Free Writing Workshops for Adults
From www.spread.word.org.uk
Had a great session in Woolwich Library last weekend. For those who missed it, I will be back there on Sunday June 25th, 1.00 - 3.00. For those of you who joined me last Sunday, it would great to see you again and I will be covering more aspects of writing Short Fiction.
On Thursdays 15th and 25th June I will be in St. Pancras Library, N1C4AG, from 6.00 - 8.00 pm
The sessions are happening in libraries all over London with a range of writers, all leading towards the City of Stories Short Fiction Competition for 500 word stories. There will be a winner from each participating Borough, but you have to attend a workshop to enter;
More information about the programme here:
https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/city-stories-offers-free-writing-workshops-london-adults/
For those who attended, and anyone else who's interested, here, as promised are my 12 top tips for writing short-short fiction:
On Thursdays 15th and 25th June I will be in St. Pancras Library, N1C4AG, from 6.00 - 8.00 pm
The sessions are happening in libraries all over London with a range of writers, all leading towards the City of Stories Short Fiction Competition for 500 word stories. There will be a winner from each participating Borough, but you have to attend a workshop to enter;
More information about the programme here:
https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/city-stories-offers-free-writing-workshops-london-adults/
For those who attended, and anyone else who's interested, here, as promised are my 12 top tips for writing short-short fiction:
We are looking for:
· A Self-Contained Story (beginning, middle, end)
· Told in 500 words or fewer
· No genre restrictions; it should entertain, intrigue and satisfy a reader.
The short fiction genre epitomises the art of leaving space for the reader: for example:
The most famous short fiction is by Ernest Hemmingway and is just six words long:
‘For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.’ Hemingway
The narrator says nothing at all about the circumstances. He does not tell you anything much. He simply makes a statement and the reader fills in the rest.
· A Self-Contained Story (beginning, middle, end)
· Told in 500 words or fewer
· No genre restrictions; it should entertain, intrigue and satisfy a reader.
The short fiction genre epitomises the art of leaving space for the reader: for example:
The most famous short fiction is by Ernest Hemmingway and is just six words long:
‘For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.’ Hemingway
The narrator says nothing at all about the circumstances. He does not tell you anything much. He simply makes a statement and the reader fills in the rest.
My 12 Tips for writing 500 word Fiction
1. Make the title work as part of the word count
2. Make the opening line a hook to entice the reader in
3. Create a complete pocket-sized world which intrigues the reader
4. Make sure your story has conflict and a purpose
5. The conflict can be internal or external
6. Focus on one theme or one element of the story
7. A short story is not a part of a bigger story, nor is it a synopsis for a novel.
8. It shouldn’t have a convoluted plot and avoid time shifts
9. Avoid too many characters and points of view
10. The skill is to arrive late and leave early
11. Let the reader contribute to the story
12. Let the last line resonate with the reader so the story lingers beyond its length
1. Make the title work as part of the word count
2. Make the opening line a hook to entice the reader in
3. Create a complete pocket-sized world which intrigues the reader
4. Make sure your story has conflict and a purpose
5. The conflict can be internal or external
6. Focus on one theme or one element of the story
7. A short story is not a part of a bigger story, nor is it a synopsis for a novel.
8. It shouldn’t have a convoluted plot and avoid time shifts
9. Avoid too many characters and points of view
10. The skill is to arrive late and leave early
11. Let the reader contribute to the story
12. Let the last line resonate with the reader so the story lingers beyond its length
