When I was young, the run-up to the Christmas season used to last about a month. Santa would arrive in the big shops, and we children would get excited about our annual visit to see him. The silver Christmas trees would appear on the canopy of McGills, the department store opposite my flat, just as they had the year before and the year before that - in those thrifty days it didn't seem necessary to change the Christmas decorations annually.
But over the years, shops have gradually extended their Christmas shopping season. When my son was small, I used to think it began at half term, in the last week of October. That was when the shops were beginning to stock up with Christmas cards and gifts.
But this year, I was rather shocked to discover that my favourite local garden centre was already setting up its Christmas displays before the kids had even gone back to school after their summer holidays! Lots of other shops seem to be getting in on the act, too - even Lidl!
It seems a bit of a shame to me, as it's hard to stay excited about Christmas when you're thinking about it for a third of the year, instead of just a month. But on the other hand, what about those people for whom Christmas doesn't come just once a year? People who may be having their Christmas celebration at an unseasonal time?
It might be because the family can't get together at Christmas, so they're rescheduling it to fit in with them. Perhaps someone isn't sure that they'll still be alive and well enough to celebrate Christmas in December, so they're making the most of the time they have left. I have even heard of someone who is so mad about Christmas that they celebrate it every day of the year! I don't think I could cope with that much Christmas pudding though!
Why not use this as a trigger for your writing? You could write an opinion piece about how we've lost the spirit of Christmas by having the shops full of Christmas tat for months on end.
Or maybe you'd prefer a short story about someone who is celebrating Christmas in an unusual setting or at an unusual time of year. You might have a central character who is obsessed with Christmas or one who hates it and can't wait till it's over for another year. What would happen if they were thrown together?
One thing is sure - if you want to submit your Christmas story to a magazine, you'd better get a move on. Magazines really do start planning early for Christmas.
Monday, 29 September 2008
Saturday, 27 September 2008
'You Shall Go to the Class!'
One of the most frustrating aspects of teaching in adult education is that for part-timers like me, who are paid by the hour for the classes we actually teach, our teaching hours and our income depend on getting enough students to enrol for our courses.
One of my courses had particularly low numbers this year, and we spent the last fortnight fearing that we might not be able to continue as the powers that be had told us our course would be cancelled unless we got more students. It was very frustrating both for me and for the students not knowing whether we would only last two lessons instead of twelve.
Fortunately, we have been given a reprieve and allowed to continue until the end of term, which is a great relief. We'll now be able to settle down and get on with the work we want to do without worrying about numbers and fretting over people who've not turned up to the class.
It's a bitter-sweet victory as we know that our survival probably means that another course will have been cancelled instead of ours and one of the other tutors will have lost some of her income. But we're glad the decision went our way.
Apparently, one of the factors which swayed the powers that be was the fact that the students were prepared to put an advert in the local paper at their own expense to try to attract more class members. It was regarded as proof of their commitment.
As far as I'm concerned, it's an indication that you should never say never - miracles do happen! Sometimes it does pay to take the initiative, even though you may feel like a small cog in a big wheel.
One of my courses had particularly low numbers this year, and we spent the last fortnight fearing that we might not be able to continue as the powers that be had told us our course would be cancelled unless we got more students. It was very frustrating both for me and for the students not knowing whether we would only last two lessons instead of twelve.
Fortunately, we have been given a reprieve and allowed to continue until the end of term, which is a great relief. We'll now be able to settle down and get on with the work we want to do without worrying about numbers and fretting over people who've not turned up to the class.
It's a bitter-sweet victory as we know that our survival probably means that another course will have been cancelled instead of ours and one of the other tutors will have lost some of her income. But we're glad the decision went our way.
Apparently, one of the factors which swayed the powers that be was the fact that the students were prepared to put an advert in the local paper at their own expense to try to attract more class members. It was regarded as proof of their commitment.
As far as I'm concerned, it's an indication that you should never say never - miracles do happen! Sometimes it does pay to take the initiative, even though you may feel like a small cog in a big wheel.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Settling In
We've had two weeks of adult education classes now and I'm starting to settle in and get to know my students. We're gradually sorting out the awkward admin work that eats into lesson time, making sure that everyone has filled in an enrolment form properly and paid their fees.
Practical niggles are being resolved too, like the fact that one classroom I teach in at a local secondary school has no board rubber. I have endured two lessons where I had to wipe the whiteboard with tissues, a laborious and messy process. But now I have managed to get a board rubber of my own from the adult education centre. I shall keep in my briefcase, on permanent standby.
It's really exciting to hear my students read out their writing to the class, especially if they are new to the course. I'm constantly surprised at how inventive they can be and how different everybody's writing is.
Already we are getting used to working together and all my classrooms are filled with the sound of laughter. In my view, a class that is relaxed enough to laugh is a class that is relaxed enough to learn.
I'm getting used to my PGCE class too - to being a student as well as a teacher - and I'm finding it useful. Not only do I have the support of my tutor and fellow students - it's also a handy place to find a well-qualified plumber or electrician if you need one!
The belly dancing enrichment classes have also restarted so I'm getting a physical workout at college every week as well as a mental one. I look forward to the return of my waistline.
I hope that you too are settling into the new term, as a student, a teacher, a parent. Education is a precious resource. Let's cherish it and make the most of it, whatever our age.
Practical niggles are being resolved too, like the fact that one classroom I teach in at a local secondary school has no board rubber. I have endured two lessons where I had to wipe the whiteboard with tissues, a laborious and messy process. But now I have managed to get a board rubber of my own from the adult education centre. I shall keep in my briefcase, on permanent standby.
It's really exciting to hear my students read out their writing to the class, especially if they are new to the course. I'm constantly surprised at how inventive they can be and how different everybody's writing is.
Already we are getting used to working together and all my classrooms are filled with the sound of laughter. In my view, a class that is relaxed enough to laugh is a class that is relaxed enough to learn.
I'm getting used to my PGCE class too - to being a student as well as a teacher - and I'm finding it useful. Not only do I have the support of my tutor and fellow students - it's also a handy place to find a well-qualified plumber or electrician if you need one!
