I recently attended a Short Story Writing Workshop with Sue Moorcroft

What a great day 🙂 Sue is an excellent teacher!

As per usual, you know me, I made lots of notes 🙂

Sue had lots of interesting tips for writing short stories for magazines, so if that is something you’d like to explore, I can highly recommend Sue’s book. But it’s not just for short stories. Sue has published several full length novels too 🙂

One of the tips she gave us that I thought was really helpful was the 10 Words/Phrases This really helps with writing description, and if you incorporate those actual words into your story, hopefully, the reader will be more able to picture what you’re describing. Personally, I think it is great for getting to know my characters. I can split it up into 10 personality traits, or 10 physical features. It’s really helping me focus on what my characters look like 🙂

Think of 10 words or phrases that relate to your character or your setting. So, for example, when I picture my heroine, Kate, these are the words that immediately come to mind:

Pale skinned
Plain
Clumsy
Chestnut hair
Single
Smartly dressed (suit)
Stubborn
Dog owner
Believes in romance
Friendly

Sue is teaching a writing course in Italy next year, and I’m so tempted to go, no, more than tempted, I really want to go 🙂 Arte Umbria are doing Creative Writing courses next year, the setting, a country house set in 220 acres of the Umbrian Hills near Tuscany *wistful sigh* 🙂

So, dear reader, should I go to Italy? lol 😉 and anyone fancy joining me? 😉