I’m Off To Swanwick!

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

I’m packed (well nearly) and ready to go. Yep, it’s that time of year again where I go off to The Writers Summer School for a week 🙂 This will be my 3rd year at Swanwick and the programme looks as action packed as ever!

Highlights from the programme that I’m looking forward to this year are:

Screenwriting with James Moran who’s written episodes of Dr Who
Fashioning Fiction from Fact with Syd Moore author of The Drowning Pool & Witch Hunt
How to Write a Self Help Book with Felicity Margolis
Talk from Deborah Moggach writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The plays put on by the other students and the busking night.
Plus meeting up with friends I haven’t seen for a year!

I’m a big believer in every writer attending conferences, courses, workshops and summer schools. Last year I wrote a post for Sue Howe’s blog, where I tried to persuade her to join me at Swanwick. If you want to join me for 6 days of writing fun (and 6 evenings spent in the bar!) you’ll have to be quick…..it starts tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll be doing me Steward bit, checking people in as they arrive 🙂

If that all seems too much you can attend as a day visitor or stay for 1 or 2 nights.

Right, gotta dash, need to finish packing. I’ll be posting daily about what I’ve been up to but apologies in advance if I get even more behind with blog reading….I usually fall into bed every night exhausted 😉

Have you ever attended a Writers Summer School? I’d love to hear your experiences 🙂

Monday Interview with Vikki Thompson

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

My guest post on The Write Romantics blog where I talk about the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writers Scheme 🙂

thewriteromantics

Vikki Thompson lives in Kent with her husband, 3 adult children (who refuse to leave home) and 2 cats. She blogs, (or should that be rambles?) at The View Outside (http://www.the.view.outside.com) and spends her time fantasising about being the next EL James but isn’t too keen on having to write Erotica to achieve that (unless Robert Downey Jnr is available for research). She enjoys writing courses and workshops and can be found yearly at Swanwick (http://www.swanwickwritersschool.co.uk)

We know that, like us, you are a member of the NWS but we wondered if you could tell us a bit about how you came to join, how long you have been a member, the genre you write in and what inspired you to start writing?

I heard about the New Writers Scheme early last year, so was determined to try to get a place for 2013. So this is my first year…

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Posted on September 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

My Guest post is now live!!!! 🙂

Please go and convince Sue to enrol on a course lol 😉

the long and the short of it

A huge thank you to Sue for inviting me onto her blog today… I don’t think she realised that when I’m enthusiastic about something, I can ramble for hours!

So Sue’s asked me to convince her of the merits of creative writing courses, classes and workshops. I’m hoping that by the time she reads this she’ll be enrolling on everything she comes across.

My first experience of ‘creative writing’ was a baptism of fire. I decided (through madness or stupidity, I still don’t know which) to accompany a friend to a course at our local Adult Education centre. I hadn’t written any fiction since leaving school, although I had been journal writing for several years. That was exactly 2 years ago this month, and it was one of the best decisions of my life! I’ll be honest; the course itself was a little boring. I found myself nodding off in several sessions! But somehow, through all the yawning something clicked. Something happened…

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The Long & The Short Of It – How Learning My Craft Has Changed My Life

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Today, I’m guesting over at Sue Howe’s blog The Long and The Short Of It 🙂

Sue asked me if I could do an article about writing workshops, classes and residential schools. I’m trying to convince her to come along to Swanwick you see 😉

So here’s the start of the article…..to read more you’ll have to nip over to Sue’s gaff 🙂

A huge thank you to Sue for inviting me onto her Blog today….I don’t think she realised that when I’m enthusiastic about something, I can ramble for hours!

So Sue’s asked me to convince her of the merits of creative writing courses, classes and workshops. I’m hoping that by the time she reads this she’ll be enrolling on everything she comes across!

My first experience of “creative writing” was a baptism of fire. I decided (through madness or stupidity, I still don’t know which) to accompany a friend to a course at our local Adult Education centre. I hadn’t written any fiction since leaving school (many, ahem, years ago) although I had been journal writing for several years. That was exactly 2 years ago this month, and it was one of the best decisions of my life! I’ll be honest; the course itself was a little boring. I found myself nodding off in several sessions! But somehow, through all the yawning something clicked. Something happened to me during that short course, and it’s been driving me on ever since.

Please pop over to Sues blog to read the rest of the article, and leave a comment. Tell her Sue, you have to go to Swanwick next year! 😉 Actually, thinking about it, you all have to come! 😉

Does Your WIP Need A Bible?

