Blog

Posted on

Wandering beyond Wight… a chance to write beyond the horizon

Burj Khalifa, Dubai – not merely a vast building, but a huge experience.

As writers, no doubt we’re all familiar with the over-quoted saying, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Whether this was really said by St Augustine or not (and there are those who have doubts), there is a lot of truth in the phrase. The world is filled with adventures completely outside the scope of the Six Wonders of the Isle of Wight.

We’ve all seen photos of Ayers Rock, the Great Pyramid, the Grand Canyon and the Parthenon, but it’s only by visiting them that we can really comprehend what they are like. It isn’t just their size and magnificence, but the whole experience.

Until we’ve heard the thunder of Niagara Falls for ourselves, stumbled through dusty Jerusalem alleyways to the Dome of the Rock or gazed down on the rooftops of Paris from the Eiffel Tower, we can’t hope to write about those places convincingly. But, more than that, inevitably, our creative writing will be enriched by those experiences, even when writing on topics closer to home.

The fourteenth-century Moroccan explorer, Ibn Battuta, had this to say of travelling: “It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai

A few weeks ago, Yvie waved goodbye to Island Writers and flew off to live in Dubai for the next two years. She’ll be sharing her exploits on her new blog, Delving Into Dubai.

Perhaps she could start at the vast Ibn Battuta shopping mall, containing nearly 300 shops, as well as stunning hand-painted ceilings. Now there’s an experience you probably won’t get in Union Street…

For the rest of us, back here on the Island, that doesn’t mean we won’t have any experiences to write about – far from it! Our new group project is a chance to explore the many beauties of our beloved little isle – including, let’s hope, some of the special places which grockles never find.

Posted on

Does your self-published writing take the cake?

When I married Jonathan, I made my own wedding cake. Pretty good, huh?

It looked attractive, and everyone enjoyed it. I received lots of praise, and no one criticised it in any way, but then, most people were impressed that I even attempted to do it.

It was, genuinely, a delicious cake, and, as a homemade effort, I was proud of it. After all, it was only for my friends and family.

And this way, we could have it exactly the way we wanted. It also saved us a lot of cash – it cost about one-third of the price of a professional cake.

What’s that got to do with creative writing, I hear you ask?

Take a closer look.

If I’d decided to go into business making wedding cakes – well, frankly, this standard just wouldn’t cut it.

As an amateur creation, that didn’t matter. but the cumulative effect of many tiny imperfections in its presentation made it immediately obvious that this was not a professionally-created product.

When we decide to self-publish our writing, every small mistake is a jarring note which makes the reader aware of the text, rather than the story.

I’ve been examining self-published books and ebooks for a couple of years, and, leaving aside any consideration of the content and focusing entirely on the presentation, I’ve still spotted rookie errors in every single one. I’ve often wondered if their authors had ever considered looking at a printed book carefully to see what it should look like!

I’m not just referring to occasional spelling mistakes and minor grammatical issues, but these classics:

  • Cover image doesn’t fit correctly, leaving a line of the wrong colour
  • Cover image or title unintentionally blurry or pixellated
  • Title and author name both in lower case with caps (one at least should be all in capitals)
  • No title on the spine
  • No flyleaves at beginning and end
  • No title page
  • Incredibly aggressive copyright notice
  • Page numbers printed starting on the flyleaf, instead of on the first page of Chapter One.
  • Starting the book with an obscure literary quotation for no valid reason.
  • Random empty pages at the end of chapters
  • Hyperlink underlining/colour not removed on website addresses, even though it’s a printed book
  • Random changes of font, even halfway through a sentence!

Whether our readers notice every error or not, the overall effect is amateurish. If we expect people to pay for our work, we can’t just do our best – we have to get it perfect.

Will your next self-published book be a professional product that takes the cake – or be half-baked?

Posted on

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain…

It’s curtains for you! And you should be delighted.

The latest writing assignment for Island Writers is “Behind the Curtain.” And, like doors, curtains can be a fertile source of ideas for writers.

Curtains can be elaborate and decorative or purely functional. They have several uses: they can conceal what is inside or outside, they can be used to form a temporary divider between two spaces, and they can offer protection from draughts.

So, what is your curtain hiding?

