Monday morning quote for writers

Good advice from the author of Wolf Hall and my all-time favourite historical novel In Place of Greater Safety. (If you're studying the French Revolution read it, she doesn't put a foot wrong.) And here's what to do when you're staring at the computer screen and all ideas seem to have gone on holiday.

If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people's words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.

HILARY MANTEL

If you are in Brighton on Monday March 7th....COME TO A FREE HISTORY WRITING WORKSHOP

I'm running an all day workshop (starting at a civilised 10.30 am - it's Monday morning after all) that is part of a Heritage funded project to record and recreate the history of Tarner, the working class district in the centre of Brighton near the Pavilion.
Together we will look at the role of women in a world that's now vanished. The atmosphere will be warm and supportive - you don’t have to be an experienced writer to take part (or female!)
I chose the date because it is the day before international women's day which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

No need to book just turn up at Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project at 6 Tilbury Place, off Carlton Hill. Brighton BN2 0GY 

FREE creative writing workshops in Brighton

I am writer in residence on Tarner Stories, an exciting Heritage funded local history project. We are working with individuals and communities recording and recreating the stories of those that have lived and worked in a working class area in the heart of Brighton on the south coast...and I have two workshops coming up.
They are free. They will be fun. And they will certainly be different (as much as I like alliteration couldn't think of another approriate F word) 

PLUS...work produced may be published on the Tarner Stories website or in the book we will bring out in Spring 2012.

Want any more reasons for coming along? There's a free creche at the Centre and they serve up a nifty vegan lunch for £1.50. It just gets better and better doesn't it? Don't keep it to yourself.  Please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested. (Did I mention it's free?)

Inspired by History

Monday February 7

10.30 am --- 3 pm

Together we will use the material produced by the oral history project to kickstart ideas and help us weave stories about the people who once lived and worked in the streets surrounding the Centre. We will write non fiction that brings the past to life and create poetry and stories that gives a feel of a time that has now vanished. The atmosphere will be warm and supportive - you don’t have to be an experienced writer to take part

Inspired by Women

Monday March 7

10.30 am – 3 pm

2011 marks the centenary of International Women’s Day which this year is on Tuesday March 8. To mark this special occasion we are running a workshop the day before to focus on the lives of Tarner women, turning history into herstory. Through the resources produced by the Tarner History Project we will  explore the struggles, concerns and achievements of local women of previous generations. Everyone – male and female, experienced writers and absolute beginners – very welcome. We will be writing fiction, non fiction and poetry.

*Tarner is an area in central Brighton mentioned in Graham Greene's Brighton Rock. Teenager Pinky is a violent gang leader - Tarner was the area he grew up in and where he never wanted to return

NO NEED TO BOOK JUST TURN UP AT BUCFP - Tilbury Place, off Carlton Hill.
Find out more about the project by clicking onto the title of this post

WATERLOO an Historical Short Story Competition

An Historical Short Story Competition to raise funds for the restoration of Hougement, before the commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo in 2015.  All the proceeds from this competition will go to the restoration project.   
Closing date: 31^st of January 2011

Entries must be in English, original and not previously published in any form or broadcast, and no longer than 1,500 words. 
Entry fee:  £5 per first story entry and £2 for each additional story entered.  The maximum number of stories that each person may submit is five.
Theme:   A historical short story competition set in the days leading up to or during the battle of Waterloo.  The genre of the historical story is open and could be an adventure, crime fiction or even romantic.
Prizes:   There will be three main prizes and additional runners up prizes of books.  The 1st prize:  £250, 2nd and 3rd and runner up prizes to be announced later. The winning stories will be published on-line on www.tavistockmusic.co.uk  The prize winners will be notified by post and email two weeks before the prize giving.
Presentation of the prizes :  The results will be announced and the prizes will be presented by Professor Richard Holmes after the Tavistock Music and Arts Festival on Monday the 25^th of April 2011.
Judging :  The judging will be in three stages.  The final short list of stories will be judge by a panel of judges. Myfanwy Cook (Currently the Features Editor of the HNR magazine – www.historicalnovelsociety.org) will oversee the receipt of entries and the allocation to first and second and third stage adjudicators..  
For entry forms by email, or if you have any additional questions you can contact the organisers on:   waterloo@gacuk.eclipse.co.uk

The Cult of Celebrity Georgian style

Interesting post in The Spectator's arts blog about about how the Georgians did celebrity.  Emma Hamilton could take on anyone....click on the title of this post to go there

More reflections on twitter

Just found the Scottish author Sara Sheridan on twitter (correction she found me) and just a brief scan of her recent tweets revealed how valuable a resource this is for writers.

For example she directed readers to:

http://thequackdoctor.com

Go there if you are interested in writing history - fiction or non fiction. Go there for ideas. Go there to prove that twitter is ot a waste of a writer's time...