Discovering the Form of Writing You Were Meant For

On 11th August, I led a Workshop at Wellingborough African & Caribbean Association, with the theme: 

Discovering the Form of Writing You Were Meant For

 

Here are the workshop notes:

Finding the right form is important for any writer. Just like an athlete has to pick what kind of sport to dedicate themselves to, or a musician has to pick what kind of instrument to play, a writer needs to know what form fits them best.

Trial & error led me to a form that fit me:

1. Poetry: Less is more; with poems I get to use personal & diverse themes, experiment with form, add images (photo poems) and they don't usually take as long as a short story or a whole novel!
2. Personal Essay: Conversational, range of themes i.e. personal & political, not academic, and most important a free form usually of between 1,000 – 2,000 words.
   The above 1 & 2 were great forms to express myself creatively and yet I could get an opinion or perspective out there. They are why I produced 3 anthologies of this type of writing.
3. Blogs: In form, blog writing is closest to a personal essay or an opinion piece; the basic short form of non-fiction. I find this type of writing liberating as it's immediate and interactive – and I can add images, You tube videos and broadcast rather than waiting for a book publisher!
4. Children's Writing: Both non-fiction and fiction – a more recent discovery and one that I wasn't sure of (I found this a real challenge) but interested enough to sign up for a course at Academy of Children's Writing; I forced myself to write the assignments at the beginning; having completed 8 out of 10 assignments, this writing genre is definitely growing on me. I want to finish what I started.

To Be a Writer You Need 3 Important Things (i.e. Qualities)

1. TALENT: Definition – a special natural ability or aptitude; a capacity for achievement or success. Anyone who has the inclination to write can do it. Writing is both an art and a craft – it can be learned and it must be practised. You do need some self-confidence tempered by self-criticism. You can only concentrate on the art of writing, when you've done the work in the craft of writing!
2. DISCIPLINE: If you haven't got discipline – forget it! Seriously, it's not a game this writing lark. You make a commitment and you write everyday, or at least 5 days/week. You do this systematically, you don't let yourself stop. You make yourself write, even when you don't want to – there's no waiting for inspiration or the right vibe, or the right pen! (talking of writing tools – writing is one of the cheapest arts there is – just pen & paper!) And even, if you don't feel like it, you go against the grain and write! You need to break some barriers. This gives you a certain rhythm, like daily exercises that Olympic athletes do to achieve, so do writers need to keep the creative juices flowing daily.
   Example:
   For my recent assignment, a 1500 word mystery story for children, I gave myself a target/goal of 1 month (I'm not just writing this story, I'm doing other things). I wrote a plot outline, researched on the Internet, wrote the 1^st draft by hand, at intervals of 300 words per day, (about 1 x A4 page), which meant I was connecting with the story, keeping in with the rhythm. I wrote some at home, some at a nice bar in Sywell and some in a café. Then I typed up the story, and finally, edited it down to 1500 words.
   TIPS:
   NB: Writing is always a work in progress until you submit the story i.e. let go of it.
   NB: Always finish what you've started!
   NB: You must give yourself targets/goals; no one else is going to do that, and even when you're writing for a competition or completing an assignment, no one will know/care if you don't meet the closing date/deadline!

3. TEMPERAMENT: Mantra: 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!'
   It's so important that you don't give up and throw in the towel at the first hurdle. So you're going to need a particular temperament to keep going.
   Your writing may be good and you may have a best-seller in you, BUT, it is likely to be rejected, especially if you're an unknown, an unheard of writer.
   So you cannot be a shrinking violet, especially at the beginning.
   Example:
   JK Rowland is a BIG celebrity writer, she has sold millions of her Harry Potter books worldwide, and has become more than a millionaire, especially in the film industry as Warner Bros. had directed/produced her work.
   Initially her work was rejected by many publishers – about four – who must be kicking themselves right now. Eventually, she got her breakthrough with an agent/publisher – the rest is history.
   JK Rowland had a strategy; she planned/plotted all 7 Harry Potter novels and knew the story outcomes before she started. Discipline – she worked daily as a teacher and was a single parent. She wrote her books in cafés after school hours. She is a role model to follow. You have to do what it takes, go the extra mile, with your writing.

And finally some common tips:

Carry your tool-kit: This is a pen, portable notepad (or electronic substitute) Be ever ready to capture that thought, idea that may change the world! (Only joking...)

Read widely: Reading the work of others is a must and really can help boost your self-confidence as it is often inspiring and you absorb different expressions of language.