Maybe it’s a net curtain, disguising you (or your character) from people outside. A nosy person peering through the nets to see the neighbours going about their business, or a chance view of something you weren’t meant to see?

Curtains let us hide from others, but they also hide those on the other side. When you close your windows at night, you can’t see who – or what – might be lurking out there in the darkness, which gives an illusion of safety. Perfect for a horror story. Who could forget that shower scene in Psycho?

The main purpose of curtains is to give privacy. Once we’re behind the curtains, we may behave in ways which are very different from our public life. What do your characters get up to once the curtains are shut?

And that privacy may come at a cost. If people can’t see into your home, they can’t see you’re in need of help. An injured person could be lying inside the house, too weak to cry out for help, with passers-by just the other side of the windows…

Your curtain need not be made of cloth. A curtain of rain or fog might lift to reveal an unforgettable spectacle, or a willow tree could provide a secret hiding place behind its leafy curtains. Or it could be an entirely metaphorical curtain, representing emotional detachment, social isolation or the divide between life and death.

Not all curtains are made to cover windows. Your curtain might divide a bedroom for two argumentative children, be part of a four-poster bed, or hide a doorway or alcove. Or perhaps the curtain in a fashion store changing-room or a hospital ward could be the starting point for your creative writing.

You might choose to relive the sense of excitement when waiting for the curtain in a theatre to rise – whether you’re in the audience or on the stage. Or perhaps your story takes place at the end of the performance, after the curtains have closed.

Yes, July has five Tuesdays this year, so you’ve got a bit longer to get your assignment done this time. But don’t forget we’re meeting at Yelfs for drinks and writerly chat on Tuesday 30 July, 7pm.

Just like a nosy neighbour, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s behind your curtain at our next meeting at Ryde Library on Tuesday 6 August, 7pm.

Posted on

Breaking the chain: why Samuel Johnson was right

I chose the theme of Broken things for our last Island Writers meeting. I was feeling a bit broken myself, so it seemed appropriate.

We talked about people’s negative attitudes to broken things – I suggested that we see them as not important enough to bother keeping safe, or we feel disgust that they are now useless and only worth throwing away. They can be a visible expression of violent activity, or of a lack of care.

Some of you argued that shabby old broken items can be loved more for sentimental reasons because of their condition, and that a broken item might be kept as a reminder that we have survived bad times.

In creative writing, broken things can be used to show violent behaviour or strong emotions, such as in a TV scene where an angry or frightened character clutches a wine glass so tightly that it shatters. This particular trope is over-used, but the writing principle is sound.

The inclusion of something broken can also be used to represent an abstract concept, such as a broken relationship or psychological damage. A cracked mirror could stand for bad luck, or a broken window could be a metaphor for breaking the boundaries of normal social behaviour.

Something breaking in a story can be a turning point, representing a moment of change or a break in the cycle of events, so I asked you all to write a piece where the act of something being broken created a significant turning point in someone’s life.

I think most of you will agree that the standard of writing this topic produced was particularly high, and it was interesting that the breakage didn’t always represent a negative idea – notably, Katie’s idea of an egg breaking because a chick is hatching.

Continuing the theme, our assignment for next time is Breaking the chain.

Samuel Johnson once said, “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” He was right. We don’t always realise our patterns of behaviour until things change.

I was always the quiet, studious one of the family. Since we were children, my sister Lucy has been my opposite self: the wacky, confident, popular person I wish I could be.

As most of you will be aware, shortly after reaching home after our meeting, I heard that she had died after a long illness.

I never made friends before I learned she was dying, because I didn’t need any – she was my best friend. She was always my go-to person, as I was hers, to discuss life decisions and creative projects: weddings, child care, jobs, cooking, holidays, home décor, crazy themed parties, family problems, business ventures and writing ideas.

Now the chain that bound us together is broken after 53 years, and I am having to reach out to new people and teach myself new habits.

I won’t try to be Lucy, and I will always miss her terribly. But perhaps in having to stand alone at last, I will make the effort and find the confidence to be the lively, sociable, interesting person who was always there inside my head.

Lucy’s son James asked me to write the last post on her blog, Lucy’s Last Post. I so wish I could tell her: she would have enjoyed the irony.

Posted on

What makes the perfect creative writing space?

What’s the perfect place for your writing?

