9 +11 = 20 Acorns

So many people all over the world are thinking about what happened ten years ago today when so many innocent and brave people died on 9/11.

It's awful not being able to do or say anything that makes any difference to the survivors of that day and those left remembering their loved ones. All most people can do is to say they care and remember with the rest of the world, the ones that died.

I went into the woods today and gathered 20 acorns. I thought I could plant them in memory of those who lost their lives in 9/11.

When they are ready to plant I shall nurture them and eventually re-plant them in some special places to mark the fact that I do care. They may not all survive but even if a few make it, I think it will be worth the effort.

That, unfortunately, is all I can do.

Mike Smith's short story workshop

I attended a wonderful workshop recently run by Mike Smith who writes as Brindley Hallam Dennis - http://Bhdandme.wordpress.com/

The wonderful surprise was that I was joined by a former member and Chairperson of Wrekin Writers and who is also the lady who inspired me to join the group and stay for over ten years - Sue Horder Mason. ( http://mywritinglifeandotheranimals.blogspot.com/


What an inspiring day! Not only the most lovely company but a stunning venue with beautiful scenery made up of of acres of pasture and hills beyond. Horses grazed, galloped and grabbed at the apple tree growing at the bottom of the garden. A gorgeous setting that was clearly on view like a wide screen TV as we sat and enjoyed great conversation and informative discussion.

We started by looking at the beginning of a story and how characters arrive in a situation that makes the reader want to know what happens next. Some of the examples were amazing and left no doubt as to where that character was in a particular place and time, which is so important in any story, whether its' a short story or a novel.

Next we went on to talk about location. Some writers may have the character or situation in their mind first, others like myself, may have a particular place where they want a story to happen. It was fascinating as we scribbled down ideas for places - I immediately put them with a person and from that began to build a story.

We also went on to look at individual style. It may be the tone and language a writer uses throughout a story or just the way they use grammar to get across what they want the reader to experience.

What was so wonderful about this workshop was how it was delivered. As we were a small group, we were able to have a real discussion around the table on every aspect of what makes a good story. The excercises we did gave me ideas that I would never of thought about if I had not been there and taken part. Now I want to progress those ideas and turn them into stories.

Brindley Hallam Dennis

aka Mike Smith

A truly inspirational writer and a wonderful host!

The last customer

I spent a wonderful morning in Bishops Castle today. I went into a beautiful coffee house that was also a book shop and observed a tiny little market town thriving with locals and tourists like me, mooching around the ancient streets and enjoying a little sunshine.

On the way back we stopped for lunch in Aston on Clun near Craven Arms. Before going into the excellent Kangaroo Inn, we popped into the village shop next door. Today that shop closed for good.

Purely, by chance, we were the last customers ever. We had no idea and just walked in to find the shop keeper closing this lovely village shop for the last time.

Feeling compelled to buy something, my husband bought a bag of Maltesers and so that made him the very last customer to purchase something from that wonderful village shop. It was very sad, and for some reason we couldn't quite eat all of those Maltesers, just wanting to hold on to a few so we could remember how it felt - and tasted!

I had never been there before and will not have the chance to do so again but it made me think about all the chances that we have every day of our lives. Sometimes it's the last chance, or maybe it's something new that is worth pursuing, because we never know how long that opportunity will last for.

I felt quite emotional seeing a lovely village shop closing but I guess it may open the door for something else.

Village Shop - Aston on Clun, Shropshire

Inspired by others

A few months back I volunteered to be one of the judges for the Doris Gooderson short story competition which is held every year by my writing group Wrekin Writers.

At first I felt a bit daunted, especially when yesterday I was handed even more stories to read, yet I am really enjoying the experience and I am determined to delve into the next pile with equal enthusiasm.

I have been so inspired by reading other people's work and really wanted to give everyone an equal chance. Seeing so much of other writers work made me realise just how much effort they had put into it. It also made me think that every time we send something off there is still that element of luck. It can depend on the mood of the editor and what sort of day they are having, afterall they are human. They may be moved by a story, it may be too personal to them or it may just not be right for them, the time or the publication.

It's a great experience to read these stories and although I am not a famous publisher, I can appreciate a good story and admire how a writer can create a short story and bring it to life on paper when a total stranger reads it.

I have spent a lot of time recently writing non-fiction so this has given me a real boost to start on fiction again. I do realise that the short story publishing market is difficult at the moment but so many writers are out there showing that there is still a market!

