Workshops 2008
Blocks, clocks and glitches here
Creating images through words here
Developing right brain creativity here
Flexing your funny muscle here
Funny fillers here
How-to how-to here
The poet's toolbox here
Setting in historical fiction here
Writing for children here
Writing twist in the tale stories here

Workshops are offered in two parts of an hour each.
Advance booking of a particular workshop is not required.
Workshops contain an element of writing practice.

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Gwyneth Box
The poet's toolbox

What tools are available, how to use them, and how to comment on their use.

"I'm sure it's very good, but I don't usually write poetry." Poets tend to get a raw deal in mixed-genre writers' groups, and writers of other genres sell themselves short by assuming the poet knows best and refusing to enter into a discussion on how work could be improved.

The sessions will look at some of the tools from the poet's toolbox and how they can be used to best effect in modern poetry.

This is a basic level workshop, suitable for poets and non-poets alike.

Gwyneth has attended poetry workshops in the UK and Spain, and
belonged to poetry critique and general critique groups - online and
presential - for many years.
Her Critiquing Poetry (including your own) has been reproduced dozens of times.
Gwyneth was the winner of the Swanwick Poetry Competition 2007, Torriano Poetry Competition 2007 and Barnet Open Poetry Competition, 2007, as well as a number of other poetry prizes.
She has been published in small press magazines and anthologies.

more workshops here

Della Galton
Writing twist in the tale stories

A workshop for writers who are interested in the twist ender story.
In the first session I will concentrate on what to do and what not to do when writing the twist ender story.
And in the second session I will focus on plot lines and markets.
There will be short exercises, and I will give as much individual feedback as possible in the time we have.

Della Galton has sold more than a thousand short stories to magazines and has had two novels published. Her first non fiction book, How to Write and Sell Short Stories, comes out in October 2008, and is published by Accent Press.

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Mal Leicester
Writing for children

This workshop is for those who enjoy writing for children and for those who would like to have a go.

In the first session we will cover genre, age-groupings and levels, plot/structure, themes, style, character and dialogue. In the second session we will consider getting published and alternative possibilities for publication such as writing for the school market and self publishing.

In both sessions time will be allotted for short writing exercises and individual attention.

Mal Leicester was a professor in education at the University of Nottingham until her recent early retirement to make more time for fiction. She has completed a creative writing MA (with distinction) and published eight collections of stories for children with Routledge and Jessica Kingsley publishers.
Her work is featured in the recent edition of How to Write for Children and Get Published by Louise Jordan (2007), Piatkus Books Ltd and was short-listed for the NASAN/TES Teaching and Learning Award.
Currently, she is editing a major cross curriculum project incorporating story. With her partner she has self-published the first in a series of children’s books based on vintage cars (Prince Henry and the Wedding) which has received excellent reviews in the classic/vintage car bulletins and magazines.

more workshops here

Ann Palmer
Developing right brain creativity

'More has been discovered about how the human brain works in the last 15 years than in all history to date.'

Writers particularly need to know about this knowledge, especially if they wish to access their full creative potential. This double workshop offers an opportunity to try out Right Brain methods ... Dip your toes in the water and test it for yourself!
If you have coloured pens, please bring them with you.

Ann Palmer has taught Creative Writing to all ages for 25+ years. Her adult education courses were accredited through Warwick University. She has a postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Creative Writing to Adults. Currently she is working on a non-fiction book - 'Writing & Imager: how to deepen creativity and improve your writing'.

more workshops here

Benjamin Scott
How-to How-to

In the world of “how to” and self-help books, preparation is key. In this workshop, we explore how to get all the hard work done early on, making the actual writing of the book easier.

Some of the easy steps we will follow are: how to get the best out of a competitive review, how to win over a publisher with a killer proposal and how to structure that “how to” book.

Only 30, Benjamin has co-authored a career guide called Turn Your Degree into a Career (How to Books), worked in advertising as an account manager and as a copywriter, edited a magazine and chaired a sub-branch of the Society of Authors for two years.
He currently reviews for the EDP and Carousel.
Undercurrents (Gatehouse Press), an anthology of short stories he has edited, is out in May 2008.

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Roz Southey
Setting in historical fiction

A follow-up to last year’s brief course, this workshop looks at inventive ways to use your historical setting in fiction, including using it as an extra character, as a plot motivator and as an integral part of the action.
With lots of do-it-yourself exercises …

Roz Southey is a novelist and musicologist living in the north-east of England. Her short stories have appeared in a number of small press magazines and her articles in family history publications.
Her first novel, a historical crime novel called Broken Harmony, was published by Crème de la Crime in April 2007; a follow-on, Chords and Discords, will appear in July 2008.
She has also had a number of academic papers and an academic book published.

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Xanthe Wells
Creating images through words
‘A picture paints a thousand words.’

In this workshop, we turn Napoleon’s famous statement on its head as we explore the potential of words to paint a thousand pictures.

Using literary fiction as our guide, we shake off our inhibitions and delve into the infinite potential of our minds’ word-playground.

Whether you’re a poet, prose writer or are new to writing, this workshop will allow you to reach out to the furthermost edges of your imagination.
The only question is: Will you want to return?

Xanthe has a PhD in creative/critical writing and is currently working on a number of projects, from critical editing to creative imagery. As well as her own writing, she is also co-authoring a series of original philosophy to be published in the States.

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Eileen West
Flexing your funny muscle

Humorous writers look at life, spot the ‘boo-boos’ and point them out in a way that makes people laugh. Easy huh? Not really. However, what all humorous writers have in common is a different perspective ... if that makes sense. This workshop is designed to help the writer identify and develop their particular warped or skewed way of looking at things and to get that disciplined eye and wild mind writing funny!
It would be helpful if those interested in attending the workshop could make a note of what makes them laugh in newspapers, magazines, etc. in the couple of weeks in the run up to Swanwick. This may help in the “work” part of what I’d prefer to call the work-fun-shop.

Since returning from the US in 1991 clasping her degree in Journalism, Eileen has thrown herself into a career as a freelance journalist and writer. She has written a column for her local newspaper whilst contributing freelance humorous features to assorted publications. She continues to retain a portfolio of clients for whom she writes quirky business and advertising copy for print, broadcast and the web.
Eileen also submits the odd short story but has yet to achieve her great ambition – to publish a novel. This year will be Eileen’s eight year at Swanwick.

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Stella Whitelaw
Blocks, clocks and glitches

A glitch is a sudden brief irregularity of equipment.

Since I don't understand computers either, for equipment read brain cells.

In this workshop we will get rid of writer's block, rescue the demon time and iron out everyone's glitches.

Come prepared to work.

STELLA WHITELAW has been a writer since the age of nine, first as a London newspaper reporter, then as an author. Hooked on writing, Stella has more than 39 books published, more than 240 short stories published. Overseas sales uncounted. A day is not complete without writing ... a writer’s second sight makes living a joy.

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Daily ‘Freestyle ’ Themed Workshops 2008 here
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Swanwick 2008 August 09 to August 15
Diamond Anniversary Year