Write what you know: Write about what you know; what interests and inspires you. Start small – short stories can be a passport to or launch of your career as a writer. Study this though as the short story genre is vastly different to the novel. Your writing has to be tighter – less is more here!

Finish what you started: This gives you much-needed satisfaction and proves you have what it takes (discipline).

Seek constructive feedback: It's important that you air your writing, reading out-loud to yourself isn't quite enough. Be careful and choose people whose judgement you trust and respect and who you know appreciate your creativity.

Be patient: Writing requires a lot of patience because it’s generally a solitary affair in which you patiently sketch out your words until you’re happy they appropriately portray your sentiments. Because the space in between unpublished and acknowledged published can be broad and long. Because a body of great work is usually crafted and does not appear instantly

Don’t give up the day job – writing is not a profession if you value job security!

In Conversation with Nicola Greenwood

Nicola Greenwood has been writing poetry for as long as she can remember and her love of language is clearly evident in her poetic expressions. Since 2004, Nicola has been performing poetry at open-mic nights and book readings. She has been published in three Shangwe anthologies supporting monthly poetry nights as Resident Poet.  Nicola continues to explore poetry in new forms and in doing so is intent on providing a platform for other writers along the way.

It's seven years since I first met Nicola at the book launch of my first anthology Brown Eyes in September 2005. Nicola had thankfully contributed her poems to the book and was at the launch with family and friends.

To say we've been friends ever since is not quite accurate because Nicola has not only developed her writing in diverse and beautiful ways, she has supported Shangwe Creative Arts over the years by helping out with book readings along with more recently working in collaboration. So it is with great pleasure that I put the spotlight on Nicola:

Nicole Moore (NM): How did your interest in writing start?

Nicola: It was always there waiting to come out. I love words, I love language and I love to communicate through creativity. Poetry was a natural rhythm for me; it's my way to paint pictures in words.

NM: When did you start writing poetry?

Nicola: I've found bits and bobs of poetry scribbles from when I was 6 years old. I started in a very conscious way when I was 18 and have never looked back.

NM: How did it feel to see your work in print in my first anthology Brown Eyes?

Nicola: The silliest thing, I ended up on page 222 and with 2 being my lucky number I was ecstatic! I then shed a little tear of joy at the fact that my name was in print. Slowly it began to dawn on me that this was very special and I felt I had left a little bit of a legacy. Mostly, I felt absolutely honoured to be part of such a wonderful collection with so many amazing writers.

NM: 'Writing for the page or the stage' – Does it matter?

Nicola: For me the rhythm of a poem is simply part of its expression; poetry is for consumption in whatever form this takes. What can be read in one's head can be voiced by one's lips. It's about an individual preference - it should only matter to that person.

NM: I know that you've been performing your poems over the years, did you find this hard at the beginning?

Nicola: I'm not sure I even remember how hard it was, there was a whole lot of gin and tonic involved for starters! I read my first poem as fast as I could, my legs wouldn't stop shaking and no matter how hard it was I knew this was the first of many readings. I had spent too long itching to get up. I was in a supportive environment and I tried not to guilt myself out about not being perfect first time; its about growth and development. You can only learn on the job with this and it really does get easier over time. I save the g&t's for the end of readings these days.

Nicole Moore & Nicola Greenwood
Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden - Book Reading Event

NM: Can you tell us something about the themes and the writing process of your poetry?

Nicola: Some people tell stories, some people take pictures, some people paint. I write for the same reasons that they create. It might be a situation that captures my attention, it might be an overwhelming emotion and sometimes its just a diary of my life. I start with a few words and then lose myself in getting everything I want to say down on paper, and its rhythm seems to finds its pace as I go but after that it might take 5 minutes to edit and more often it may take years. Sometimes I need to read aloud, sometimes I share with friends to get a bit of perspective. My themes range from love. pain, angst, farting and sometimes I just paint a picture of the place I’m in at that moment; the last poem I wrote was about being in London on a Sunday, because that was what I was doing!

NM: When you write, do you 'hear' your writing?

Nicola: Absolutely - I hear before I write, I sing and dance the words in my head before they hit the page. And then if I can read it the same way it sounded in my head (based on the words, grammar etc) then I know I've got it.

NM: Nicola, can you share any tips for those aspiring poets out there?

