Writing East Midlands – Writer’s Conference

Written in response to https://fivedotoh.com/2023/04/02/fowc-with-fandango-bask/

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to The Writer’s Conference, held by the University of Derby. A day packed with exciting events; Rikki Beadle Blair and Joella Taylor were keynote speakers.

Wow, is the only word I can give to them, each with their different life experiences, leading their life to a world of poetry and inspiration to others. Rikki, and producing plays on doorsteps, using his friends as actors. Joella, her life, giving a meaning behind her narrative and poems. Her performance, the room was silent.

From ”Creative writing in the community”, where a panel talked about why we write, and the writing industry. To writing, editing, submitting to agents, and publishers. We are all learning, even those who have been traditionally published. What agents are looking for, how to stand out. My next event, Writing life to Fiction, where we basked in the memory music gives us. What our name means to us – mine was chosen by my sister, I love my name. A way of writing, different music developing different stories. We were asked to think of songs, which evoked emotions. I chose, I will Survive, a song I sang, when I was eight years old, in front of the mirror. In my bedroom, using a hairbrush as a mike. The song always gave me a sense of strength, when I was being bullied as a child.

A sense of empowerment.

There are other songs, some make me laugh, some I will cry, and some you just want to sing to in the car. A way of releasing stress and making you happy.

Other speakers, from creative writing, and listening to experiences of game and script writers was something I would never have done, if it weren’t for the kindness of someone giving me a free ticket.

What I got most was the sense I wasn’t alone in my writing.

The word used, introverts, and in the most part that is what we are. We spend most of our time behind a keyboard, or writing freehand. It is a lonely craft, but one we will never stop doing. I went with a group of friends, from my writing group. I didn’t feel so alone, knowing I was part of something special.

A scribble of writers, what an amazing day!