It's so wonderful how infectious writing can be. Inspiration can come from so many directions. At the moment for me, it's from all the wonderful writers out there having a go!

I intend to be one of them!

The road is clear

So much has happened since my last post. Every time I wanted to write, something stopped me. My poor old horse was wrongly diagnosed by the vet and came within days of being put down - thankfully he's alive and kicking now, I injured my neck and had to take weeks off work and just recently one of my lovely hens died. To add to that I had terrible problems with Blogger not allowing me to comment on my own or anyone else's post. That is fixed now. It really was a pain as I like to reply and make comments when fellow bloggers have made the effort to say something.

I have tried during these times to get some writing done but I admit some of these things have felt like major hurdles. I just can't get motivated if I am feeling upset. I know most writers say it's important to write every day no matter what but I have to feel inspired to sit down and get any writing done.

Despite this, I have sent out a lot of work. My novel is with a few agents and I have sent my non-fiction idea plus a children's story to several publishers.

In the meantime I am also working through a freelance Journalism course which I am really enjoying. I signed up because I wanted to branch out into writing about other subjects than chickens and this course is certainly stretching me. I had to come up with a celebrity round-up idea for my last assignment and although I don't hold much hope of getting to interview any of the celebrities I selected, it was a good experience to complete the tutorial exercise.

My tutor has also made me feel a lot better in that she thinks it is good to specialise in some areas. I know most of my success has come from writing chicken related articles and for a while I felt a failure in not tackling other things but now I am striking a happy balance and pitching ideas to Poultry magazines as well as other areas of interest.

So far since starting the course I have pitched ideas for another three articles ( I admit one is about chickens!) The other two are completely different subjects one of which is looking hopeful and the other two pending. I was even asked by one editor how much I expected in payment. This was difficult as I did not want to show my in-experience by asking too little or too much. Fingers crossed she may feel I made a reasonable offer.

I really feel like I have re-charged my energy levels and feel motivated to get cracking on some new ideas as well as my existing projects. For now the road is clear and I intend to look far ahead and see what happens.

Magical Morville

I spent a few magical hours at the Dower House Gardens, Morville yesterday to celebrate the launch of a lovely new book 'Shropshire Butterflies' This beautifully illustrated book takes you through a whole year of the various breeds of butterflies in Shropshire. From cover to cover it feels like it's bursting with nature as each page reveals a glorious poem or piece of prose from writers spanning the country.

There was one contributor I was very keen to meet as it was only recently that I learned of my distant cousin Ruth Stacey. Ruth writes poetry and has a lovely poem called Hedge Brown inside this book.

It's amazing, as it was purely through 'Facebook' that we met and I discovered her love for writing poetry. I follow her fascinating blog called mermaids drown which is well worth a look at. See http://mermaidsdrown.blogspot.com/

It was so exciting to meet her. On paper our family tree shows us as 3rd cousins twice removed but now on meeting her, feel that we are certainly not so distant afterall. It was great to talk about our ancestors and learn that the same things inspire her to write as they do me.

From the left my Mother, centre Ruth and me.

The gardens are magical too and I can see why the writer and artist Katherine Swift who came to live at the Dower house in 1988 was so inspired to write the Morville Hours and her most recent book, the Morville Year. Katherine also has a contribution in 'Shropshire Butterflies'

The wonderful thing is that some of the proceeds from this book will go to the conservation of Butterflies. If you want to buy a copy and help our wonderful wildlife as well as enjoying this gorgeous book see http://www.fairacrepress.co.uk/ to order a copy.

Above the Dower house gardens

Second hand memories

I bought this lovely book yesterday from a second hand bookshop. It immediately appealed to me before I even opened the cover. I flicked through quickly and decided to buy it straight away.

It wasn't until I reached home that I opened it properly to find an old newspaper cutting and some scribbled notes on some very old computer paper. It was so touching to think that someone had left those clippings in there for over 15 years and I started thinking who was this person, they obviously like to work in the garden but like to scribble and jot things down too. I found it quite touching that I had someone's ideas and memories inside that book.

I shall leave them there and may add my own scribble to them over the years. My garden often inspires me to get creative. In fact I have just created a medieval herb garden and a mini Jurassic park! So, I may just add a few notes on that to my new creative gardening book.

That is the wonderful thing about writing, no matter how small or insignificant our jottings may appear at the time, it's so magical to think that they may end up somewhere quite unexpected in years to come to bring a smile to someone's face.