The belly dancing enrichment classes have also restarted so I'm getting a physical workout at college every week as well as a mental one. I look forward to the return of my waistline.
I hope that you too are settling into the new term, as a student, a teacher, a parent. Education is a precious resource. Let's cherish it and make the most of it, whatever our age.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Strong Writing - Find a more Effective Word
One way you can make your writing stronger is to choose a powerful, interesting word, rather than a weak or overused one. Yesterday we looked at how we can improve our writing by choosing our verbs carefully. Today we're going to see how we can use a thesaurus to find just the right adjective.
A thesaurus is a book, rather like a dictionary, which helps you find words which have similar meanings. I'm currently using the big Collins Thesaurus A-Z which has a RRP of £25, but was on sale in WH Smith recently for £6.25. Let's use it to find alternative words for strong.
Under strong, we find fifteen basic meanings listed: powerful, fit, self-confident, durable, forceful, extreme, decisive, persuasive, pungent, highly-flavoured, keen, intense, staunch, distinct, and bright. The Collins Thesaurus lists several alternative words for each of these definitions of strong, and also includes opposites for several of them.
In this posting, I'm using strong to describe writing, so the best synonym, or equivalent word, from that list of basic meanings is forceful. Its given alternatives are powerful, intense, vigorous. So instead of saying,
You can use a thesaurus to make your writing stronger.
I could write,
You can use a thesaurus to make your writing more vigorous.
But if I was describing after-shave instead of writing, I might want to use a word that is listed under the pungent option, as these are more appropriate for smells and liquids: powerful, concentrated, pure, undiluted.
If, on the other hand, I wanted to describe a person who had a strong character, I might look at the self-confident option, where I would find determined, tough, brave, aggressive, courageous, high-powered, forceful, resilient, feisty, resolute, resourceful, tenacious, plucky, hard-nosed, steadfast, unyielding, hard as nails, self-assertive, stouthearted, firm in spirit.
So you can see that by looking up just one simple word, you can find numerous others which may give you the exact nuance you are looking for. Using more telling words (another one I found in the Thesaurus) will also make your writing more engaging and memorable.
A thesaurus is a book, rather like a dictionary, which helps you find words which have similar meanings. I'm currently using the big Collins Thesaurus A-Z which has a RRP of £25, but was on sale in WH Smith recently for £6.25. Let's use it to find alternative words for strong.
Under strong, we find fifteen basic meanings listed: powerful, fit, self-confident, durable, forceful, extreme, decisive, persuasive, pungent, highly-flavoured, keen, intense, staunch, distinct, and bright. The Collins Thesaurus lists several alternative words for each of these definitions of strong, and also includes opposites for several of them.
In this posting, I'm using strong to describe writing, so the best synonym, or equivalent word, from that list of basic meanings is forceful. Its given alternatives are powerful, intense, vigorous. So instead of saying,
You can use a thesaurus to make your writing stronger.
I could write,
You can use a thesaurus to make your writing more vigorous.
But if I was describing after-shave instead of writing, I might want to use a word that is listed under the pungent option, as these are more appropriate for smells and liquids: powerful, concentrated, pure, undiluted.
If, on the other hand, I wanted to describe a person who had a strong character, I might look at the self-confident option, where I would find determined, tough, brave, aggressive, courageous, high-powered, forceful, resilient, feisty, resolute, resourceful, tenacious, plucky, hard-nosed, steadfast, unyielding, hard as nails, self-assertive, stouthearted, firm in spirit.
So you can see that by looking up just one simple word, you can find numerous others which may give you the exact nuance you are looking for. Using more telling words (another one I found in the Thesaurus) will also make your writing more engaging and memorable.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Strong Writing - Choose Powerful Verbs!
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it's the adjectives you choose, the words that describe things, that makes your writing vivid. But sometimes you can make your writing a lot stronger by choosing verbs that are powerful and descriptive.
Take these two sentences for example:
The cheerful man walked down the street.
The man sauntered down the street.
Which sentence do you think is stronger? Although the second sentence doesn't even have an adjective and it's one word longer than the first, it's much more effective. Not only does the word sauntered describe the way in which the man walked - it also suggests something about his mood.
Compare these two:
The man walked home unsteadily.
The man stumbled home.
The second version is more economical. It expresses the same idea as the first sentence but in more neatly, without having to use the adverb unsteadily. (Remember, an adverb is a word that describes a verb.)
So when you next sit down to write, make your writing strong - choose powerful verbs!
Take these two sentences for example:
The cheerful man walked down the street.
The man sauntered down the street.
Which sentence do you think is stronger? Although the second sentence doesn't even have an adjective and it's one word longer than the first, it's much more effective. Not only does the word sauntered describe the way in which the man walked - it also suggests something about his mood.
Compare these two:
The man walked home unsteadily.
The man stumbled home.
The second version is more economical. It expresses the same idea as the first sentence but in more neatly, without having to use the adverb unsteadily. (Remember, an adverb is a word that describes a verb.)
So when you next sit down to write, make your writing strong - choose powerful verbs!
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Free Writing Booklets in The Guardian and Observer
It's that time of year when the newspapers are giving away freebies to try to get people to buy them regularly. It's been particularly useful for me and my class this week because The Guardian and The Observer have been giving away booklets every day about creative writing. They contain many handy hints, food for thought and writing exercises.
On Saturday 27th, The Guardian is also giving away a 110-page guide to English - another very useful free gift for my students. From time to time we discuss grammar and punctuation. There are always a few things that catch a lot of them out, so it's useful to do some revision.
Let's hope that all this talk of creative writing will inspire more people to put pen to paper and try it for themselves - or sign up for creative writing courses and discover the joy of discovering writing in the company of other like-minded people.
So do buy The Guardian this week or if you know someone who's a regular Guardian reader, ask them to let you have the creative writing guides. Happy reading!