Nicola:

• Write always - a line here or there.
• Write even when you cannot write - I have many poems about not being able to think of anything  - shortly after things flow.
• Go back, go back, go back, you never know when that finishing touch will hit.  If you like to read your work, then others surely will.
• Think multi-dimensionally: words (double/triple meanings), rhythm as it sometimes evokes more than your words; you are stirring emotions and you have the power to take your readers there, so be aware of every dimension.
• Share and trust your original intention.

Half of a Yellow Sun

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

On 22^nd June I watched author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in one of the Hay Sessions 2012 on Sky Arts. In the session, the Nigerian author delivered her Commonwealth Lecture, which examined fiction as a catalyst for social and political change. There is no doubt about it, the author had an effect on me, which led me to selecting Half of a Yellow Sun to read.

In the video below, the novelist tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice - and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

I am not usually attracted to historical novels and have to admit this is the first one I've read and thoroughly enjoyed; in fact it's one of the best books I've read this year and definitely one of my top five favourites.

Half of a Yellow Sun is the author's second novel, is extremely well written and captured my full attention, providing me with a sharp and realistic insight into the trials and tribulations faced by individuals dealing with trying to manage their lives during the Nigeria-Biafra war.

The novel is set in 1960's Nigeria. Three lives intersect. Ugwu, a boy from a poor village works as a houseboy for a university lecturer. Olanna, a young woman, has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos to live with her charismatic new lover, the professor. The third is Richard, a shy Englishman in thrall to Olanna's enigmatic twin sister. When the shocking horror of the war engulfs them, their loyalties are severely tested as they are pulled apart and thrown together in ways that none of them imagined.

The story immerses you immediately into the multi-layered conflicts of the unfairness of love and war, of traditional versus tribal, of modern versus bureaucratic. You feel the effects of the pain, take relief in the joys and love that are weaved throughout the novel. You fall in love with the characters and all their uniqueness and flaws; human beings with their hopes and fears challenged on a daily, often hourly basis dealing with a time of war, of a rawness and harshness I hope I'll never have to endure in my life time.

Who was my favourite character? It has to be Ugwu, a key narrator, a 13 year old houseboy who reacts rather than acts, although as he grows and develops he does come into his own. I can still hear his voice, 'Yes, sah!' 'Good afternoon, sah!' maintained throughout. There are many scenes I could quote but this one shows his new self evolving:

'This is not a good house, mah,' Ugwu said.

Olanna laughed. 'Look at you. Don't you know many people are sharing houses now? The scarcity is serious. And here we are with two bedrooms and a kitchen and living room and dining room. We are lucky to know an indigene of Umuahia.'

Ugwu said nothing else. He wished she would not be so complacent about it.

'We have decided to have the wedding next month,' Olanna told him a few days later. 'It will be very small, and the reception will be here.'

Ugwu was aghast. For their wedding, he had imagined perfection, the house in Nsukka festively decorated, the crisp, white tablecloth laden with dishes. It was better they wait for the war to end, rather than have their wedding in this house with its sullen rooms and mouldy kitchen.'

I liked that the book focused on the experiences of a small set of people who were experiencing the conflict of love and war from very different points of view. When we step into their individual worlds, we don't know their every thought – the narrator who follows them isn't omniscient, which is what gives the novel its heart and strength.

If you haven't had the privilege of reading Half of a Yellow Sun, then I urge you to grab a copy of this literary masterpiece. I know I'm biased being a fan and all, but trust me, you will enjoy the book. Of course I'll be watching Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie closely.

Half of a Yellow Sun was first published by Fourth Estate in 2006. It won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born in Nigeria in 1977. She is from Abba, in Anambra State, but grew up in the university town of Nsukka, where she attended primary and secondary schools. Her short fiction has been published in literary journals including Granta, and won the International PEN/David Wong award in 2003. Purple Hibiscus, her first novel, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, longlisted for the Booker Prize and was winner of the Hurston/Wright award for début fiction. Her short story collection, The Thing Around Your Neck, was published to critical acclaim in 2009. She lives in Nigeria.

Invocation to the Spirit of Inspiration

Introducing: Jo Waterworth, a poet and ceramic artist who has lived in Glastonbury for over twenty-five years. She has had stories, poems and articles published over the years but keeps avoiding ‘success’ in case it changes her life. She also sings with an award-winning community choir.


