My Birkbeck term ended a few weeks ago. I planned to use the free evenings (Monday and Wednesday were ‘school’ evenings) to write, write and write some more – no longer do I have the distractions of assignments, prescribed reading, etc.
What have I done since the end of term?
I have done the following: Continue reading “Getting down to writing – not!”
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.
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.)
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?)
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.”
I had forgotten how wonderful it is to write, free and unfettered, against the clock. No time for editing. No time for self-doubt. And when it is done, it is done.
I heartily recommend the Six Minute Story site. Here you can:
You may choose a prompt and consider your story options in advance. But once you start typing, the clock starts ticking and you must continue until the time runs out. After 6 minutes, you are forced to stop. There is no second chance to add, edit or to tweak.
When its done, you can save your story and choose a Creative Commons License. Or – if you really want to – you can trash your story.
I prefer to pick a random prompt and I like to start writing without giving myself any time to think. I just see what happens and the only internal ‘editing’ I do is to try to bring the story to some sort of conclusion within the six minutes. Luckily I am a very fast typist.
Here is a link to my latest Six Minute Story: Choosing.
Ruth Livingstone 