How to write better with TA and the 4 Cs
Sounds like a rock band, doesn’t it?
Well, here we are again at The Inspiring Bit. Another month of lockdown has gone by and an increasing number of people are, like me, starting to recognise what really matters in life and what they want to do. For many that includes getting writing at long last! So, I was delighted to be interviewed by Louise Wiles of Thriving Abroad (that’s the TA) for her regular podcast series about Writing Through Challenging Times. You can watch the interview above (if you're reading this via my Monthly Inspirer email you may have to click 'view email in your browser' at the the top to display the video) or just listen to it, along with many other fascinating episodes by subscribing to the podcast. The 4 Cs are something completely different. Here goes: Jo’s 4 Cs for better writing Be clear Write clearly and know your reader’s reading level. I’m always harping on about being accessible, writing in short sentences and short paragraphs so that what you are saying is easy to digest. The easiest way to see if your writing is clear is to read it aloud. If you stumble over the text as you read then the reader will stumble too – yes, even if they are reading it in their head. Be concise Readers are not stupid. You may have been told at school to “tell them what you are going to say, tell them and then tell them what you said,” but that can be boring to read. Some of the ropiest tabloid newspaper stories do this. Keep your writing short and to the point. Don’t bog the reader down in overlong descriptions, just give them one or two details to hang onto so they can picture it and move on. Keep it simple. Keep it short. If you want to hammer a point home then do that like this:
Be colourful For years I have been asking my students to ‘paint a picture with your pen’. Show the reader your characters, your settings, your feelings. Make your writing come alive. One of the best ways to do this is with dialogue. A page that contains dialogue looks more interesting. Lines that start with the inverted commas (“) that indicate the start of speech always pique my interest.This looks like a fun page, I think. Dialogue allows you to show character and to move the story forward. People make your writing colourful. Carefully chosen specific details do too. Be compelling For a piece of writing to make the reader want to stay with you on the page, it must retain their interest. Keep your writing lively. Vary sentence length, make your vocabulary match the mood, move the story forward and your writing will have pace. Pace and plot make a story compelling but so too does ‘voice’. Voice is the way you write. Your natural writing style. A style that shows your personality, is authentic, unforced and fun to read. One of the best ways to find your writers’ voice and settle into it is to join a writer’s circle. Why not join my Friday Speedwrite Live events, do some writing and then share it and get feedback from the group? Trust me, it’s one of the best ways to find your voice. That’s it then, if you want to get writing and think you may have run out of excuses then watch my Thriving Abroad interview, remember the 4Cs and join a writers’ circle. And, now, every month you can join my monthly Life Story Jar Live webinar, have a short lesson, do a writing task, share and get feedback. For more inspiration and live events go to www.joparfitt.com/virtual-events.html If you miss an event you will be able to catch up via the Tools for Writers tab on my website.
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20 tips for writing expat memoir for our book awardThere are now just three months to go until entries close for our book award in memory of Lindsay de Feliz, our much-loved author, here at Summertime Publishing and Springtime Books.
We are only asking for the first three chapters and an outline, so come on, use the lockdown to get started on your story. 20 tips to get you started:
Have you embraced this new normal?These may be times of social distancing but my social life is busier than it's been for years. We are now 'meeting' friends in foreign fields for coffees, cocktails, catch-ups and games not once a year like in days of yore but monthly, maybe more.