INVOCATION TO THE SPIRIT OF INSPIRATION

Come to me gently, like a soft breeze caressing my neck.
Let me feel you as a lover
kissing my body on every sensitive skein of skin.
Run your fingers through my hair.
Fill my in-breath with scent – let me smell roses and dung,
river banks and hot dry sting of deserts.
Fill my out-breath with warmth, with moisture for weeping,
and for watering new growth.
Lift my soul like a thermal so I may soar,
circling far above the earth with clear vision.
Hold me on light wings, outstretched to sense
every nuance and shift in current.
Blow me to new places where I might settle like dust,
barely visible but covering everything.
Blow me through trees and mountains,
across lakes and oceans, into distant cities.
Blow me through time itself –
wreck my life if you must.
I will give myself to you, trust in you,
use you wisely, recognize you in others,
lead others into your ways.
I will experience you fully, all my senses wide open to you,
greatest of lovers.
I will give my mind to you,
every hidden crevice, every forgotten drawer,
every creaking floorboard.
I will invite you to inhabit the cathedral of my mind;
I will make effigies of you for others to worship;
I will sing hymns to you with harmonies divine;
I will sit in silent contemplation waiting for your presence.
I will marry myself in your sight, and keep faith with my vows.
I will name you a thousand-fold, heap praises upon you,
and breathe in your grace until my last expiration
when I hope to be joined with you in everything.                                            

JMW 06-12

Hay Sessions 2012

The great minds of the literary and cultural world gather at the Hay Festival in May.  With the Hay Sessions you get to enjoy some of the excellent talks, events and musical treats held throughout the ten-day Hay Festival - available to view on Sky Arts.  Particularly entertaining and satisfying was Harry Belafonte, who discussed his new book My Song: A Memoir of Art, Race & Defiance.  So hooked was I that I just had to order the book immediately.

Next worth a mention was Julien Clary discussing his new book, Briefs Encountered - a witty and stylish ghost tale featuring Noel Coward.  Julian uses art (writing) to work out his own life issues.  I'm yet to order this book which is laid out like a play, and written in scenes.

My all time favourite (to-date) has to be Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian author of Purple Hibiscus and Half of the Yellow Sun who delivered her exquisite Commonwealth Lecture who discussed why she writes, the magic and craft of writing, and examined fiction as a catalyst for social and political change.  It is so true that our lives are effected by politics wherever we live and it must be a wonderful art to be able to write realistic fiction in this way.  Chimamanda's quotes were also worth noting here, my favourite being:
Writers go out of their way to secure their solitude and then having secured it, they go out of their way to squander it. (A US Writer)

Writing for Personal & Spiritual Growth

Today I led a Creative Writing for Personal and Spiritual Growth workshop at Wisdom Moon Holistic Centre, located in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Wisdom Moon is devoted to individual spiritual development and healing through an enlightened education programme, presented in calm and peaceful surroundings allowing the heart to open, the mind to still and the body to relax.  Wisdom Moon provides a place where like-minded souls can meet and offers a warm welcome, help and advice on the path and a range of services, therapies, classes and resources to aid wellbeing, spiritual work and personal growth as well as a lovely shop and tearoom.

Attendees on the workshop learned how to tap into their personal and spiritual path using creative writing with a focus on poetry and keeping a journal. 

Workshop Content included:

Short Meditation "Be here now" (courtesy of Ram Dass, author and spiritual teacher)
What is a Spiritual Path?
The scope of writing for personal and spiritual growth
Writing Forms - Poetry
Keeping a Journal
How a Journal is Different from a Diary
Journalling Tools
Online Journalling

This was the first creative writing workshop that the attendees had participated in and judging by their feedback they all felt enthusiastic about attending follow up writing workshops so plans are underway to establish a poetry writing course/workshop.

To find out more about writing at Wisdom Moon, call: 01933 770494

Hair Power Skin Revolution - International Women's Day

On 8th March 2012, Shangwe Creative Arts and Nabru Enterprise held a Hair Power Skin Revolution Relaunch and Book Reading Event to celebrate International Women's Day.  The event took place at Bailey's Wine Bar in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

I shared the inspiration for the book, which was a hairstories blog http://www.hairjournal.blogspot.com/ that I did as part of Black History Month 2008; my role as Editor and the publishing process and the future of e-books.

Readings followed from Christine Collymore who read two of her contributions: a poem from the skin section called U HEAP of SKIN and a personal essay from the hair section called Unwritten Rules.  Leaya Collymore read her poem Black from the skin section and an updated version that she had written that day especially for the event.

Networking followed and discussions led to the possibility of establishing a Writer's Support Group and monthly Poetry Club night.  Watch this space...

Photos in ascending order:
Leaya Collymore
Christine Collymore