Our latest assignment title, The perfect writing space, was chosen as a useful point to ponder for those of us who haven’t been doing any (ahem) much writing lately.

Quite a few of us have been off on our travels or away on visits. In some cases, we returned empty-handed, saying we were too busy to write.

Geoff, on the other hand, returned from his cruise with a couple of new chapters. So, was this brilliant writing progress conclusive proof of just how incredibly boring his holiday was? I’d like to think so – but I’m only jealous! Could it be a token of how devoted he is to his writing, that he could manage to write, even while on holiday? Or perhaps it was due to the inspiring nature of the places he visited? I’m sure this must have helped, if only subconsciously.

Have you felt energised to write in a special place? Or about it, after you got home? How do you feel when you try to write in different places?

Some writers can feel creative anywhere – they just need their laptop or a notebook and pen and they can get started. For others, only their familiar desk will do, and writing will just have to wait until they get home.

My favourite writing space. Maybe I should actually do some?

What’s special about the place where you feel most comfortable doing your writing? Is it the equipment you have available and the way it’s laid out?

Maybe it’s the smell of cinnamon and the sound of a purring cat, or a particular snack or drink, or the view from the window? What elements constitute the perfect creative writing space for you? What do you find motivates or distracts you? Have you found your perfect writing place yet?

If you prefer, feel free to write poetry or fiction on the topic. Perhaps your main character is searching for the perfect writing space, or is that merely an excuse? Or maybe they have found a place which changes their style of writing?

Anyway, you’re all wrong. The perfect writing space is Ryde Library, on Tuesday 18th June, 7-9.30pm. Be there and I’ll prove it.

Posted on

Going invisible or summeritis?

OK, I admit it. I’ve been a bit invisible lately.

What with family issues, prior commitments and car problems, I haven’t had time to write this blog.

Or have I?

The truth is, like most people, I’ve had several sessions of spare time, but I’ve chosen to prioritise other activities. I’ve watched TV, added comments to an online forum, researched ideas for the house extension I can’t afford, gone through a load of old paperwork. Most of that wasn’t urgent or even necessary – so why didn’t I spend that time writing?

I’ve been affected by a condition I can only describe as Summeritis. It’s that ‘aaaaahhhh’ feeling you get on sunny days, when everything worthwhile seems like too much trouble. All you want to do is lie on the beach with the sort of book you don’t mind getting sunscreen smeared on, or potter around the garden with a drink in one hand, snipping off bits that look like weeds.

The result of this is that I didn’t send you any updates last month, including any hints for our last assignment. So I wasn’t too surprised to see that, at our last meeting, some of you had become invisible too.

Although, frankly, after that nightmarish meeting when about twenty people turned up, it’s quite a relief that the group has returned to a practical size, as we had more time for leisurely discussion.

Anyway, I’m back, and determined to be a reformed character. Writing is still important to me, and I’m sure it’s still important to you, too. But on those sunny days when being stuck at your regular desk feels like torture and the garden is calling, how do you find the oomph to get started on your writing again?

With this in mind, I’ve chosen a really easy topic for our next assignment – The Perfect Writing Space. As always, feel free to respond in prose or poetry in any genre. You may like to read this article again first.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 18th June, 7pm-9.30pm at Ryde Library. See you there.

Posted on

Gnome sweet gnome?

I’m in an impish frame of mind, so here’s our Easter writing assignment… Gnomes in the Garden.

So, what kind of gnomes? Any kind you like. They can be real live gnomes, living in a garden, or the traditional garden ornament. They can just be small-type people or have magical powers.

What kind of garden is it? Overgrown or well-kept? Which features does it have – a pond, a summer house, a rockery, vegetable patch, bird table, or even a sundial with a gnomon?

How did the gnomes get into the garden? Have they just arrived, or were they always there? If they aren’t alive, were they put there as a joke, or as some kind of protest?

Does the owner of the garden know they’re there, or do they lead secret Borrowers-style lives, while the humans are totally oblivious to their existence?
Does everyone know, or just one or two people, who want to gnome-ore about them? Or is it an alternative world, where everybody has gnomes in their garden?

How does the owner of the garden feel about the gnomes, if they do know? Proud and pleased about their presence, completely indifferent, or angry and invaded? How do household pets feel about the gnomes?

