Back to normal?

I wonder how other writers fared after Lockdown? I have been told – the time has been used well and a new book created; I lost my inspiration, my mind went into lockdown – and various scenarios in between. It was a difficult time. My imagination was kept alive by the continuing enthusiasm of Kingsland Creative Writers, either by email correspondence and then, finally, by a distanced meeting in the Chapel Gardens on a Spring Day. Quite a celebration! My students continue to increase their output, with competition wins and a delightful selection of imaginative stories inspired by a homework prompt. How nine people can produce such a versatile range of stories from the same prompt never fails to amaze me. It’s a brilliant group and very satisfying to see their talents grow. For myself, I feel I need a slight diversion and have started drawing classes – creative but I have a lot to learn. It has certainly changed my perception of shadows, shapes and colours, particularly in nature – no two trees are exactly the same! Quite a revelation. And as for drawing a horse, well….. Keep writing and creating in whatever genre you prefer – it calms the mind.

Leominster Bookfair

Leominster Festival starts on 2nd June and continues until 11th June with a variety of entertainment, fun, music and family outings. For full details see the website: http://www.leominster-festival.com

The Family Fun Day is on Saturday June 10th on The Grange and includes a Bookfair – a must for all book lovers. There will be books for sale, local authors and publishers to discuss writing and publishing. There will be a Children’s Corner with storytelling and performance.

Come and browse, chat, enjoy the entertainment as you wander around the Grange. While you’re there, explore historic Grange Court, entry free.

I hope to see you there.

Long time, no blog!

Hello Everyone,

I thought it about time I re-entered the world of writing. Due to a family bereavement I hadn’t written a word since Christmas. Then, in early August, I went to Swanwick Writers Summer School in Derbyshire for a week. 300 writers under one roof! Amazing, the chatter was tremendous. It was impossible to think of anything else and with courses, workshops, speakers, panels, quizzes and, of course, entertainment, it was a full-on week and so inspirational. I have come back, picked up the threads of my supernatural/mystery/obsessive love story which has been languishing half finished. My new mantra: “I will write 500 words…” Like New Year’s Resolutions I’m not sure how long it will last, but at least I’m on the keyboard again!

Bookfair

There will be a Bookfair, between 12.00 and 4.00, on Monday 30th May, part of the #leominsterfestival, held in the beautifully renovated and historic Grange Court, (dating back to 1663). Entry is free, come and meet local authors, read their books, treat yourself to homemade cakes and ice cream in the cafe. There is still time to book into one of the Writing Workshops, non-fiction and fiction.

The Festival is also organising a Fun Day on the Grange itself with events the whole family can enjoy. See http://www.leominster-festival.co.uk for full details. A day out to remember

Writing Competition

There is only one month left to enter the Leominster Festival Writing Competition

This year the 31st Leominster Festival runs from 30th May to 7th June. The theme is “Lurid Leominster” celebrating the town’s colourful past. You can join in by taking part in our Writing Competition

 

3 age groups

2 classes: Flash Fiction & Poem

£25 prize for winning entries  

Closing date 24th April  

Awards ceremony 6 pm. Fri. 5th June at Grange Court

Guest of Honour – Jasper Fforde

Short-listed entries displayed during the Festival

 

Sponsored by Orphans’ Press

 

Rules

Age groups: under 11 years, 11-16 years, over 16 years.

Theme: “Lurid Leominster”. The subject of the piece can be any event, mythical or historical from Leominster’s past e.g. from St Edfrith and the Lion to the ducking of Jenny Pipes. The theme applies to both classes.

Classes:

 Flash Fiction: up to 500 words written or printed on just one side of each sheet, preferably double spaced. The title should be written on every page and pages numbered

 Poetry: Maximum 8 lines. Any layout is accepted so long as it is legible. Single page only.

 

The competition is open to anyone. Posthumous entries are not eligible.

Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and not previously published in any form or won or commended in any other competition. Entries cannot be changed after receipt and fees cannot be refunded.

Any number of entries will be accepted from any entrant.

The entrant’s name should not be written on the entry, but each entry must be accompanied by an entry form.

Entrance fee: individuals – £2 per entry. Entries entered by a school or college are free. Cash or cheques payable to Leominster Festival.

Closing date: 24th April 2014

Prizes: A cheque for £25 will be presented for the winning entry in each category (up to 6 in all). In the case of entries made through a school this cheque will be made payable to the school to be shared with the winner. Certificates will be presented to winners and runners-up, designed and printed by Orphans’ Press.

Shortlisted entrants in each category will be notified before 29th May and will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at Grange Court at 6 p.m. on Friday 5th June.

Shortlisted entries will be on display throughout the Festival (site to be decided).

A list of winners and runners-up will be displayed on the Festival website after the awards ceremony.

 

Entries should be posted or delivered to:

Peter Ellis, Woodside House, Bridge Street, Leominster HR6 8DZ

A team of judges will select the shortlist and the winning entries. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. Worldwide copyright remains with the author but the Leominster Festival reserves the right to publish short-listed entries if it so wishes. The judges reserve the right to withhold the prize if entries are not of a high enough standard.

