Archives for writing - Page 8
A215 – Meta Poetry
The third online tutorial is now on the go, following a poetry day school last weekend (where I read out some Burns since it was the 25th). Anyway the exercise is to write a poem based on the model of Amanda Dalton's How to Disappear. So this is the second draft of my meta poem, a further draft (poetry as a process) will be posted later on when I've had some feedback and had time to let it rest a wee bit. How to write poetry How can an ordinary person like me possibly do it? How am I supposed to get all those words arranged on the page? How do I learn to write beautiful poetry? Recognise that poetry doesn't appear ready to read. Like a block of stone, it needs careful chiselling, chip by chip, into shape. What goes…
Wattpad and a new beginning for Perfects
In reading through my blog feed I came across a very interesting article by Ian Sutherland on using Wattpad. It was so interesting that I thought I might give Wattpad a shot myself. One of the things that I have done as a consequence of learning much more about creative writing is to write a new beginning for Perfects (as well as re-write bits in the middle and what comes after the parts published so far). So if you would like to see the new beginning of Perfects, then it is on wattpad. When I finally have time, likely to be in the summer when A215 is finished, then I will complete the re-write and publish is both as an ebook and paperback. Related articles That Perfect Pitch How to: Make Wattpad Work For You Wattpad Half of Wattpad Writers…
A215 Poetry – Coffee Cravings
Having done the section on fiction (and written a 2,200 word short story, or rather four of them, two of which were way too long) the next part of the course is on Poetry. For six weeks or so I'll be trying to write some poetry. I was finding poetry rather baffling, I've never had a problem writing prose, it just sort of rolls off smoothly. The first chapter in the Big Red Book about it, Chapter 12, wasn't really that helpful for me, I didn't think it was offering anything new over what we've already covered at the beginning of the course. Mainly it was a series of writing prompts and exercises on inciting creativity. There was nothing about what made this stream of text poetry as opposed to prose. However, Chapter 13 is quite different, and while reading it I've…
Imperfect: Scene 11 – Day in Court
Imperfect Day in Court The following morning Rosie told us that she had confirmation that Charlie was out. Geoff had also been released, having been cautioned for unauthorised filming in a section 22 area. He’d pleaded ignorance to the section 22 order designating that area. The police had cautioned him, telling him to check in future before filming police operations. They let him go a several hours after he’d been picked up. Mark was still in custody and being held under a prevention of terrorism order, so was unlikely to be released. He was still in the cells in the main Cambridge police station, but would likely go to see a Magistrate on Monday morning. He’d had a public defender assigned to him, and it was one we’d had contact with. So we were able to keep up to date…
Imperfect: Scene 10 – Followed
Imperfect Followed I woke up just after nine in the morning, feeling a little refreshed, but hungover from my extended stay with Special Branch. It was going to take some time to work out how to play this out, because although I wasn’t in a cell, there was no reason to believe that I was out scot free. As I lay pondering this I suddenly remembered that it was Sunday. I jumped out of bed and made for the shower room, I needed Huw to be looking his best for his habitual trip to Church. I had a quick shower, shave and briefly polished a pair of brogues. Then I dressed in Huw’s finest tweed suit, and a freshly ironed shirt from the wardrobe. I always took these to a cleaner round the corner so there was a fresh supply.…