On Saturday 27th, The Guardian is also giving away a 110-page guide to English - another very useful free gift for my students. From time to time we discuss grammar and punctuation. There are always a few things that catch a lot of them out, so it's useful to do some revision.
Let's hope that all this talk of creative writing will inspire more people to put pen to paper and try it for themselves - or sign up for creative writing courses and discover the joy of discovering writing in the company of other like-minded people.
So do buy The Guardian this week or if you know someone who's a regular Guardian reader, ask them to let you have the creative writing guides. Happy reading!
Monday, 22 September 2008
After the Milestone - The Post-100 Posts Post-mortem
Yesterday's post was actually a milestone, and even I didn't notice! It was actually my hundredth blog on Blogspot.
I feel as if I should have done something to mark the occasion, like giving away a Renault or blowing out the candles on a cake. No doubt if I scoured the internet I would be able to find an animation of a cake with a hundred candles on it, but I'll make do with giving myself a pat on the back.
To have sat and blogged for a hundred days (even with holidays and a few gaps in between) is quite an achievement. It shows commitment, stickability, ingenuity, which are all qualities that a writer needs.
Anyone can claim to be a writer. Anyone can claim to have a book in them. But it's applying the bottom to the seat and knuckling down to write, day after day, that gets the work done.
I hope you're managing to apply that sort of stickability to your own career as a writer. Keep going, even when you don't feel like it. Turn your writing into a habit and soon you won't have to force yourself to sit down and write - it will become your pleasure, your daily fix of creativity.
I feel as if I should have done something to mark the occasion, like giving away a Renault or blowing out the candles on a cake. No doubt if I scoured the internet I would be able to find an animation of a cake with a hundred candles on it, but I'll make do with giving myself a pat on the back.
To have sat and blogged for a hundred days (even with holidays and a few gaps in between) is quite an achievement. It shows commitment, stickability, ingenuity, which are all qualities that a writer needs.
Anyone can claim to be a writer. Anyone can claim to have a book in them. But it's applying the bottom to the seat and knuckling down to write, day after day, that gets the work done.
I hope you're managing to apply that sort of stickability to your own career as a writer. Keep going, even when you don't feel like it. Turn your writing into a habit and soon you won't have to force yourself to sit down and write - it will become your pleasure, your daily fix of creativity.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Expect the Unexpected!
First of all, to those readers who have been logging on this past week expecting to see my daily blog, an apology! I've had a really busy week with PGCE tests, my new writing classes beginning, and a job interview, all in the same three days! By the time it came to write my blog, I was either still preparing lessons or absolutely exhausted.
But things are now back on an even keel, I hope. I've met and settled in my new students and welcomed back my existing ones, so the classes are starting to gel and I'm getting back into the swing of teaching. I should know by the end of the week how numbers are shaping up and how many students I am going to have in each class.
We've already had some very enjoyable lessons and it's been interesting for me to put some of the new ideas from my teacher training into practice, like an icebreaker exercise that my tutor used with us. I've adapted it to suit creative writing students and made it lead into another activity in which my learners assess where they are so far in their quest to learn to write and where they would like to get to in the course of the year.
I really like my PGCE tutor, Fran Valentine, and she has already been very supportive to me when I was preparing for my job interview. My referee, Gabriele, who used to teach me German, has also been a great help. I also feel much more at home in the college now, and not so much the new girl on the block.
Other than that two things happened this week that were unexpected. The first was the arrival on my mat of a crime writing magazine, Crimewave. I had subscribed to it quite some time ago, received one or two editions and then nothing for ages. I resigned myself to the fact that it must have gone bust, as that is not unusual in the world of specialist publications.
But it has returned, even glossier than ever. I shall look forward to reading it and I am especially pleased because the very first story in it is an extremely short one that I can use with all my students.
The second surprise came today. We'd had a family trip to Holmfirth to enjoy the sunshine and have a latte in our favourite cafe there. Browsing in one of the charity shops, I found a very solid-looking mahogany CD rack, which seemed the perfect solution to our storage needs. My husband thought we didn't have enough room to fit it in, but I assured him that we would.
I was right. There was the perfect spot for it in our living room, between the fireplace and the existing, overstuffed and rather rickety CD rack. I proudly manouevred it into position and prepared to load it up with CDs only to find that they wouldn't fit on. It was actually a cassette rack! A very handsome cassette rack, but no good for CDs or DVDs.
So if you live in the Huddersfield area and you need a cassette rack, e-mail me on gale.barker@tesco.net and you can pick up a bargain. Otherwise, it will be going to another charity shop next weekend.
But things are now back on an even keel, I hope. I've met and settled in my new students and welcomed back my existing ones, so the classes are starting to gel and I'm getting back into the swing of teaching. I should know by the end of the week how numbers are shaping up and how many students I am going to have in each class.
We've already had some very enjoyable lessons and it's been interesting for me to put some of the new ideas from my teacher training into practice, like an icebreaker exercise that my tutor used with us. I've adapted it to suit creative writing students and made it lead into another activity in which my learners assess where they are so far in their quest to learn to write and where they would like to get to in the course of the year.
I really like my PGCE tutor, Fran Valentine, and she has already been very supportive to me when I was preparing for my job interview. My referee, Gabriele, who used to teach me German, has also been a great help. I also feel much more at home in the college now, and not so much the new girl on the block.
Other than that two things happened this week that were unexpected. The first was the arrival on my mat of a crime writing magazine, Crimewave. I had subscribed to it quite some time ago, received one or two editions and then nothing for ages. I resigned myself to the fact that it must have gone bust, as that is not unusual in the world of specialist publications.
But it has returned, even glossier than ever. I shall look forward to reading it and I am especially pleased because the very first story in it is an extremely short one that I can use with all my students.
The second surprise came today. We'd had a family trip to Holmfirth to enjoy the sunshine and have a latte in our favourite cafe there. Browsing in one of the charity shops, I found a very solid-looking mahogany CD rack, which seemed the perfect solution to our storage needs. My husband thought we didn't have enough room to fit it in, but I assured him that we would.