Do the gnomes just want to be left alone, or are they friendly? Or perhaps they’re a warrior race who are preparing to attack?

So, what’s your story? Do the gnomes cause problems? Are they in danger? Is their arrival a mystery to be solved?

It’s up to you. Gnome-atter what you decide, we’ll look forward to hearing your story or poem at our next meeting, on Tues 7th May.

Have a Happy Easter.

Posted on

Bite-size brilliance: why short writing licks the TL;DR test

In the leisurely days of Victorian novels, long-winded, rambling stories and essays weren’t a problem – they were an advantage, as the evenings weren’t exactly crammed with exciting entertainment.

These days, with the fast-forward button readily at hand to deal with boring TV programmes, readers are more impatient. Come on! We’ve got things to do, places to go, people to see. Cut to the chase! We want the body on page 1, not half-way through the book.

This change in consumer preferences is perhaps the reason that Twitter is so popular.You’ve probably seen the letters TL;DR used on social media, to stand for ‘Too long; didn’t read.’ In the digital age, even a lengthy answer to a question can lose many readers’ interest. Even short stories are getting shorter – we’re not prepared to flounder through pages of waffle just to reach the thrilling part.

But maybe that’s a good thing.

As well as gripping readers’ attention, shorter forms of writing can be more effective. To reach the word count, less important information (a.k.a. ‘the boring bits’) must be omitted, wordy descriptions are truncated and weak phrases such as very frightened or really old are shortened to stronger versions such as terrified and ancient.

Anmarie Bowler is a local writer who says she appreciates the power of short form prose and believes everyone’s a writer at some point in life. She’s launching a new bi-monthly “literary handbill” called Brevity, which will publish short stories & essays (500 words or under) and brief poems by Isle of Wight residents – and she’s looking for contributions from you!

‘Brevity is the soul of wit,’ according to Shakespeare. Let’s see if Brevity can prove that bite-size writing has more teeth.

Our next meeting is Tuesday, 16th April – the assignment topic is True Friendship… but your writing must also include something blue!

Posted on

A mystery boxful of creative writing possibilities

At the last Island Writers meeting, I gave you the assignment title, The Mysterious Box. And the only stipulation was that the box should NOT contain the traditional sort of treasure, i.e. gold coins, jewels etc.

Our treasure-themed meeting had already produced several variations on the idea of a box found in the attic after someone had died, so perhaps we can come up with some other ideas.

It doesn’t need to be an ancient wooden chest, of course. It could be a battered old biscuit tin, a plain cardboard box, a pretty gift box, a filigree metal casket or an elegant china trinket box.

Perhaps your box is mysterious simply because it’s an unexpected parcel, or a strangely-wrapped gift.

Or maybe the box itself looks peculiar, hinting at some unusual contents?

How did it come into your (or your character’s) possession?

Did it arrive by postal delivery, or was it given as a present, or was it hidden there, unnoticed, until it was found?

Was it meant for you, or have you accidentally received an item intended for someone else?

Will opening the box bring pleasure or sadness, interesting knowledge, special power, disappointment… or danger? Or will what you find inside start an unexpected chain of events?

So – if it’s not a personal question – what’s inside YOUR box?

We’ll find out at our next meeting on Tues 2nd April.

Posted on

Where the road ends…

Our latest writing assignment is Where the road ends… – but that needn’t be a barrier to your creativity.

What kind of road will you (or your character) choose? A winding, overgrown country lane, a street of suburban houses, an unmade track into the desert or a busy motorway?

How are you travelling? Trudging on foot, or walking easily and confidently? Cursing at your unreliable, battered old truck? Or speeding along without a care in the world, until suddenly…

Are you alone, or accompanied by your family or dog, or following a crowd of others?

So, where can your journey lead you? Maybe at the end of the road there’s a town or building which will be important, a strange experience, an escape from danger or someone you’ve been waiting to meet. Perhaps you don’t know what you’ll find, and the point of your story or poem is the journey itself rather than the ending.

Of course, it may not be an actual road you’re travelling. A road can be a metaphor for your journey through life, or through an emotional experience.

The next Island Writers meeting is Tuesday 19th March, so if you haven’t thought about your assignment yet, it’s time to get writing. After all, who knows where the road ends?