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

One of my favourite bloggers, Hunter over at Hunters Writings recently included a link in one of her posts to a very interesting article:

Making A Writing Bible is an article that appeared on The Write Thing’s web site.
Edited to add: This link appears to be down 😦

Hunter has also been talking about The Novel Journal

So that’s what I’ve been working on, in preparation for Nano, my WIP Bible 🙂

I’ve decided to use a notebook rather than my Netbook as I can add things as and when I think of them. Even carry it around in my bag if inspiration strikes.

So, I’ve got the hero (although he’s changed a bit since you last heard about him….thank you for all your comments and suggestions!!!!). His name is now Daminano Moretti 😉 harry is still knocking about, and I’m sure i’ll find a use for him later 😉 Kate Walker suggested that we find a photo of what we envisage our hero to look like. So after some extensive Googling I have a couple of pics!

Then this section is for notes on my heroine, who is still Kate 🙂 I’ve also found a couple of pics of what I imagine her to look like.

I have a section for the minor characters. There won’t be many, as, in a Mills & Boon, its all about the hero and heroine.

The setting…..ahhhhh…. *day dreams wistfully* It’s Sorrento in Italy. So I’m collecting pics and info.

Chapter breakdown is a suggestion made by Sharon Kendrick at Swanwick. Because Mills & Boon books generally have a pattern, it’s a good idea to have an outline of where things need to happen, such as “the black moment” and that way you know where you are 😉

Notes and ideas is basically the section for everything else….title ideas, ideas for scenes, back story etc…..

I’ve never worked like this before (I was a pantster lol) but I can really see the benefits. And now, I have 2 whole months to collect all the info I need before I actually start writing on the 1st November! And I have to say….I’m loving it! 😉

Have you ever created a WIP Bible? And if not, would you consider it?

Character interviews

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Laura Pfundt was talking the other day about interviewing characters, then Chris Stocking posted about interviewing his characters.

It’s so important to get to know your characters fully, and a quick Google search will pull up various forms of questionnaires that you can use to get to know your characters better. But, my absolute favourite way to get to know my characters is by using Manon Eileen’s Character Survey 🙂 Another good one is listed on the Writers Write Creative Blog

Kirsten at Write A Book With Me takes her characters out for a cup of coffee. I LOVE this idea.

And Kate Walker gets her hubby to bombard her with questions about her characters in the car 🙂

People watching at Swanwick 😉

So what do you do to get to know your characters?

A Jungian Tool for Character Creation (presentsofmind.wordpress.com)

Home Again Home Again Jiggety-jig

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Awwwww, it was sad this morning, leaving Swanwick 😦

I had a great week, lovely to see people, but this morning, I didn’t get chance to say goodbye to everyone I wanted to. I’m so sorry if i didn’t, but hey, perhaps I’ll see you on Twitter 🙂

The journey home wasn’t too bad, only 1 small hold up. The house was really quiet when I got in, although the cats were pleased to see me 🙂

Soooooo, now, I’m gunna need a few days for everything to sink in, go through my notes, and have a think about what direction I want to go in next. Make a decision on what kind of writer i really want to be. I feel like I’ve been bombarded with information (all of it good) and my head is swimming lol.

Sooooo, normal service will resume here on Sunday 🙂

In the mean time, i will be catching up with e mails, blogs, and comments….and perhaps, doing a few Tweets lol

Sex and The Writing School – Swanwick The Last Day

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

What a great start to the morning! At 9.30 we were talking about sex, well Erotica to be exact 😉 Della’s class was excellent, and I learnt so much! Now trying to get my head around whether I could actually try writing some *gulp* 😉

Was interested to hear that one of the top sellers in the Erotica market are books based on Gay men. Apparently, Gay erotica is read by heterosexual women. Well, I think I may have to do some research now lol

During the break I decided to go for a walk, and I made a new friend lol

After my chat with the cows it was on to my last short story session with Linda Lewis. Linda gave us a tip on a technique which involves not only writing the beginning of a short story, but the end. I’m afraid, even with that tip, I still didn’t manage to come up with an ending for the start of my story I’d written in an earlier class *deep sigh* Why am I so crap at endings?

In the afternoon we attended the AGM and then it was Dregs Party on the lawn. I didn’t have any dregs to bring, but I did manage to grab a glass of white wine and actually change into a dress 🙂

The evening speaker was Helen Lederer who’s talk was entertaining.