I was right. There was the perfect spot for it in our living room, between the fireplace and the existing, overstuffed and rather rickety CD rack. I proudly manouevred it into position and prepared to load it up with CDs only to find that they wouldn't fit on. It was actually a cassette rack! A very handsome cassette rack, but no good for CDs or DVDs.
So if you live in the Huddersfield area and you need a cassette rack, e-mail me on gale.barker@tesco.net and you can pick up a bargain. Otherwise, it will be going to another charity shop next weekend.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Thomas Hardy
This has been a good week for lovers of Thomas Hardy. Earlier in the week, there was an excellent documentary about his life and work on TV and today the BBC started its three part adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The BBC, as usual, has done an excellent job.
Interestingly, Thomas Hardy first wrote novels like Tess as serials for magazines, and the editors would omit some of his writing because it was considered too scandalous. This was especially true of Tess, and of Jude the Obscure which dealt with subjects that were taboo in Victorian England. He did, however, reinstate some of the censored material when he published the stories as novels.
In his attitudes to sexuality and morality, he was probably out of kilter with his age. But he stayed true to his vision, in spite of the public outcry. It would have been easier to take the easy path and go along with what his publishers wanted, but he wasn't prepared to do that.
Would his books have been so powerful if he had only written what the establishment was prepared to hear?
Interestingly, Thomas Hardy first wrote novels like Tess as serials for magazines, and the editors would omit some of his writing because it was considered too scandalous. This was especially true of Tess, and of Jude the Obscure which dealt with subjects that were taboo in Victorian England. He did, however, reinstate some of the censored material when he published the stories as novels.
In his attitudes to sexuality and morality, he was probably out of kilter with his age. But he stayed true to his vision, in spite of the public outcry. It would have been easier to take the easy path and go along with what his publishers wanted, but he wasn't prepared to do that.
Would his books have been so powerful if he had only written what the establishment was prepared to hear?
Friday, 12 September 2008
Writing is Like Love
When they discover they are expecting another child, parents sometimes wonder how they could possibly love it as much as they love their existing offspring. They worry that there won't be enough to go round more than one child, but when the new baby arrives, they usually find that their love quotient per child hasn't been reduced - they have even more love to give.
Writing is like that. Your ability to write increases the more you do it. It isn't as if you have a set number of words inside you, 100,000 say, and once you've used them all up you'll have nothing left to say. You write more, you get more to write about.
Of course, it's a good idea to keep feeding your creativity so that the ideas you have to work on are good quality ones. But commit yourself to writing and the ideas you have to write about will automatically multiply.
Writing is like that. Your ability to write increases the more you do it. It isn't as if you have a set number of words inside you, 100,000 say, and once you've used them all up you'll have nothing left to say. You write more, you get more to write about.
Of course, it's a good idea to keep feeding your creativity so that the ideas you have to work on are good quality ones. But commit yourself to writing and the ideas you have to write about will automatically multiply.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Confessions of a Creative Writing Teacher - Why I Love Marking
A lot of teachers regard marking as a necessary evil, something that goes with the job but which encroaches on their precious free time. But I love it!
Marking my students' writing is one of the best things about the job. Being with them at their classes and teaching them face-to-face is pretty terrific too, but as I can't teach seven days a week, marking is the next best thing.
I think creative writing must be one of the very best subjects to mark as every piece of work is unique and every student has their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses and their own unpredicable learning curve.
Even if I set everyone the same task with the same stimulus material, I end up with stories that are totally different from one another and all fascinating in their own right.
Of course, you get to know people through their writing, more than you would through their maths or their IT homework. You get to know their interests, their preoccupations, their attitudes to life, their past. And it's all fascinating.
I used to wonder how my friend used to always remember the names of all her creative writing class members, because when I'd been a member of a class or group I might still not know everybody's name even though I'd known them for years! But once you've read and marked a student's writing, you not only remember their name, but you build up your own unique understanding of them as a person.
That's why, when I begin teaching again next week, I can't wait to get on with some marking. Bring it on!
Marking my students' writing is one of the best things about the job. Being with them at their classes and teaching them face-to-face is pretty terrific too, but as I can't teach seven days a week, marking is the next best thing.
I think creative writing must be one of the very best subjects to mark as every piece of work is unique and every student has their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses and their own unpredicable learning curve.
Even if I set everyone the same task with the same stimulus material, I end up with stories that are totally different from one another and all fascinating in their own right.
Of course, you get to know people through their writing, more than you would through their maths or their IT homework. You get to know their interests, their preoccupations, their attitudes to life, their past. And it's all fascinating.
I used to wonder how my friend used to always remember the names of all her creative writing class members, because when I'd been a member of a class or group I might still not know everybody's name even though I'd known them for years! But once you've read and marked a student's writing, you not only remember their name, but you build up your own unique understanding of them as a person.
That's why, when I begin teaching again next week, I can't wait to get on with some marking. Bring it on!
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Progressing in Fits and Starts
It's a well-known educational truth that people's learning doesn't follow a nice, even, upward line. We often progress in fits and starts. Sometimes we'll seem to be making really good, fast progress, then suddenly we'll appear to get stuck at a certain level for a while, then again we'll start to progress rapidly.
It's a bit like the way children grow. Any parent will know that sometimes a child's clothes will seem to last for ages, then all of a sudden they outgrow everything. I see that when I compare my son with his contemporaries. For ages, my son will be the tall one in the group, a good half-head taller than his friends. Then I'll see them all again a couple of months later, and they'll have nearly caught up with him.
Progressing in fits and starts can be a little bit disconcerting when you're trying to master a new skill. It's all very well when you feel as if you're making rapid progress, but it can be really frustrating when you hit a patch when you appear to be stuck or, even worse, when you appear to be sliding backwards. It's especially worrying when you don't understand why you've ended up in this stuck patch.
This is something that affects creative people too, both when we're learning our new craft and when we're practising it professionally. It would be lovely if everything were predictable and we were so in control of our creativity that we could maintain a steady output, nicely spread over the year, with spaces for holidays.
