notes on finding and using a literary agent
Creative Writing Group 23 April 2010
VisitingSpeaker: June Baker
Notes:
June used to work for the Literary Agency now known as Pollingers Ltd, a well known and respected agency in the literary world. The company was started by Gerald Pollinger in the 1930s and has been a family business through three generations.
The founder’s granddaughter, Lesley is now the Children’s Editor. June told several short anecdotes to illustrate how the firm had been such a delightful place to work, where the staff were treated like members of the family.
As well as living authors the firm does have quite an impressive list of ‘estates’ including H E Bates, D H Lawrence and John Wyndham.
Pollingers do attend Book Fairs, to promote the work of their authors, including book fairs abroad. The Book Fairs are attended by all publishers and fellow agents, who have stands or tables depending on the size of the publisher or agency.
As well as the children’s agent there are also agents for Fiction and Non-fiction. Then there are the departments that look after Rights, including Film Rights, and Accounts etc. They also handle plays and film-scripts.
*****************
An agent is essential to a new author as unsolicited works sent directly to publishers are unlikely to be read.
An agent will probably pass the work to a reader but if they give a positive report, and if the agent subsequently likes your work, s/he sends it to a publisher and coming from a reputable agent it will be read. It is the publisher who has the final say as to whether a book is accepted for publication but the agent acts, on behalf of the author, passing information back, negotiating, particularly if more than one publisher is interested, offering editorial advice and generally promoting the author. For this they take a percentage on the book sales, which means, obviously that they are only going to accept books which they believe have a genuine likelihood of making money. The agent will if necessary recommend an illustrator and assist with negotiations with them.
It is the publisher that arranges book signings.
June recommends that initially you should send a short synopsis of the story (one or two sides maximum of A4) three sample chapters (use common sense if chapters are unusually short or unusually long) and your CV.
For non –fiction send a 1,000 word synopsis and explain the intended market, approach and style.
All work should be printed in black, double spaced written on one side only of A4 white paper. Always send a stamped addressed envelope and always keep a copy of your work.
Remember that agents receive large numbers of unsolicited scripts and it can take up to two months to get feedback.
June recommends ‘The Writers and Artists’ Yearbook’ as a good starting point for finding an agent, unless you can get an actual recommendation. Look for agencies that publish the type of work you want to offer.
For writers of children’s books: ‘Writing for Children’ by Lesley Hadcroft and Alan F Jones.
Many thanks to June for her time and for a very interesting and informative talk.
VisitingSpeaker: June Baker
Notes:
June used to work for the Literary Agency now known as Pollingers Ltd, a well known and respected agency in the literary world. The company was started by Gerald Pollinger in the 1930s and has been a family business through three generations.
The founder’s granddaughter, Lesley is now the Children’s Editor. June told several short anecdotes to illustrate how the firm had been such a delightful place to work, where the staff were treated like members of the family.
As well as living authors the firm does have quite an impressive list of ‘estates’ including H E Bates, D H Lawrence and John Wyndham.
Pollingers do attend Book Fairs, to promote the work of their authors, including book fairs abroad. The Book Fairs are attended by all publishers and fellow agents, who have stands or tables depending on the size of the publisher or agency.
As well as the children’s agent there are also agents for Fiction and Non-fiction. Then there are the departments that look after Rights, including Film Rights, and Accounts etc. They also handle plays and film-scripts.
*****************
An agent is essential to a new author as unsolicited works sent directly to publishers are unlikely to be read.
An agent will probably pass the work to a reader but if they give a positive report, and if the agent subsequently likes your work, s/he sends it to a publisher and coming from a reputable agent it will be read. It is the publisher who has the final say as to whether a book is accepted for publication but the agent acts, on behalf of the author, passing information back, negotiating, particularly if more than one publisher is interested, offering editorial advice and generally promoting the author. For this they take a percentage on the book sales, which means, obviously that they are only going to accept books which they believe have a genuine likelihood of making money. The agent will if necessary recommend an illustrator and assist with negotiations with them.
It is the publisher that arranges book signings.
