Last week I gave a writing workshop at a government office in Stockport, as a part of the Pride week activities. I just received the nicest email about it, including this report from one of the participants:
Summer of Pride Event
Workshop with
novelist Paul Magrs
I attended this
workshop, arranged as part of the DWP’s ‘LGBT Summer of Pride ‘
celebration. I really enjoyed the session with the novelist and artist, Paul
Magrs.
Paul immediately
made the group at ease, with his friendly manner. Paul explained what he tends
to do in these workshops, and usually starts by reading to the group. On this
occasion; as most people in the room had attempted to, (or were thinking of )
writing a novel. Paul decided to get us all ‘Burning off steam’, as he phrased
it.
This exercise was to
get our brains in action but not racing. It was the first step in Paul’s list
of 9 pointers. He asked us to think of a favourite word, and then write
something about that word. Mine is aardvark. Never been sure why, but now I’m
thinking about it! What is an aardvark? Where do they live? What do they eat?
Who thought of the name? Who named everything in the world? Is it a
favourite word because it breaks the rules? Two vowels together, but not e’s or
o’s! Absurd!
‘Ok’ says Paul,
breaking my thoughts. ‘That’s enough of that exercise, 10 mins should be enough
to get you prepared’.
‘I want to tell you
all of someone who inspired me as a child, and maybe this will encourage you
too. My first school Teacher, gave each of the class an exercise
book , to be known as ‘your busy book’. She explained that no one
will be reading it ; She would not be looking at it. It was your private book
to write in, draw in, anything and everything you want to put into it. I
still have a ‘busy book’ on the go, and find it enormously helpful, when I want
to write.’
What a great idea,
I’m thinking. I have 2 helpful hints already, and we have only been here for 15
mins.
Paul gradually
listed the other 8 helpful hints on his list. All really valuable , to the
‘budding writer’.
He encouraged us to
use all our senses, to remember through sounds and smells as well as the spoken
word.
Paul, cleverly,
manipulated the group into interacting with each other, through conversation
and thought processes. He showed his note books which ‘live’ in his leather
bag. I identified with the contents as; like me, Paul writes on bits of paper,
backs of envelopes, bills etc. He notes ‘trains of thought’, situations,
overheard conversations and characters, he encounters each day. All of which
can provide invaluable material, for when your ready to start that book!
Before I knew
it, the session had to come to an end.
Well, I’m truly
inspired! I feel more confident, feel empowered , feel I could actually write
my memoirs that have been stored in my head for ever !
Watch out! Maybe the
next J K Rowling is about to emerge!!
Thanks Paul
Comments
Post a Comment