But in real life, it just doesn't happen like that. All we can do is be grateful when things are going well, when we are full of ideas, when we are working fast and delighting ourselves by our output. And when we hit a plateau and things aren't going too well, the best thing to do is not to worry about it.
Remember that change is one of the constants of life. Our mantra for the tough times must be 'This too will pass.' We will become more productive; the barriers to our understanding will be lifted; eventually, we will be on an upward trajectory once again.
Have faith - and trust in your creativity!
It's a bit like the way children grow. Any parent will know that sometimes a child's clothes will seem to last for ages, then all of a sudden they outgrow everything. I see that when I compare my son with his contemporaries. For ages, my son will be the tall one in the group, a good half-head taller than his friends. Then I'll see them all again a couple of months later, and they'll have nearly caught up with him.
Progressing in fits and starts can be a little bit disconcerting when you're trying to master a new skill. It's all very well when you feel as if you're making rapid progress, but it can be really frustrating when you hit a patch when you appear to be stuck or, even worse, when you appear to be sliding backwards. It's especially worrying when you don't understand why you've ended up in this stuck patch.
This is something that affects creative people too, both when we're learning our new craft and when we're practising it professionally. It would be lovely if everything were predictable and we were so in control of our creativity that we could maintain a steady output, nicely spread over the year, with spaces for holidays.
But in real life, it just doesn't happen like that. All we can do is be grateful when things are going well, when we are full of ideas, when we are working fast and delighting ourselves by our output. And when we hit a plateau and things aren't going too well, the best thing to do is not to worry about it.
Remember that change is one of the constants of life. Our mantra for the tough times must be 'This too will pass.' We will become more productive; the barriers to our understanding will be lifted; eventually, we will be on an upward trajectory once again.
Have faith - and trust in your creativity!
Monday, 8 September 2008
Off the Beaten Track
I'm sitting writing this at five past four in the afternoon, which is unusual for me. Writing my blog entries is usually something I do in the evening, often at ten or eleven o'clock at night. It's a sort of winding down activity for me, a chance to reflect on the day when I'm in that hazy half-awake state before I get ready for bed.
Today my routine will be different because by the time I get back from my salsa classes at ten o'clock Andy Murray, the Scottish tennis player, will be playing the final of the Grand Slam and I shall want to watch that. So here I am, at least six hours too early, feeling a little bit uncomfortable because I've stepped outside my usual routine.
But I know that in this case, the change will do me good. It will be exciting to watch such a momentous tennis match, even if Murray doesn't manage to beat Federer. It's interesting for me to sit down and write a blog in the middle of the day and see how I cope with it and what the result will be.
Going off the beaten track in any aspect of our lives throws up new challenges and new possibilities. We let forego the safety net of our familiar routine and leap into the unknown. It might be a big leap, like jacking in our job and going to work in a lumberjack colony in North Borneo. It might be a little leap like buying a vegetarian lunch instead of our usual burger.
The big leaps, like the move to North Borneo, may be too much for us to cope with, so it's often better to begin with a smaller jump, like taking a different route to work, reading a different newspaper or signing up for an evening class in a subject we've never tried before.
We can gradually expand our comfort zone and become more flexible in our attitudes and our activities. Flexibility is a useful attribute to work on as the only thing that's certain in this world is that change happens. The more comfortable we become with it, the easier it will be to cope with it when it is forced upon us unexpectedly, if we face a bereavement or if we suddenly lose our job.
Flexibility is also an extremely useful quality for a writer to have. A person who is flexible and can adapt to different circumstances and settings will probably find it easier to be imaginative because he will be used to seeing things from different angles. Being able to accept new people and new situations also helps us to see them for who they really are instead of falling into the trap of making an assumption about them and making our view of them fit in with our pre-conceived notions.
There! I've taken my small leap for the day by writing my blog in the afternoon. Tomorrow I take a slightly bigger one by beginning my PGCE (teacher traing course). Wish me luck!
Today my routine will be different because by the time I get back from my salsa classes at ten o'clock Andy Murray, the Scottish tennis player, will be playing the final of the Grand Slam and I shall want to watch that. So here I am, at least six hours too early, feeling a little bit uncomfortable because I've stepped outside my usual routine.
But I know that in this case, the change will do me good. It will be exciting to watch such a momentous tennis match, even if Murray doesn't manage to beat Federer. It's interesting for me to sit down and write a blog in the middle of the day and see how I cope with it and what the result will be.
Going off the beaten track in any aspect of our lives throws up new challenges and new possibilities. We let forego the safety net of our familiar routine and leap into the unknown. It might be a big leap, like jacking in our job and going to work in a lumberjack colony in North Borneo. It might be a little leap like buying a vegetarian lunch instead of our usual burger.
The big leaps, like the move to North Borneo, may be too much for us to cope with, so it's often better to begin with a smaller jump, like taking a different route to work, reading a different newspaper or signing up for an evening class in a subject we've never tried before.
We can gradually expand our comfort zone and become more flexible in our attitudes and our activities. Flexibility is a useful attribute to work on as the only thing that's certain in this world is that change happens. The more comfortable we become with it, the easier it will be to cope with it when it is forced upon us unexpectedly, if we face a bereavement or if we suddenly lose our job.
Flexibility is also an extremely useful quality for a writer to have. A person who is flexible and can adapt to different circumstances and settings will probably find it easier to be imaginative because he will be used to seeing things from different angles. Being able to accept new people and new situations also helps us to see them for who they really are instead of falling into the trap of making an assumption about them and making our view of them fit in with our pre-conceived notions.
There! I've taken my small leap for the day by writing my blog in the afternoon. Tomorrow I take a slightly bigger one by beginning my PGCE (teacher traing course). Wish me luck!
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Do Clothes Make the Man?
My son's new school term begins tomorrow and he's going back with a new suit, even though he's only 14. The school reviewed its uniform policy last term and decided to ditch the familiar blue blazers and grey or black school trousers or skirts in favour of black suits to be worn with an orange and black school tie (to match the school's new orange logo).
