2021 One-Hour Workshops
The Magic of Characterisation - Della Galton
Three ways to create a character that may not have occurred to you before!
This is a fun workshop designed to make you think outside the box when it comes to character development.
(Participants will leave with a character, but possibly not the one they came in with!
This is a fun workshop designed to make you think outside the box when it comes to character development.
(Participants will leave with a character, but possibly not the one they came in with!
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Della Galton is a novelist, short story writer and journalist with over 30 years’ experience and over 1800 short stories published.
She is the agony aunt for Writers’ Forum magazine and is a qualified Adult Education tutor. Her latest novel, Sunshine Over The Bluebell Cliff Hotel is out 28 April 2020 (published in audio, paperback, digital). Her ‘How to Write’ Books are available from Amazon. For more information about Della see www.dellagalton.co.uk |
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Character Motivations - Andrew Roberts
What motivates your characters? Self-Direction? Tradition? Power? Benevolence?
What do they value? Freedom? Devotion? Social recognition? Honesty?
And where does the conflict arise? Independence versus preservation? Concern for the welfare of others versus dominance over others?
In this workshop, we’ll be taking a look at the ten universal motivations put forward by Shalom H. Schwartz in his Theory of Basic Human Values, and what they encapsulate. We will look at the relationships between such motivations, including those which are compatible with each other, and those which conflict and contrast.
We can then apply this model to your own characters, looking at how characters with contrasting motivations can create conflict. This doesn’t just include conflict between protagonists and antagonists, but also conflict between different protagonists.
These theories may help you think about what drives your characters, how conflicting motivations can blur the lines between good and evil, and how to new dynamics within your stories.
What do they value? Freedom? Devotion? Social recognition? Honesty?
And where does the conflict arise? Independence versus preservation? Concern for the welfare of others versus dominance over others?
In this workshop, we’ll be taking a look at the ten universal motivations put forward by Shalom H. Schwartz in his Theory of Basic Human Values, and what they encapsulate. We will look at the relationships between such motivations, including those which are compatible with each other, and those which conflict and contrast.
We can then apply this model to your own characters, looking at how characters with contrasting motivations can create conflict. This doesn’t just include conflict between protagonists and antagonists, but also conflict between different protagonists.
These theories may help you think about what drives your characters, how conflicting motivations can blur the lines between good and evil, and how to new dynamics within your stories.
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Andrew Roberts has been writing as a hobby since he was 17, originating from his interest in table-top roleplaying games and inspired by the old pulp magazines of the early 20th Century. His first visit to Swanwick in 2016 changed his life, and made him want to take his work further. To accommodate this, he left his day job as an accountant to study for a BA in Creative Writing. He might have spent the time playing Dungeons & Dragons, but he seems happier now and is still taking on board what he’s learned in his workshops. |
Follow in the Footsteps of Bowie and Dylan - Jo Harthan
In this workshop you will use the metaphorical and symbolic content of dreams to produce unique poetry.
After working individually, everyone’s work will be disassembled, shared and reconstructed into new poems in the fashion of the Romanian-French poet Tristan Tzara, who described it in his piece “How to Make a Dadaist Poem”. Dadaism was an artistic movement in modern art that peaked between 1916 and 1922. Its purpose was to ridicule the meaninglessness of the modern world. In a less extreme form the concept influenced surrealism, pop art and punk rock enabling artists such as Dylan and Bowie to produce evocative poetry and song lyrics.
Although it is recommended that you use one of your own dreams, if you arrive dreamless there will be dreams available to share. As time is very limited, it would be helpful if participants write down their dream and bring it along to the workshop. Choose a short dream, or excerpt from a longer dream, that has strong visuals or action.
The workshop is based on one of the techniques described in Joan’s books, 'Working With Dreams'.
After working individually, everyone’s work will be disassembled, shared and reconstructed into new poems in the fashion of the Romanian-French poet Tristan Tzara, who described it in his piece “How to Make a Dadaist Poem”. Dadaism was an artistic movement in modern art that peaked between 1916 and 1922. Its purpose was to ridicule the meaninglessness of the modern world. In a less extreme form the concept influenced surrealism, pop art and punk rock enabling artists such as Dylan and Bowie to produce evocative poetry and song lyrics.
Although it is recommended that you use one of your own dreams, if you arrive dreamless there will be dreams available to share. As time is very limited, it would be helpful if participants write down their dream and bring it along to the workshop. Choose a short dream, or excerpt from a longer dream, that has strong visuals or action.
The workshop is based on one of the techniques described in Joan’s books, 'Working With Dreams'.