She read an extract from her book which was very funny 🙂

I spent the rest of the night in the bar with Jayne, Maddie and Kate putting the writing world to rights until they deserted me to go to the disco *all say awwwwww* No, it was fine really, I wanted to finish packing!

So that was the last day 🙂

I’m so sorry I’m behind with replying to comments and your blogs. It’s been lovely, but I do miss my little online community 🙂

Oh, and thank you to everyone who has followed me on Twitter @vikkithomp I’m still not sure exactly what I should be doing and I don’t even know what a hash tag is! Lol

So if anyone could direct me to a Twitter for dummies type thingy, It would be much appreciated????? 🙂

Going home this morning after breakfast….sad, but happy and inspired…..roll on next year! 🙂

I’m feeling SOOOO Inspired! – Swanwick Day Five

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Yesterday was the third class with Linda Lewis on short story writing. I struggled with my homework so Linda scribbled my “words” on her flip chart and then the rest of the class bombarded me with ideas on a story lol. Thing is, I didn’t realise that I didn’t have to use all the words 😉

Then it was on to Sharon Kendricks course…..and at this present moment, all I seem capable of saying is wow! Lol *goes off to have a cappuccino and a cigarette to recover*

Ok, where do I start 😉

Sharon gave us a 12 chapter break down of a Mills & Boon book, so that we would know approximately where things are suppose to/should happen. It made it look easy, but, I know that’s not the case lol. We (as in, the class) came up with a hero, a heroine, back story and established that it was a “secret baby” story set in Rome and London. Brilliant. So interesting and informative, and Sharon is a great tutor. She had us laughing all the way through her classes 🙂

It’s probably been the highlight of my week, and now, I’m determined to try my hand 🙂

Late afternoon was spent in my room, trying to catch up with some writing, whilst outside it was torrential rain 😦

The speaker last night was the highly acclaimed David Nobbs who’s anecdotes and memories had most of the delegates roaring with laughter.

A quick drink in the bar and then it was time to hand my raffle tickets in….I sold 417 tickets at a quid each, so I’m pleased with that 🙂

And my final news of the day…… I’ve joined Twitter ha ha ha! I blame Della Galton & Peter Jones 😉
My Twitter name is @vikkithomp lol. I did want to use the blog name but decided against it. So if you want to follow me, lol, please 🙂

Are you on Twitter?

All E’ed Out – Swanwick Day Four

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I can’t believe I forgot to tell you who our speaker was yesterday….shocking! Seee, brain dead already and it’s only day four *snigger*

Our speaker was the lovely Alan Samson from Orion Books. His talk was very interesting, and my favourite quote? “The book belongs to the author. An editor should be invisible.” which was said by Max Perkins, who is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest literary editor ever.

So now I’ve got that out the way, what have I been up to?

I spent the early morning, writing, in my usual spot 😉

Then after breakfast it was a talk from Rebecca Woodhead which was all about E Publishing. Fascinating stuff, in which she told us the secrets of her success, one of which is about building your “tribe” lol. What that actually means is that you need to build up your loyal following.

After a break for tea it was “Ask the E Panel”. A Q and A session with Alan Samson, Rebecca Woodhead, Jan Davison and Jonathan Telfer (both from Writing Magazine).

One of our delegates asked the question “If you’ve already published an EBook, does that ruin your chances of getting a traditional publisher and agent?” The panel were in full agreement with their response, and the answer was a definite NO and that, in most cases, it actually enhances your chances, especially if the EBook sells well and you have good reviews! OOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 🙂 I kinda thought that would be the case, but it was great to hear from this well respected group. Alan Samson added that he would never take an existing eBook that had been published elsewhere. So remember that people. If you want to go down the traditional route, please don’t post your WIP’s on your blog 🙂

We had the afternoon off, so I spent it catching up with online stuff, reading my book and doing some writing. I had a wander around the beautiful Lakes in the sunshine and actually managed to find a bench in the shade.

The evening speaker was Sharon Kendrick who is a Mills & Boon writer. She gave a thoroughly entertaining speech and i’ll be attending her course today 🙂

The rest of the evening was spent watching plays that were written by, directed by, and starring my fellow delegates. Great stuff! And Simon Hall as the Song Police got my vote 😉

So my question today, dear reader, is…..will you be going down the EBook route, in the hopes that it will give you a publishing deal? I still can’t make up my mind lol 😉