I expect your life is pretty similar. What has surprised me most is that like so many of you I have had technology 'thrust upon me' thanks to the lockdown. For years people have asked me to run online writers' circles and I've been too resistant, bone-idle even, to do so. But now that my precious monthly face-to-face writers' circles are impossible, I've taken the plunge and paid for a subscription to Zoom. Just four weeks into lockdown and instead of leading just my local circle I have run 10 online writers' circles and four weekly Speedwrite Live events. That's 14 events instead of one! I'd been too scared to try and run online workshops but now I'm doing that too now and am surprised to discover they really work too. I always knew I was pretty good at connecting with people but now that I have a busy Virtual Events calendar I am thrilled that folk from years gone by, like Andrea, who used to come to my classes in Oman decades ago, are back in my life. So there I sit in my office in The Hague, looking out at the social distancing shoppers in the street below and there on my screen, we chat with Pascale in Perth, Isabelle in South Korea, Yvonne in Washington and Geraldine in Ireland. Now, I know different. I am grateful that the lockdown has shown me a better way of connecting with more people and has forced me, at last, to take my classes online. I've just finished reading Seth Godin's book, This is Marketing, for the online business book club I just joined. Godin believes that when people are in a state of transition they are ready to try new things. We are all experiencing a 'new normal'. None of us knows the rules. This means that the times are ripe for trying new things. "We build something that people would miss if it were gone," he writes. "something that gives them meaning, connection and possibility." I'm not sure whether my new normal is 'better' than it used to be. It's certainly different. If you are reluctant to leap on board with online connecting possibilities then I urge you to think again. It might become your new normal, as it has rapidly become mine. This week alone, I have signed up for online pilates and poetry classes, am running three writers' circles and a Speedwrite Live. According to Godin we make change by "normalising new behaviours". In just four short weeks this new way of connecting is beginning to feel like home. To find out more about my virtual events please visit www.joparfitt.com/virtual-events.html A little lockdown poetry inspired by Roger McGoughLike many of us, when lockdown hit I decided it was time to adjust my business a little and take my writers’ circles online. I’ve been running a writers’ circle for about 30 years now, mostly from home. I would keep the format the same. First we do a ten-minute speedwrite and then share our writing. Next I set a ten-minute task and we share that. Last week, I decided we’d work on rhythm and asked them to rewrite their own versions of Roger McGough’s poem Today is Not a Day for Adultery. The poem, albeit slightly saucy, explains how it may not be sensible to visit your lover’s house when it’s raining because you run the risk of catching flu. Instead, our lover is urged to stay home. #stayathome
I asked my students to retain the same basic form and rhythm while exchanging some of McGough’s words for their own. They could also pick their own theme, though inevitably many used the current Coronavirus pandemic. The task proved to be a lot of fun and a welcome distraction from the testing times in which we find ourselves. Our versions began: Today is not a day for rejoicing Today is not a day for teetotalism Today is not a day for promises Today is not a day for working from home And Today is now a day for adultery And many more During the course of the week, students began sharing their versions via email, one shared hers on Facebook, others asked their friends to have a go too. I wondered whether maybe we were onto something? Just ask, folks I wondered whether maybe even more people would have their spirits lifted by reading our poems or by writing their own? But I’m not naïve. I know about intellectual property and plagiarism, so I managed to track Roger down via his agent and asked his permission to do just this on my blog. He generously and graciously agreed. Yes folks I am delighted to say that Roger McGough, fellow Hull University alumnus, Liverpool poet and one-time member of The Scaffold (remember Lily The Pink?) has been emailing little old me. So this, here, is what I have done with massive thanks to Roger. Roger’s version is below, followed by my own version and then some by my students and friends. MY POETRY CHALLENGE: Will you be inspired enough to add your own version of the poem to the comments section on this blog? Thank you @mcgoughroger Today is not a day for adultery Today is not a day for adultery. The sky is a wet blanket Being shaken in anger. Thunder Rumbles through the streets Like malicious gossip. Take my advice: braving The storm will not impress your lover When you turn up at the house In an anorak. Wellingtons, Even coloured, seldom arouse. Your umbrella will leave a tell-tale Puddle in the hall. Another stain To be explained away. Stay in, Keep your mucus to yourself. Today is not a day for sin. Best pick up the phone and cancel. Postpone until the weather clears. No point in getting soaked through. At your age, a fuck’s not worth The chance of catching flu. © Roger McGough So, now, would you like to see our versions? Today is Not a Day for a Bunk-up Today is not a day for a bunk-up. My fat belly’s a turn off That will wobble in foreplay. Disgust Trembles through my thighs As I lie there. Take my advice: eating Six Hobnobs will not impress your lover When you turn towards him in bed In a track suit. Nylon Induced electricity’s