Ruth Livingstone

BMA News Review piece: Head Lice

Head lice and working mothers

Two weeks ago I opened the BMA News Review* and read an anguished opinion piece written by a doctor. She had just discovered nits in the hair of her young children and she did what many busy working-mums do: she blamed herself.

I knew this wasn’t her fault, because nits and head lice are rife in most British primary schools and feeling compelled to respond, I wrote a letter – to her – and sent it via e-mail to the BMA News Review to pass on.

They sent me a reply and asked if they could publish the letter. Of course I said ‘yes’. Imagine my surprise when it won a prize.

And the letter looked good, sitting below a specially commissioned cartoon to illustrate the point I was making.

Even if publication was not my intention, seeing the letter in print was the highlight of my week.

*The BMA News Review is circulated with the British Medical Journal (BMJ) to its UK subscribers. The BMJ is a highly respected medical journal. The News Review is a light-hearted and chatty newsletter.

When the day starts badly …

Woke up early on Saturday with the prospect of a day long Birkbeck session ahead of me. Good. Looking forward to it. But our house was in chaos as my brother, his wife and two young daughters are staying, along with our own daughter and boyfriend. Grabbed breakfast and left in a rush to catch the train.

Problem one: realised I had left my phone at home.

Was later leaving the house than I should have been, so almost ran to the station. Luckily, it was downhill all the way. It was raining.

Problem two: realised I had left my umbrella at home.

Arrived at the station and was surprised to see Continue reading “When the day starts badly …”

Alt.Fiction festival – thumbs up

Nobody threw tomatoes and there was some polite applause- and even some laughter

Had a great time at the alt.fiction event at the Phoenix Centre in Leicester this weekend. Well worth going and I am looking forward to next year already. The rail service let me down Sunday, but that’s a different story.

Highlights are listed below.

meeting Twitter friends, especially @mariaAsmith
making new friends, including @IsoldeJansma
Short Story Workshop by Alex Davis – all about how to sell your short stories and introducing us to the excellent Duotrope website
Meeting the writer Graham Joyce (@Grafire) and buying his book and getting his signature
Attending the reading of an excellent radio play by Keith Large (@KeithLarge3) – the very funny Carrot Nappers.

And, of course, reading my short story extract at the Flash Fiction open mic session. It wasn’t sci-fi, fantasy or horror, but nobody threw tomatoes and there was some polite applause- and even a little laughter. (And, I better just clarify, the piece was supposed to be funny.)

Alt.Fiction Festival

Tomorrow I am going to my first ever fiction festival – Alt.Fiction – in Leicester. This weekend festival is for readers and writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

For some reason, and it seemed like a good idea at the time, I have signed myself up for the Flash Fiction Open Mic segment. I get three minutes to recite a story, extract or poem in front of a wonderful audience of like-minded people.

How difficult can that be?

Well, my story is neither science fiction, nor fantasy, nor even horror. But I did enjoy writing it and I hope it gets a laugh.

Will report back on how it went, if I survive. (Do people bring tomatoes to these events?)

Telling Stories – Olympic style.

TEAMWORK was the challenge set. Despite being chosen to be an Olympic Storyteller, I really have very little personal interest in sports. How do I set about writing a story on teamwork with a sporting theme?

Connection was the topic for the latest Olympic Storyteller challenge.

I have to confess, despite being chosen to be an Olympic Storyteller, I really have very little personal interest in sports. And when I do something sporting, I usually choose an activity where my efforts are solitary. Not for me the team spirit of the hockey field, netball court or relay race. I am more inclined to go for long walks on my own, ski a slope in splendid isolation, or play a game against a computer opponent.

So Connection? How do I set about writing a story on the connecting power of sport? Continue reading “Telling Stories – Olympic style.”