Entries will only be acknowledged if a stamped-addressed postcard is provided marked Leominster Festival Writing Competition – Acknowledgement.

Entries will only be returned after the results have been announced. They will be posted to entrants only if a stamped addressed envelope of appropriate size is provided with the entries.

Entry implies acceptance of the rules.

The organisers reserve the right to change the age-groups and prize distribution depending on the entries.

To find out more about this year’s Festival visit the Facebook page or email us on info@leominsterfestival.co.uk 2015

Followers

Thanks to my loyal followers and to those who have recently started following me. Without followers my blog and website would be very lonely!

Twist & Mix

Twist & Mix – a concoction of tales to tantalise every taste – coming soon!

ebook mastered!

Inspiration to Creation, my Quick Guide to writing and publishing short stories, is now available online from Amazon. It’s taken a lot of learning (a very steep curve!) but, using Amazon’s excellent guidelines, I’ve uploaded the booklet via Amazon KDP. There’ll be no stopping me now – look out for my next novella, Shadow of a Memory, which is in its final edit stage. I’ll keep you posted.

Inspiration to Creation

At long last, twenty-two A5 pages of advice and information on writing and publishing short stories:

Inspiration to Creation:

Create and Publish

A Quick Guide

by Fay Wentworth

This started out as a requested book proposal, and then was abandoned. Rather than waste the research, I’ve collated the information into a ‘Quick Guide’ that will, I hope, be useful to those creating and publishing fiction.

Details on the Inspiration to Creation page on my website: www.faywentworth.wordpress.com

Available from the author, Fay Wentworth: faywentworth268@btinternet.com

Price: £1.00 + 0.50p p&p

Tweeting a flash fiction

Calling all writers. Practice economy of words by writing a story in a tweet, 140 characters. If not a story, then an inspiration, such as this intriguing advert: ‘For sale: a pair of walking socks, size 5, only one hole’. The mind boggles, but starts creating!

Technology wins!

I love holding a book in my hand. To me the feel and smell of new paper is magical. But, as all writers are admitting, e-books are the future. With another collection of short stories almost ready and a novella completed, I have succumbed to the inevitable and I am approaching digital publishers. It is great to know my work may be out there in the massive market of downloads, but I wonder if I could still publish one copy, just for me?

A novelist? Apparently not!

I have come to the conclusion that I am not a novelist! I am a short story writer, with a published collection entitled: Destiny’s Footprints. I decide to write a novel. After weeks of work I finish with a triumphant flourish. Then comes the word count and, lo and behold, I have a novella! This has happened three times, but I’m delighted to say the trilogy have been published in one book, Sweet Destiny, three stories of mystery and intrigue, villainy and romance, that will keep the reader turning the pages to discover the truth and final destiny of the characters.

So I have accepted my destiny is that of a short story and novella writer! I am now editing my latest attempt at a novel, Tangled Web – 35,000 words!

I have also realised, when studying the market for e-books, that publishers are accepting submissions of manuscripts from 10,000 to 40,000 words, which is opening up the opportunities for those of us who write stories that don’t fit either category of short story or novel. I find this very encouraging.

Both my books are available from my website: https://faywentworth.wordpress.com at the reduced price of £5 (inc p&p)

 

Pinterest

Finally getting to grips with this fascinating site. Posted some photographs today, scenes that have inspired my short stories. Most of my ideas spring from a place or sensory feeling. I find somewhere, a magical atmosphere, that inspires my creative juices and I think: ‘Who can I put here? Why?’ and so a story develops, spooky, chilling or romantic and happy. Imagination is a wonderful thing!

Goodreads site

I have just become a member of the Goodreads site which is a site for readers and writers. There are details of numerous books published and about to be, and some books are given away free! If anyone out there has read my books: Destiny’s Footprints, a collection of short stories, or Sweet Destiny, a trilogy of novellas, I would be grateful if you would log into Goodreads and give them a review rating (preferably good!). Details of both books are on my website: www.faywentworth.wordpress.com and can also be purchased direct from the Books for Sale page.

National Short Story Week

Working hard on ideas to promote the NSSW in November. Anyone interested in joining in the fun should look at the website: www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk. Plenty of interesting  information and ideas. I’m also getting to grips with a new mobile phone – more a mini-computer! But I’m getting there and no doubt will master all the apps available eventually. One day technology will overtake my capacity to master, but not yet, I hope!

Happy New Year

2012, that has a good ring to it! I wish everyone a good healthy one, and a happy writing year.

Caerleon Writers’ Holiday

I’ve booked in for Caerleon Writers’ Holiday next July. I got such a buzz from Swanwick Writers Holiday this year and so I thought I’d give Caerleon a whirl. The programme sounds wonderful and a whole week of writers and writing!

The new book, Sweet Destiny, is at the proof reading stage – 3 stories of romance and mystery, and the collection due for publication sometime next year is complete and ready to edit – quite a lot to do I think! Still no title, but thinking.

Christmas fast approaching, cards to write, presents to pack and time scooting along at a ridiculous pace.