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Joan has been working with dreams for over thirty years and is an active member of IASD (International Association for the Study of Dreams). Previously an FE teacher and lecturer at the University of Nottingham, she is a self-published author of fifteen books, including books on dream analysis and fictional titles in the series ‘Tales from the South West Coast Path’. She uses her dreams to assist and inform her writing.
For more information, visit her website at: www.docdreamuk.com |
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Crowdfunding a Book - Elizabeth Hopkinson
Want to sell your book to hundreds of eager readers before it’s even been written? Crowdfunding is an exciting, collaborative way to publish a book and generate readership and publicity at the same time. But you have to choose your subject – and your readership – wisely. And be prepared to put in plenty of hard work!
Elizabeth Hopkinson successfully crowdfunded her book Asexual Fairy Tales with Kickstarter and SilverWood Books. She will each share her experience of the crowdfunding process and thoughts on what makes a successful crowdfunded book.
We will cover:
Elizabeth Hopkinson successfully crowdfunded her book Asexual Fairy Tales with Kickstarter and SilverWood Books. She will each share her experience of the crowdfunding process and thoughts on what makes a successful crowdfunded book.
We will cover:
- To crowdfund or not?
- The importance of knowing your niche
- The different options available
- The budget!!
- Connections, connections, connections
- The highs and lows of crowdfunding – my experience
- Q&A session.
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Elizabeth Hopkinson is the prizewinning author of around 100 short stories and fairy tales. Her crowdfunded collection Asexual Fairy Tales was published by SilverWood Books in 2019 and was featured in the BBC’s We Are Bradford project. Elizabeth is a regular Swanwicker and has taught a number of popular courses on fairy tale and fantasy. Her awards include the James White Award, Swanwick Short Story (2nd) and Jane Austen Short Story (runner-up). Find out more at: www.elizabethhopkinson.uk |
The Comic Poem: a Serious Challenge - Michael Greenhough
Although comic poetry is often looked down upon (in some specific cases justifiably!) a successful piece needs many of the features of its more ‘serious’ counterparts. This is so whether we’re considering a conventional form or free verse. What’s more, since the success, or otherwise, of comedy may be more immediately apparent it can provide excellent discipline, especially when we’re starting out to write.
We’ll a consider a simple scheme to guide us in producing short pieces. The direction and ordering of our thoughts is all important if we’re to avoid frustrating impasses. The method involves settling on some comic idea/kernel before embarking on any writing. We then work backwards/outwards from the punchline/reveal, adding and refining material, homing in on a coherent, rounded and, with a bit of luck, satisfyingly funny result. Hand-out notes will be provided and post-workshop feedback freely offered.
We’ll a consider a simple scheme to guide us in producing short pieces. The direction and ordering of our thoughts is all important if we’re to avoid frustrating impasses. The method involves settling on some comic idea/kernel before embarking on any writing. We then work backwards/outwards from the punchline/reveal, adding and refining material, homing in on a coherent, rounded and, with a bit of luck, satisfyingly funny result. Hand-out notes will be provided and post-workshop feedback freely offered.
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Mike Greenhough has numerous awards for comic poetry, winning the inaugural All Wales Comic Verse Competition and the Percy French Award for Comic Verse (at the Strokestown International Poetry festival, Ireland). He also has prizes for comic short stories, including a Canongate Prize for New Writing. He regularly gives invited poetry readings in the South Wales area.
Mike gained presentation skills through a career in academia, lecturing and researching in physics and the science of music at Cardiff University. He’s always had a little toe in the arts, and served on the judging panel for sciart awards – funding for collaborations between established writers, musicians and visual artists, and scientists. He recently published his first comic novel Malcolm: Volume Zero, and a poetry collection will be out in the Spring. Website: mikegreenhoughwriting.co.uk |
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Producing a Book Trailer - Toni Bunnell
Creating a book trailer is a great way of promoting your book online as it uses a powerful medium to express the storyline of your book and create interest. The session will show how to produce a movie using still images and videos, and how to choose music clips to provide the required atmosphere. We will also look at how to select text to incorporate into the trailer that will give a flavour of your book. There will be the opportunity for participants to discuss the content they could use to produce their own trailer. We will examine the different processes involved in producing a book trailer, and how to make it available on YouTube.
At the end of the session you will be in a position to produce a book trailer using standard computer software, such as Windows Movie Maker, and how to use the trailer to promote your book online using social media.
At the end of the session you will be in a position to produce a book trailer using standard computer software, such as Windows Movie Maker, and how to use the trailer to promote your book online using social media.
