February Newsletter

Dear writer,

I hope your year is going well and you’re managing to find the time and motivation to write. This was one of the things we talked about at the last session of my recent Biscuit Factory writing course and it’s something that often comes up at my workshops. So, here are some quick tips and thoughts on getting started and keeping going with your writing:

· Need inspiration as well as motivation? Find a writing competition with a theme and a deadline. Good places to find these are Writing Magazine, Christopher Fielden’s Short Story Lists, the New Writing North Newsletter and the Mslexia Newsletter.

· Do a writing skills audit. Write down the equipment, knowledge and skills you think you need to be a writer (or to complete the project you’re working on). Go down the list and make a note of any areas you could improve on and how you might do this.

· Try writing in different places and at different times. You might want to keep a writing diary for two weeks where you record where, what and when you write. Is there a time of day or place that was particularly productive? If so, make a regular appointment to write then and there in your normal diary.

· Take a break. A lot of writing happens away from the page and taking time out to do something different (a walk, a visit, a film, exercise, housework) can provide space for new ideas to emerge or for you to untangle something you’re struggling with.

· Set a kitchen timer for twenty minutes (or whatever time works best for you) and write. Could you find time to do this every day or a couple of times a week?

· Find a writing partner. You could meet regularly to discuss progress on your writing or you might want to swap work and comment on it. Joining a writing group or attending workshops or courses is a good way of meeting other writers and can also provide regular inspiration, support and accountability.

· Remind yourself of the bigger picture. What do you want to achieve with your writing. Can you break this down into practical steps? How have other writers done it? Read interviews with published writers to find out about their process and how they achieved success.

· Collect positive feedback about your writing in a single document on your phone or computer. Then look at it any time you need a push to keep going.

I hope these help and do get in touch if you have any tips of your own to share.

Upcoming Events:

Gather Online Writing Workshops: These monthly writing workshops take place on Zoom on the first Thursday of the month between 6.30pm-8.30pm and cost £14 per session. Email me to book your place on any of the following dates (and to find out the themes if you’d like to know in advance):

5 March

2 April

7 May

4 June

Time to Write at Koru Pizza: This small group meets on the last Sunday of the month between 11am-1pm at Koru Pizza in Gosforth. Tickets are £20 per session and it’s worth booking early - it usually sells out as there are only eight spaces available due to the space in the venue. Email me to book your place on any of the following dates (and to find out the themes if you’d like to know in advance):

22 February

29 March

26 April

Biscuit Factory Writing Workshops: These longer sessions provide you with a more in depth look at a particular subject or theme and offer plenty of writing time as well as a toolkit of additional prompts and useful information to take away with you. Tickets are £30 and are available through the Biscuit Factory website. The next workshop is on Thursday 23 April: Writing the Past: An Introduction to Historical Fiction

As always, please get in touch if you’d like to know more about any of my workshops or courses. I’m also happy to hear from anyone who’d like me to run events at different venues and with new groups, so please feel free to pass on my details if there’s somewhere or someone you think might like to work with me.

Happy writing!

Amanda