Enjoyed an excellent, thought-proving day at Verulam Writers’ Circle conference at Herts Uni yesterday.
A great bunch of people and a lively and positive atmosphere although some faces queuing to pitch a publisher looked a little pale and shiny.
The panels of authors and publishers faced some penetrating questions and told some laugh-aloud anecdotes, one involving a sheep’s head.
Highpoint for me was a workshop on developing character and plot co-presented by MR Hall, author of the coroner Jenny Cooper series, and William Ryan, creator of the Captain Korolev series set in Stalin’s Russia.
Writing is an art but its construction is a science and they presented its formulae with entertaining clarity.
The writers’ conference reminded me of an early failed attempt at a novel. For reasons I can’t fathom I thought I’d try my hand at romance. Rejection slips are usually pretty bland – “doesn’t fit our schedule at the moment. Best of luck.” But the one from Mills & Boon trashed my Dolphin Beach and didn’t pull its punches.
I treasure it still.
Yesterday, Mother’s Day, reminded me of when I was experimenting with my first camera, aged about 10. Mum dressed up as an alien – all in black with a kitchen colander for a helmet and knitting needles for antennae. That’s dedication #missed
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