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Dr Toni Bunnell is a singer-songwriter, musician, broadcaster, author, hedgehog rehabilitator and a wildlife biologist with a PhD in polecat behaviour. She has run York Hedgehog Rescue for 29 years. In 2017 she was awarded an Animal Action Award by IFAWUK for outstanding achievement in the field of hedgehog care and conservation. She lectured at Hull University for 16 years and has appeared many times on radio and television including Love Your Garden, Countryfile and The One Show.
As a singer-songwriter on the folk scene Toni has performed many times at folk clubs and festivals throughout the UK and Germany. She continues to perform on a regular basis and has just released her seventh album as well as a song book containing 100 of her songs. Toni spent five years running music therapy sessions for people with learning difficulties, resulting in the traditionally published book: Music Makes a Difference. She has self-published eight novels as paperbacks, two of which are available as audiobooks, and three non-fiction books about hedgehogs. All are available from her website: www.tonibunnell.com |
Finding Paying Markets - Cheryl Holland
It's often tempting to send work to markets that don't pay, just to see it in print or because of a belief that no one pays for short fiction and poetry these days. However there are hundreds of venues that do--magazines, anthologies, and competitions--if you know where to look.
This one-hour session will cover the basics of how to find paying markets for short stories and poems. It will look at traditional print sources as well as online methods such as searchable databases, mailing lists, websites, and social media. The aim of the session is to provide participants with the information to develop a submission strategy that works for them, and that pays.
This one-hour session will cover the basics of how to find paying markets for short stories and poems. It will look at traditional print sources as well as online methods such as searchable databases, mailing lists, websites, and social media. The aim of the session is to provide participants with the information to develop a submission strategy that works for them, and that pays.
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Cheryl Holland writes science fiction and fantasy under the name C.L. Holland, and poetry under the name Lucy Gabriel. She has been published in a range of magazines and anthologies including Nature International Journal of Science, Flash Fiction Online, and Cats in Space.
Her website is clholland.weebly.com |
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Building a World - Andrew Bannister
Back by popular demand, after a triumphant world tour from Hong Kong to Huddersfield, SF author and world-builder Andrew Bannister presents his renowned, not to say notorious, Build-A-World Workshop - a roller-coaster, no holds barred hour of mildly competitive sci-fi and fantasy world-building where the only limit is your imagination. The glittering prizes will include both jelly sweets AND chocolate, because no expense has been spared....
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Born in 1965, Andrew Bannister grew up in Cornwall. He studied Geology at Imperial College and went to work in the North Sea before becoming an Environmental Consultant. For the day job, he specialises in green transport and corporate sustainability, but he has always written - initially for student newspapers and fanzines before moving on, encouraged by creative writing courses, to fiction. He's always been a reader and has loved science fiction since childhood. From the classics of the 50s and 60s to the present day, he's wanted it all: space, stars, astonishment and adventure - and now he's discovered that writing it is even better. Andrew lives in Leicestershire. |
Ten Minute Plays - Pearl Andrews-Horrigan
Writing short plays is a great place for a budding playwright to start. Less time consuming than longer pieces, they develop the necessary skills, and with no shortage of scratch nights to submit to, they can help build up a writers’ CV.
This workshop will act as an introduction to 10 minute plays, as this is one of the most common lengths for new writing nights to require. We will look at writing within the constraints that shorter work places on us and complete exercises which will help writers of any genre turn their hand to playwriting. By working on characters, dialogue and ‘showing’ without ‘telling’, this workshop will cover the basics of writing short plays but will hopefully prove useful for any writer.
This workshop will act as an introduction to 10 minute plays, as this is one of the most common lengths for new writing nights to require. We will look at writing within the constraints that shorter work places on us and complete exercises which will help writers of any genre turn their hand to playwriting. By working on characters, dialogue and ‘showing’ without ‘telling’, this workshop will cover the basics of writing short plays but will hopefully prove useful for any writer.
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Pearl Andrews-Horrigan is a recent graduate from Newcastle University. She has had short plays produced professionally at venues including The Arcola, The Pleasance and Hope Mills, Manchester. As the winner of The Customs House Under 25s Playwriting Award in 2018, she received a fully funded week-long Research & Development on her play Tender: Loving Care, which was then shortlisted for The Pleasance Reading Week and selected for Aktualise Theatre’s Script Circle. She is a member of The Writing Squad, an Arts Council funded two-year development scheme for selected young writers in the North of England. This is her 4th Swanwick, having first attended when was 18 on the TopWrite scheme. |
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Don't Let Them Judge Your Book by its Cover - Fiona Samuel
More and more writers are now using the self-publishing / e-publishing route, which means they often end up creating their own book covers, with very mixed results! This course aims to show you a few basic tips and design ideas that are easily accessible and ‘doable’ by anyone regardless of an artistic/design background and could make your book more sellable to an increasingly savvy and choosy market.