It struck me that it must feel slightly odd for a teacher to be confronted with a class full of young teenagers who are sitting in black business suits. But then it must feel even more odd for the staff at Eton whose pupils wear frock coats and wing collars.
That got me thinking about the clothes that people wear and the sort of judgement we make about them because of the way they dress. I remember one lady I knew in Buckinghamshire who was a farmer's wife, salt of the earth, but she dressed a bit like a bag lady.
She once went to look at a show house and the estate agent was very snooty to her, as if to say, 'There's no point in showing you our houses as you wouldn't be able to afford them.' Little did the estate agent know that this middle-aged lady with scruffy hair and no make-up owned a farm that was worth ten times the cost of the most expensive show house!
Some actors say that if they want to get inside a character they are going to play and really understand them, then they need to wear the character's shoes. Once they get used to the feel of the shoes, they know what the character's walk will be like and then everything else falls into place.
How could you use some of these ideas when you're creating your own fictional characters? Could you make a person look and dress contrary to their type, so that they are an enigma to the people they meet? Could the character have a particular item of clothing or a particular accessory that is the key to understanding them?
What is it about them you need to know or imagine for them to really come to life in your mind?
It struck me that it must feel slightly odd for a teacher to be confronted with a class full of young teenagers who are sitting in black business suits. But then it must feel even more odd for the staff at Eton whose pupils wear frock coats and wing collars.
That got me thinking about the clothes that people wear and the sort of judgement we make about them because of the way they dress. I remember one lady I knew in Buckinghamshire who was a farmer's wife, salt of the earth, but she dressed a bit like a bag lady.
She once went to look at a show house and the estate agent was very snooty to her, as if to say, 'There's no point in showing you our houses as you wouldn't be able to afford them.' Little did the estate agent know that this middle-aged lady with scruffy hair and no make-up owned a farm that was worth ten times the cost of the most expensive show house!
Some actors say that if they want to get inside a character they are going to play and really understand them, then they need to wear the character's shoes. Once they get used to the feel of the shoes, they know what the character's walk will be like and then everything else falls into place.
How could you use some of these ideas when you're creating your own fictional characters? Could you make a person look and dress contrary to their type, so that they are an enigma to the people they meet? Could the character have a particular item of clothing or a particular accessory that is the key to understanding them?
What is it about them you need to know or imagine for them to really come to life in your mind?
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Enjoy Your Talent, However Small
This morning I was back at Music Centre to play in two bands, along with a dozen or so adults and several hundred children - not to mention the parents and grandparents who had brought their children along and who sat and listened to them play for an hour and a half.
I have some musical talent, but it's relatively modest. I didn't start learning clarinet and saxophone till I was in my forties. I don't pick things up as quickly as I used to and my fingers are clumsy, but I have a fairly good ear. I know I would be better if I practised for an hour a day on each of my instruments, but I can't see that happening in the near future.
So I'm happy to sit in Junior Band with my saxophone next to a ten-year old and a twelve-year old, knowing that although I may be better than they are at writing university essays about music and I have a Dip. Mus. after my name, I don't have their natural talent. And I know I'll never play as well as their dad who is a very gifted professional saxophonist and composer.
But to me, it's still a great thing to be able to make music with other people. It's thrilling to sit and play as part of a large band and hear the wonderful sound we make together and realise that I'm part of that too. It's great to have something to work towards and people to share my interest with. It's fascinating to discover new music and revel in the sheer delight of it - and I can't wait to play the 'Pirates of the Carribean' medley again in Intermediate Band!
If you're just starting to write or you're beginning writing classes or workshops, maybe you doubt your talent as a writer. There are so many fantastic books that have been published, so much wonderful poetry, powerful plays for stage or television. Where you are seems a long way off from the achievements of these marvellous writers. How can you ever hope to bridge the gap?
It's easy to think it's all too difficult and you're too ordinary. You don't have that magic something that all these famous writers have. You'll never have books in the bestseller lists or write plays like Shakespeare.
But think of yourself as joining in the music. Think of yourself as a small part of a big band in which everyone is playing different instruments. Alone, you may feel feeble and inadequate, but when you join forces with others the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
When you write, even in a small way, you are part of the symphony of words and creativity that is formed by writers everywhere. You are adding your own unique sounds, your signature flourishes to it, and your contribution helps to increase the total creativity of the universe.
So when you sit down with your pen and paper and worry that you may not have what it takes to be a writer, don't worry. Be happy! Enjoy your talent, however small! You may not know it, but really, we're all playing the same tune.
I have some musical talent, but it's relatively modest. I didn't start learning clarinet and saxophone till I was in my forties. I don't pick things up as quickly as I used to and my fingers are clumsy, but I have a fairly good ear. I know I would be better if I practised for an hour a day on each of my instruments, but I can't see that happening in the near future.
So I'm happy to sit in Junior Band with my saxophone next to a ten-year old and a twelve-year old, knowing that although I may be better than they are at writing university essays about music and I have a Dip. Mus. after my name, I don't have their natural talent. And I know I'll never play as well as their dad who is a very gifted professional saxophonist and composer.
But to me, it's still a great thing to be able to make music with other people. It's thrilling to sit and play as part of a large band and hear the wonderful sound we make together and realise that I'm part of that too. It's great to have something to work towards and people to share my interest with. It's fascinating to discover new music and revel in the sheer delight of it - and I can't wait to play the 'Pirates of the Carribean' medley again in Intermediate Band!
If you're just starting to write or you're beginning writing classes or workshops, maybe you doubt your talent as a writer. There are so many fantastic books that have been published, so much wonderful poetry, powerful plays for stage or television. Where you are seems a long way off from the achievements of these marvellous writers. How can you ever hope to bridge the gap?
It's easy to think it's all too difficult and you're too ordinary. You don't have that magic something that all these famous writers have. You'll never have books in the bestseller lists or write plays like Shakespeare.