June recommends that initially you should send a short synopsis of the story (one or two sides maximum of A4) three sample chapters (use common sense if chapters are unusually short or unusually long) and your CV.
For non –fiction send a 1,000 word synopsis and explain the intended market, approach and style.
All work should be printed in black, double spaced written on one side only of A4 white paper. Always send a stamped addressed envelope and always keep a copy of your work.
Remember that agents receive large numbers of unsolicited scripts and it can take up to two months to get feedback.
June recommends ‘The Writers and Artists’ Yearbook’ as a good starting point for finding an agent, unless you can get an actual recommendation. Look for agencies that publish the type of work you want to offer.
For writers of children’s books: ‘Writing for Children’ by Lesley Hadcroft and Alan F Jones.
Many thanks to June for her time and for a very interesting and informative talk.
Friday, April 16, 2010
What's on in April
Coming up in this month's sessions on Friday mornings 11 am - 1pm at Cohiba,
Calle Acasias, Costa Teguise.
9 April 2010: Real people in Fiction
16 April 2010: Bringing colour to your writing
23 April 2010: Narrative or Dialogue? A short writing exercise followed by a visiting speaker who worked for a literary agent and is going to give us a short talk and answer our questions about what an agent can do for you; how to get an agent; the cost etc.
30 April 2010: 'Proof reading is a dying art.' Howlers and misprints.
Calle Acasias, Costa Teguise.
9 April 2010: Real people in Fiction
16 April 2010: Bringing colour to your writing
23 April 2010: Narrative or Dialogue? A short writing exercise followed by a visiting speaker who worked for a literary agent and is going to give us a short talk and answer our questions about what an agent can do for you; how to get an agent; the cost etc.
30 April 2010: 'Proof reading is a dying art.' Howlers and misprints.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
INTRODUCING SOME OF THE MEMBERS
I thought it would be nice to introduce some of the members of the writing groups and their work starting with the junior group. Jasper, who writes excellent dialogue and brings a great sense of humour to much of his work, was interviewed by nine year old Davina for a magazine style article:
Interview
Today we’re going to interview 16 year old film director Jasper.
How many films have you published?
I have published approximately eight or nine films.
How many competitions have you entered?
I have entered four but have only been successful in three.
What did you receive for those competitions?
So far all of the prizes have been one thousand Euros.
Have you joined any theatre societies?
I have joined LADS.
What is LADS?
LADS stands for The Lanzarote Amateur Dramatic Society, a theatre group.
Do you want to continue this profession when you grow up?
I want to be a writer, director….thingy. Videogame production,
would figure somewhere.
What sorts of genre are your films?
My films are usually comedy but for a change I make dramatic films.
What stories do you enjoy?
Lets see…comedy ones but also ones that make serious questions
about morality and the difference between good and evil.
Thanks.
By Davina Thomas
To view Jasper’s videos go online to You Tube and you’ll find them under the username Shakibone.
**************************************
Whilst we were working on magazine articles ten year old Jessica wrote a piece for a sports page telling us about some local sports which are popular here on Lanzarote:
In most schools on the island the pupils play El Quemado. In break time El Quemado has become the most popular game in Lanzarote,.How do you play el Quemado?
There are two teams.
There is a ball in the game and you eliminate somebody if they get hit with the ball.
This game you play at school in break times and you have tournaments within the school and against other schools.
Each school wears their appropriate uniform.
Canarian wrestling (Lucha Canaria) probably originated in Morocco and was brought to the Canary Islands in the 14th century.
The game takes place in a large ring filled with sand called a Terrero. There are two teams consisting of twelve wrestlers per team.
Each player wrestles barefoot and wears shorts and a shirt.
The object of the game is to wrestle you opponent so part of his body other than his feet touches the ground. A player has to win two fights to win the bout.
The match ends when all the members of a team have been defeated.
****************************************
The next piece is a short story by Holly written in twenty minutes, during a session of the writing group, from scratch. After a Brain Teaser involving anagrams the members chose a title, from the answers they had found in the puzzle as stimulus for a short story.
Holly chose 'Morse Code.'
