National Poetry Day 2014

The UK's National Poetry Day will be taking place on Thursday the 2nd of October and what is so special about this particular Poetry Day is that this year's theme is "Remember".
I was particularly moved when I heard this as the selection of this theme is a "nod" to the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, a war which transformed the world and brought about the modern age, and it was in this crucible in which fine poets such as Rupert Graves, Thomas Hardy, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon - to name a few - were forged.
Of course, poetry itself is a form of remembrance, of moments that have passed which we hope to cherish, crystallising an emotion, a glance...

Today, we live in the world of social media so I thought it would be great to suggest a few social media web sites that may be of interest:
National Poetry Day on Facebook

National Poetry Day on Twitter

If you are keen to learn more about this years's National Poetry Day then visit the Forward Arts Foundation; they're doing lots of fine stuff and you can post your own events on their site.
The Poetry Society has also produced information on this year's National Poetry Day.
I'm looking forward to this year's National Poetry Day and remembering and hoping that, through the power of story and poetry, we can connect with those who have passed, and retain the harsh and cruel lessons of disharmony so that we can produce a lasting peace.

ZHZ.

The Curry Mile eBook - launched. Finally.

So. Finally did it. With the help of some good people I crossed the Rubicon into the Indie divide and at the same time transformed the paperback novel into an eBook.

Does UK Publishing Reflect Diversity?

The UK is amongst the most diverse countries in the world. The 2011 Census found that the ethnic minority population of London was the majority population. White British people accounted for 44.9% of London's population. So, considering that London is the home of UK Publishing and that the capital's population, do you think ethnic minorities are well represented in print?

Thoughts on Writing

I'm placing my fingers on these keys and punching out a few thoughts before I return to the real work of writing fiction.

Since my debut novel was published in late 2006...I harboured a dream to write books ranging from children's to science-fiction, yet struggled against the tide of life's minutiae to produce them. I confess that the notion of winning a literary competition snared me and I lost many months chasing the dreams of others, because I thought it would be impossible to win a glance from a Grand Publisher (as I call them) as they are seeking that humongous blockbuster, the next "big thing". 

I believe that emerging from a British minority community and seeking to be published in an environment which is white, middle-classed and conservative means few writers of diversity find traction. Books fail to reflect the origin of those who read them. I hope the appointment of Malorie Blackman as Children's Laureate will change matters. Yet, I suspect that most of us will remain Noughts.

The Grand Publishers will, of course, get what they want, but they will be astonished by its origin just as they were with Harry Potter.  

To date, I have written six novels and a screenplay and enjoyed listening to the professional, if somewhat unusual advice, from two London-based literary agencies. My work remains unpublished, because the market isn't ready for what I write. Apparently. 

So, I've decided. I will join the new tribe of publisher-authors, who are striking out alone on the wild path. Even as I go forward into the darkened forest, I am returning to an old way of crafting fiction, albeit carried in an eBook format and wielding the sword of social media.  Soon, I hope to begin publishing books. YA. Thrillers. Poetry. Wherever the muse takes me. You see, I finally realised that all I wanted was to share what I enjoy most; writing stories.

ZHZ

Writing Exercises: The Story Game

Image of 'Children' from Wikipedia

Want to test the enduring power of story-telling? Just say "once upon a time..." and witness the effect on a child. Is it social conditioning or genetic? I don't know, but I know we were made for stories. The ability to spin a tale is essential for story-tellers and children can learn how by playing a great little game.

Basic Formation

1. Nominate a Time-keeper. This person will stay outside the circle.
2. Form a circle made up of 3 or more children.
3. One person is chosen as the spark for the story. They begin with the words 'once upon a time...' and continue...
4. The Time-keeper will cry 'next!' after 60 seconds. Whoever is telling the story must stop and the next person will continue from where they left off.
5. Keep going till you reach the end of the story. Or until the bell rings!

 Tips

• Relax.
• Listen - yes, listen to the story-teller.
• Let your mind conjure up images and sensations.
• Be expressive/use body language.
• Pause to heighten tension.
• Use eye-contact.
• Use logic (in your story-telling).
• Insert 'telling' details into your story.
• Practise!

 Spicing Things Up!

• Leave out a Time-Keeper. A story-teller stops whenever they want, after a second, a minute...go with the flow.
• Use a story bag filled with random objects. The first story-teller picks out an object and starts telling a story involving the object. After 60 seconds the next person picks another object and incorporates it into the story...
• A person can be chosen to 'act out' the story being told.

This is a powerful game. I have watched hesitant story-tellers transformed into magical bards after two tries! Why don't you give it a go and see where it takes you?