But think of yourself as joining in the music. Think of yourself as a small part of a big band in which everyone is playing different instruments. Alone, you may feel feeble and inadequate, but when you join forces with others the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
When you write, even in a small way, you are part of the symphony of words and creativity that is formed by writers everywhere. You are adding your own unique sounds, your signature flourishes to it, and your contribution helps to increase the total creativity of the universe.
So when you sit down with your pen and paper and worry that you may not have what it takes to be a writer, don't worry. Be happy! Enjoy your talent, however small! You may not know it, but really, we're all playing the same tune.
Friday, 5 September 2008
Rain - Reasons to be Cheerful
Today in Yorkshire we've had torrential rain for most of the day, and I gather it has been even worse in some parts of the country. I spent the afternoon trailing round town with my son, looking for the last few bits and pieces he needed to take back to school with him and getting very wet in the process. Even with an umbrella, it wasn't very pleasant to be outdoors.
But it looks as if this extremely wet weather is set to continue for the foreseeable future, so we might as well put it to good use. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as they say. Let's think about some reasons why we should be cheerful about this rainy weather and grateful for it. Doing so will certainly stretch our imagination, so let's treat it as a warm-up exercise to increase our creativity.
I'll get you started with a couple of fairly obvious reasons:
We can be grateful for the rain because...
...plants need water to grow
...it will keep the reservoirs topped up.
It's your turn now. Try to come up with ten reasons why we should be grateful for the rain. Not only will the activity develop your creativity, it should also make you feel a bit more cheerful and happy to be alive, rather than miserable and fed-up.
But it looks as if this extremely wet weather is set to continue for the foreseeable future, so we might as well put it to good use. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as they say. Let's think about some reasons why we should be cheerful about this rainy weather and grateful for it. Doing so will certainly stretch our imagination, so let's treat it as a warm-up exercise to increase our creativity.
I'll get you started with a couple of fairly obvious reasons:
We can be grateful for the rain because...
...plants need water to grow
...it will keep the reservoirs topped up.
It's your turn now. Try to come up with ten reasons why we should be grateful for the rain. Not only will the activity develop your creativity, it should also make you feel a bit more cheerful and happy to be alive, rather than miserable and fed-up.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
How My Death Saved My Life
Now that's an interesting title, isn't it? Fortunately, it doesn't refer to me and my life - it's the title of an autobiography by the American speaker, author and visionary, Denise Linn.
I encountered Denise Linn through listening to broadcasts on the internet from Hay House Radio. Denise has a regular radio show which I really enjoy listening to on my podcasts and she's one of my favourite broadcasters, lovely and warm and empathic and full of joy.
I did know a little bit about her life as she'd talked on air about the incident which provided the title for her book. When she was younger she was shot by a sniper and suffered horrendous injuries as a result. The medics thought that she wouldn't survive the attack and had to fight to save her life.
What I knew nothing about was her extraorinary childhood in which she had to cope with a mother who was a paranoid schizophrenic. It makes riveting reading, hearing about her turbulent early years. It's a real miracle that someone who endured an upbringing like hers could manage to turn into someone so calm and cheerful, who could help and inspire so many other people.
If you like biographies, or if you are interested in spirituality, healing or mysticism, I heartily recommend this fascinating book.
I encountered Denise Linn through listening to broadcasts on the internet from Hay House Radio. Denise has a regular radio show which I really enjoy listening to on my podcasts and she's one of my favourite broadcasters, lovely and warm and empathic and full of joy.
I did know a little bit about her life as she'd talked on air about the incident which provided the title for her book. When she was younger she was shot by a sniper and suffered horrendous injuries as a result. The medics thought that she wouldn't survive the attack and had to fight to save her life.
What I knew nothing about was her extraorinary childhood in which she had to cope with a mother who was a paranoid schizophrenic. It makes riveting reading, hearing about her turbulent early years. It's a real miracle that someone who endured an upbringing like hers could manage to turn into someone so calm and cheerful, who could help and inspire so many other people.
If you like biographies, or if you are interested in spirituality, healing or mysticism, I heartily recommend this fascinating book.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Creating New Writing Classes
Some creative writing lecturers drift on from year to year with basically the same class full of basically the same people, shedding one or two students from time to time, picking up a couple of new ones. I might be in that position tomorrow night when the enrolment takes place for the course, 'Continuing to Develop in Creative Writing', which is a follow-on class for my last year's Open College of the North West students. Most of them are keen to return, although I'm very pleased that I already know of a few new people with some writing experience who are going to join us.
But today has been the day for forming completely new classes, two brand new classes, both on 'An Introduction to Creative Writing', but one a daytime class, the other an evening class, and in two different centres. It was a fascinating experience to meet so many new students all in the one day and to hear about their reasons for wanting to write and their writing aspirations.
There are the makings of two very nice classes. I hope we manage to recruit a few more students to ensure that the classes will be big enough to run, but we've certainly got a really good core of very interesting people. It's been really useful for me to be able to meet them all and talk to them before the first class so that I will be able to tailor my teaching to their needs and preferences, even at Week 1.
Meanwhile, I've been continuing to market my courses. It's a curious development that institutions can no longer afford to publicise their adult education by sending out a prospectus to every household in the locality - if we tutors want to make sure we have students, we need to be pro-active and do some marketing for ourselves.
I spent part of Monday morning getting my son to help me design a poster using the Word Processor so that I would have something that I could give to libraries and shops to spread the word about my courses. I gave out some of them on Monday and Tuesday to various venues.
I happen to have sent a copy to one of my students, a graphic designer, who very kindly produced a much more professional-looking flyer for me to use, based on the information I'd provided. Thank you, Mark. Your word has been much admired in the Adult Education Department and my boss is now encouraging the other tutors do do their own marketing too! I'm a trend-setter!
So I spent this wet and windy afternoon driving round Huddersfield, exploring parts of Almondbury which I'd never been to before, taking even more of the new, super-duper improved posters to other venues. I hope the flyers will prompt a few more people to enquire about the courses and enrol for them. Time is running out, in that my last enrolment session is tomorrow evening, but it will still be possible to enrol after that by ringing The Manse Adult Education Centre.