The dull, continuous sound of the water dripping onto the rocks...the occasional clacking of the pebbles sliding down...the rare, booming silence...factors which were provoking the disruption of Will's sanity.
Suddenly, a rock rolled into his open hand. An unexpected thought. Hours he had been alone in the tunnel, the precious minutes ticking by on his wrist-watch and he could do nothing to stop it. With all his gear lost and a broken leg, he had had no choice but to lie there, helpless and trapped. Whilst he had been exploring with his team, he had gotten caved in, after getting split up from them. And now, a glimmer of hope. Morse code.
He rolled onto his side, propped himself up with his elbow and dragged himself pathetically over to the wall of the tunnel. He gripped the rock tighter, pulled his hand back and thrust forward, letting the rock smash on the wall. The loud crack sounded in the tunnel, setting off a chain of echoes further down. Morse code. Echoes. He laughed. In the empty tunnel it sounded on the verge of hysteria. But he didn't care. He had hope. He was going to make it.
He started to bang rhythmically on the wall, spelling three letters in Morse code. S.O.S.
Interview
Today we’re going to interview 16 year old film director Jasper.
How many films have you published?
I have published approximately eight or nine films.
How many competitions have you entered?
I have entered four but have only been successful in three.
What did you receive for those competitions?
So far all of the prizes have been one thousand Euros.
Have you joined any theatre societies?
I have joined LADS.
What is LADS?
LADS stands for The Lanzarote Amateur Dramatic Society, a theatre group.
Do you want to continue this profession when you grow up?
I want to be a writer, director….thingy. Videogame production,
would figure somewhere.
What sorts of genre are your films?
My films are usually comedy but for a change I make dramatic films.
What stories do you enjoy?
Lets see…comedy ones but also ones that make serious questions
about morality and the difference between good and evil.
Thanks.
By Davina Thomas
To view Jasper’s videos go online to You Tube and you’ll find them under the username Shakibone.
**************************************
Whilst we were working on magazine articles ten year old Jessica wrote a piece for a sports page telling us about some local sports which are popular here on Lanzarote:
In most schools on the island the pupils play El Quemado. In break time El Quemado has become the most popular game in Lanzarote,.How do you play el Quemado?
There are two teams.
There is a ball in the game and you eliminate somebody if they get hit with the ball.
This game you play at school in break times and you have tournaments within the school and against other schools.
Each school wears their appropriate uniform.
Canarian wrestling (Lucha Canaria) probably originated in Morocco and was brought to the Canary Islands in the 14th century.
The game takes place in a large ring filled with sand called a Terrero. There are two teams consisting of twelve wrestlers per team.
Each player wrestles barefoot and wears shorts and a shirt.
The object of the game is to wrestle you opponent so part of his body other than his feet touches the ground. A player has to win two fights to win the bout.
The match ends when all the members of a team have been defeated.
****************************************
The next piece is a short story by Holly written in twenty minutes, during a session of the writing group, from scratch. After a Brain Teaser involving anagrams the members chose a title, from the answers they had found in the puzzle as stimulus for a short story.
Holly chose 'Morse Code.'
The dull, continuous sound of the water dripping onto the rocks...the occasional clacking of the pebbles sliding down...the rare, booming silence...factors which were provoking the disruption of Will's sanity.
Suddenly, a rock rolled into his open hand. An unexpected thought. Hours he had been alone in the tunnel, the precious minutes ticking by on his wrist-watch and he could do nothing to stop it. With all his gear lost and a broken leg, he had had no choice but to lie there, helpless and trapped. Whilst he had been exploring with his team, he had gotten caved in, after getting split up from them. And now, a glimmer of hope. Morse code.
He rolled onto his side, propped himself up with his elbow and dragged himself pathetically over to the wall of the tunnel. He gripped the rock tighter, pulled his hand back and thrust forward, letting the rock smash on the wall. The loud crack sounded in the tunnel, setting off a chain of echoes further down. Morse code. Echoes. He laughed. In the empty tunnel it sounded on the verge of hysteria. But he didn't care. He had hope. He was going to make it.
He started to bang rhythmically on the wall, spelling three letters in Morse code. S.O.S.
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