just not the same. Your M&S Shapewear’s a clue To your expanding waistline. Stay slim Move your cravings to the bedroom. No, today is not another day for gin. Best switch that butter for Outline Don’t leave the diet til the virus clears No point social distancing your mate. At your age, a fuck’s more than worth The sacrifice of cake. Jo Parfitt Today is Now a Day for Adultery Today is now a day for adultery. The sky is a wet dreamer Being shaken in desires. Thunder Rumbles through the thighs Like malicious intent. Take my advice: riding the storm will now impress your lover When you turn up at his house In a negligee and wellingtons Brightly colored, surely arouse His orgasm will leave a tell-tale Puddle in the hall. Another stain To be unexplained. Stay in, Keep your juices for yourselves. Today is now a day for sin. Best lift up the sheets and dive in. Consume until the weather clears. No shame in getting soaked through. At your age, a fuck's so worth The chance of catching crabs. JS Today is Not a Day for Teetotalism Today is not a day for teetotalism. The husband is a wet blanket Being shaken in anger. Thunder Rumbles through the children Like malicious gossip. Take my advice: denying yourself alcohol will not impress your neighbours When police turn up at the house In a panda car. Bodies in the veg patch, Even given extenuating circumstances, seldom result in a mere caution. Your abstinence will leave a tell-tale Surplus in the drinks’ cabinet. Another unopened bottle To be explained away. Stay in, Keep your chardonnay to yourself. Today is not a day for temperance. Best pick up the phone and order a case. Imbibe until the weather clears. No point in staying sober. At your age, it’s not fucking worth The possibility of murdering your family. Susan Boyd Today is Not a Day for Promises Today is not a day for promises For pledges need a future And security of soul To glide towards eternity And linger there, sublime. Believe me I would gladly Promise you the universe If you and I could reach that goal. Yet, since tomorrow may not come, I will not promise thus. Your face I kiss but only For a fleeting hour or so. Tomorrow I’ll be but a memory Of blissful solace yet it’s Joy that will not come again. This hour is not an hour for promises For time is still and motionless today. But when it’s passed, I’ll Hold your kiss and understand My promise is fulfilled in you. Lesley Today is Not a Day for Working From Home Today is not a day for working from home The sky is a glorious blue colouring the sea. The wind whistles through the land Making its own music Take my advice. Working at your desk will not impress your manager when you submit your report in a rush. A Zoom call showing your pale, tired face won’t help. Your puffy eyes will leave a tell tale screen shot on display. Another sign to be explained away, Go out. Get some fresh air in your lungs Today is not a day for work Best pick up the phone and cancel Postpone until the weather’s bad No point in getting stressed out. At your age, work’s not worth the risk of heart attacks. Geraldine Bown Today’s Not a Day for the Dentist Today is not a day for the dentist. My mouth is a hot blanket Being shaken with pain. Virus Bumbles through my veins Malicious invaders. Take my advice: breaking Lockdown will not impress or relieve The pain. Turning up at with a Virus filled mask. Even trying Bribing with cash won’t avail. Your saliva will leave a fatal Puddle on the drill. Another sin That can slay. So stay in, Keep your mucus to yourself. Today is not a day to kill. Best pick up the phone and cancel. Postpone to flatten the curve. No point infecting others. At your age, false teeth beckon. So, numb it with wine instead. Sarah Today is Not a Day for Reminiscing Today is not a day for reminiscing We mustmove on Quivering through the Covid. Grouchy, We Grumble – ‘stay in’ No street life to roam. Listen to me stay home – embrace a cosy nineteen. Forget the Covid, Corona coronary collapsing, calculating killer. Keep your rubbers on. Coloured will do. Pop up the umbrella and leave a stain. Share the mucus, you and your love, for todays the day for cosy nineteen. Pick up the silks and satin sunny or grey, don’t wait for another day. Get soaked, cause at our age cosy nineteen, may not, again be seen Caron Moran Today is Not a Day for Labouring Today is not a day for labouring Because the sun is bright Its golden rays beam down, warming the streets and buildings Encouraging folks to chat Listen to me and wonder The glow will lift your hearts Open your doors and windows Throw off your coats and scarves Feel your body come to life Your sunshade will leave a shadow Yet still you will be warm Nature is so wonderful, go out And feel its glow Today is not for labouring Pick up the phone and call your friends Before the weather changes Tell them time is precious and we really need to party Before we miss the chance! Vivien Today is Not a Day for Day Dreaming Today is not a day for day dreaming Time change has proven that Being shaken with summer clock hour Missing the day twice Like gaps in my headache Take my advice: Breathe on The havoc will impress on you that Calm is the best way to go Nobody died, that’s the good news That’s my new benchmark in life now Your mindfulness is what’s important Muddle on and savour every day Life is way too precious today Keep remembering this fact Embrace and love like it’s your last CieSaw MY POETRY CHALLENGE: Will you be inspired enough to add your own version of the poem to the comments section on this blog? #writingprompt #quarantineandchill #lockdownpoems #todayisnotaday #writingcommunity Using our Muse Motivator as inspiration, put your pen on the paper and just go...
See where your imagination takes you. |
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