I was delighted when one of this morning's new students produced one of my posters from her bag and told me that the librarian at the Central Library had given her it when she asked if there were any creative writing classes available. That one obviously did what it was meant to do - and I'd only handed it in to the library less than 24 hours beforehand!
To all my students, returning and newly enrolled, and to all those of you around the globe who are starting or continuing with writing courses this term, may you have a very happy and rewarding learning experience and develop in your craft!
But today has been the day for forming completely new classes, two brand new classes, both on 'An Introduction to Creative Writing', but one a daytime class, the other an evening class, and in two different centres. It was a fascinating experience to meet so many new students all in the one day and to hear about their reasons for wanting to write and their writing aspirations.
There are the makings of two very nice classes. I hope we manage to recruit a few more students to ensure that the classes will be big enough to run, but we've certainly got a really good core of very interesting people. It's been really useful for me to be able to meet them all and talk to them before the first class so that I will be able to tailor my teaching to their needs and preferences, even at Week 1.
Meanwhile, I've been continuing to market my courses. It's a curious development that institutions can no longer afford to publicise their adult education by sending out a prospectus to every household in the locality - if we tutors want to make sure we have students, we need to be pro-active and do some marketing for ourselves.
I spent part of Monday morning getting my son to help me design a poster using the Word Processor so that I would have something that I could give to libraries and shops to spread the word about my courses. I gave out some of them on Monday and Tuesday to various venues.
I happen to have sent a copy to one of my students, a graphic designer, who very kindly produced a much more professional-looking flyer for me to use, based on the information I'd provided. Thank you, Mark. Your word has been much admired in the Adult Education Department and my boss is now encouraging the other tutors do do their own marketing too! I'm a trend-setter!
So I spent this wet and windy afternoon driving round Huddersfield, exploring parts of Almondbury which I'd never been to before, taking even more of the new, super-duper improved posters to other venues. I hope the flyers will prompt a few more people to enquire about the courses and enrol for them. Time is running out, in that my last enrolment session is tomorrow evening, but it will still be possible to enrol after that by ringing The Manse Adult Education Centre.
I was delighted when one of this morning's new students produced one of my posters from her bag and told me that the librarian at the Central Library had given her it when she asked if there were any creative writing classes available. That one obviously did what it was meant to do - and I'd only handed it in to the library less than 24 hours beforehand!
To all my students, returning and newly enrolled, and to all those of you around the globe who are starting or continuing with writing courses this term, may you have a very happy and rewarding learning experience and develop in your craft!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Autumnal Images for Writing
Here in the north of England, it's just starting to turn autumnal. The darkness is falling earlier; we're finding the mornings darker too; and the leaves are starting to turn to their familiar seasonal shades of red and gold. It's the time of year when we may remember the line, 'Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness' and feel like writing a poem of our own.
To write a poem about autumn, why not go for a little walk in a park or a tree lined street and observe your natural surroundings. Pay attention to the little details like which trees are starting to turn first. In my garden, it's usually our Norway Maple that's the first to blush red and shed its leaves.
Listen to autumnal sounds like the crackle of feet on dry leaves (or with the weather we've had, it might be the swish of windscreen wipers as cars drive through flooded roads!) Most of our local children will have gone back to school by the end of this week. We saw a couple of children running round a shop this afternoon, giggling non-stop. What sounds do you hear from a school playground the first week when the children go back to school?
Jot down some words or phrases that come to mind and see if you can come up with words that reflect the sounds of autumn. 'Crisp' is one that comes to mind - it conjures up the crunchy sound and texture of dry leaves on pavements and also ties in with idea that apples are ripe for picking.
Good luck with your autumn poem - e-mail me your finished work to gale.barker@tesco.net and I'll display the best ones on this blog.
To write a poem about autumn, why not go for a little walk in a park or a tree lined street and observe your natural surroundings. Pay attention to the little details like which trees are starting to turn first. In my garden, it's usually our Norway Maple that's the first to blush red and shed its leaves.
Listen to autumnal sounds like the crackle of feet on dry leaves (or with the weather we've had, it might be the swish of windscreen wipers as cars drive through flooded roads!) Most of our local children will have gone back to school by the end of this week. We saw a couple of children running round a shop this afternoon, giggling non-stop. What sounds do you hear from a school playground the first week when the children go back to school?
Jot down some words or phrases that come to mind and see if you can come up with words that reflect the sounds of autumn. 'Crisp' is one that comes to mind - it conjures up the crunchy sound and texture of dry leaves on pavements and also ties in with idea that apples are ripe for picking.
Good luck with your autumn poem - e-mail me your finished work to gale.barker@tesco.net and I'll display the best ones on this blog.
Monday, 1 September 2008
Word Games for Everyday Life
I was driving along the other day with my family when we spotted a driving school car which had the school's name on the top of the vehicle. It was 'Pass with Pete'.
'It's a good job he wasn't called Fred,' said my husband, 'or else the driving school might have been "Fail with Fred"'.
At this point we all came up with more and more outrageous names for a driving school based on people's names. We got as far as 'Carnage with Colin' and 'Massacre with Miranda.' It's amazing what you can do with alliterations!
We all had a good laugh anyway, so it brightened up what might have been a rather routine journey home.
When you're driving or walking around this week, see if you can spot any signs with alliterations like 'Pass with Pete' and set yourself the challenge of coming up with some unorthodox variations. You never know, the game might even spark off some ideas for a short story.
Have fun!
'It's a good job he wasn't called Fred,' said my husband, 'or else the driving school might have been "Fail with Fred"'.
At this point we all came up with more and more outrageous names for a driving school based on people's names. We got as far as 'Carnage with Colin' and 'Massacre with Miranda.' It's amazing what you can do with alliterations!
We all had a good laugh anyway, so it brightened up what might have been a rather routine journey home.
When you're driving or walking around this week, see if you can spot any signs with alliterations like 'Pass with Pete' and set yourself the challenge of coming up with some unorthodox variations. You never know, the game might even spark off some ideas for a short story.
Have fun!
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