ALL WE NEED ARE WORDS…

Creative Writes & Mendham Writers Workshop at All You Read is Love pop up shop

Welcome to the latest Creative Writes blog post – hoping it brings you some cheer on this rainy London afternoon, in the midst of the tube strike.


The new Creative Writes video is being made and I have been learning a lot about what needs to be taken into consideration. I also need to learn how to be less self conscious when a camera is pointing at my face! Two of my wonderful students have already been filmed talking about their writing & the workshops and some footage has been taken from one of our Muswell Hill January Workshops at North Bank. We are going to continue with filming on 26 February at the Creating Character Workshop in Oak Room at North Bank. Thanks to Andy Andrews for working with me and I look forward to the end product!

All You Read is Love Events Board, Walthamstow

On Sunday afternoon, Rochelle Scholar from Mendham Writers and I popped into the All You Read is Love pop up shop & cafe in Walthamstow, E17 to facilitate a Reminiscence & Creative Writing Workshop; ‘Coffee & Cake’. We were fully booked and there was a lively discussion around baking and cake memories, followed by time to write about a particular memory. It was a joy to share stories. Thanks to everyone involved! 

The regular programme of workshops are in full swing. The block of three Creative Writes workshops at North Bank were a pleasure to teach. We fit as much possible into the short block and there was a good deal of support and laughter in the group. 

Flash /Micro Fiction has been a popular challenge at the workshops recently. We have enjoyed reading a range of examples and trying our own stories. It has been a chance for the participants to have a go at outlining the beginning, middle & end of their story before writing. We have been aiming for around 150 words. Try this: Read flash fiction that inspires you, choose a sentence or two from the story to trigger your own. We have also been writing mini stories with a contemporary twist on the traditional tale/fairy story. Try writing a list of titles that you remember from childhood and then try your own version. Enjoy! Set your clock for 10 minutes and keep writing….

I am delighted to announce that our Kew Creative Writing Groups have doubled in numbers. It has been wonderful to welcome our new writers and to feel the energy in the room. Following a discussion last week, I took in some examples of work by female WW1 poets on Monday. We shared two powerful poems; The Falling Leaves by Margaret Isabel Cole and Now That You Too by Eleanor Farjeon. The response was a range of raw, emotional poetry which was bravely written & shared. I have promised a lighter topic next week!

Our Kingston Carers Group will also be welcoming new members next week in New Malden. If you or anyone you know is a carer and would like to try our free creative writing workshops on Tuesday afternoons, please email me: info@creativewrites.co.uk

Kitty Lord’s Music Hall Boots, Museum of London

We are really excited to have received word this week that the ScreenDeep Music Hall audio piece ‘Conversations’ that I was Project Manager, Workshop Leader & Script Writer/Editor for last year, will be installed at Museum of London Docklands by the end of this month in their Many East Ends Gallery. The theatre seats are being refurbished as we speak. Watch this space!






Dates for your Diary – please click on link for further information & booking:

Creative Writes 2014 Monthly Themed Workshops at North Bank, Muswell Hill, N10.
All workshops are 7.30-9.30pm with refreshments included.
Creating Character  – Wednesday 26 February 
Playing with Poetry & Words  – Wednesday 26 March
Spin A Story –  Wednesday 30 April
Myriad of Objects – Wednesday 28 May
Colourful Writes – Wednesday 25 June

10% discount if three or more Themed Workshops booked together:
https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings-workshop-info-how-to-book.html


Sutton House Saturdays (Historic National Trust Property), Hackney, E9
Four Saturdays March 1, 8, 15, 22 , 2-4pm 
There is a special offer in the Sutton House Bryck Place Cafe for our participants.
https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings-workshop-info-how-to-book.html

See you soon!

Very best wishes,

Nichola