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One of the first TopWriters back in 2005, Fiona has been a regular attendee since and has taken on many roles, from raffle ticket seller to organising discos to Vice Chairman.
As well as teaching English Language, English Literature and Creative Writing, Fiona has well over a decade’s worth of experience teaching Media Studies at GCSE, A-Level and Diploma level, teaching, amongst many other aspects, how to target and engage your audience through clear and effective layout, image, and graphic design. Additionally, Fiona has studied studio, portrait and landscape photography and photo editing at Plymouth College of Art. Fiona learnt her creative writing craft with the much-missed Roy York. She is determined to one day finish that novel that she has been working on for years but acknowledges she does actually have to sit down and work on it. |
Chair Yoga - Katherine Bolton
An hour-long session of Yoga in a chair, this will concentrate on flexibility and movement within a seated position. Some gentle stretching and exercises to increase stamina. Please wear loose comfortable clothes.
If you have a mat and would like to join in with this Yoga session, mat-based alternatives to the Asana's will be given.
If you have a mat and would like to join in with this Yoga session, mat-based alternatives to the Asana's will be given.
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Katherine Bolton has been coming to Swanwick for the last 13-years. She is normally found at the "morning meditation by the lake" or by (attempting to) sell you a raffle ticket. Swanwick is very important to Katherine, and she has had various roles on previous committees.
A holistic therapist, she owns and runs Pebblemoon Holistic Wellbeing Centre in Devon as well as being a meditation and yoga teacher. A passion for writing initially brought her to Swanwick, but its the friendships, conversations and traditions that keep her coming back each year (as well as the courses and workshops). For more information take a look at www.pebble-moon.co.uk |
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Location, Location, Location! - Esther Chilton
Do you want to immerse your reader in the wonderful world you have created? To make them feel part of your novel or short story, right there along with your characters?
This workshop will help you to take your reader straight to the scene. You don’t need paragraph after paragraph of purple prose and nor should your work read like a travel brochure, but you do need to create a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
The workshop will begin with a general discussion of what location and creating a sense of place means to you. Examples will be read out of how to use all the different senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch) to bring the scene and your writing to life. You’ll then have the chance to work on this for yourself and to build on your descriptive skills before being given the option to share your writing with others on the workshop.
This workshop will help you to take your reader straight to the scene. You don’t need paragraph after paragraph of purple prose and nor should your work read like a travel brochure, but you do need to create a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
The workshop will begin with a general discussion of what location and creating a sense of place means to you. Examples will be read out of how to use all the different senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch) to bring the scene and your writing to life. You’ll then have the chance to work on this for yourself and to build on your descriptive skills before being given the option to share your writing with others on the workshop.
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Esther has been a writing tutor for The Writers Bureau distance learning college for the past ten years. As well as winning several writing competitions, she regularly has articles and short stories published in a variety of newspapers and magazines in the UK and abroad, ranging from The Guardian, to The People’s Friend, to Writing Magazine and Writers’ Forum. Esther has written two short story books and a how-to book, advising writers on how to become published. She has also entered into the world of copywriting, undertaking work for Vodafone and national charity, Cats Protection. Currently, Esther runs her own copyediting business and loves helping others to achieve their writing dreams.
Esther's blog: esthernewtonblog.wordpress.com |
Confidence Building for Spoken Word Performances - Penny Blackburn
For many writers, spoken word readings and performances can be a daunting prospect. What feels so powerful on the page can lose its impact when spoken in front of an audience and many people still carry a fear of doing badly at ‘public speaking’. However, spoken word nights are becoming ever more popular and authors are increasingly expected to do readings as part of their promotional activity, meaning that confident spoken performance is an important skill for most writers.
This workshop aims to improve confidence in spoken word performances – whether poetry, short prose or extracts of longer works. After looking at some of the key points for performance success – including overcoming nerves, engaging the audience, breathing and voice techniques, and coping with problems during performance – there will be a chance to work in small groups to practise and improve individual techniques.
Attendees should bring a short piece that they are happy to share and receive supportive performance feedback on in a small group (around 250 to 300 words of prose or 30 lines of poetry)
This workshop aims to improve confidence in spoken word performances – whether poetry, short prose or extracts of longer works. After looking at some of the key points for performance success – including overcoming nerves, engaging the audience, breathing and voice techniques, and coping with problems during performance – there will be a chance to work in small groups to practise and improve individual techniques.
Attendees should bring a short piece that they are happy to share and receive supportive performance feedback on in a small group (around 250 to 300 words of prose or 30 lines of poetry)
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Penny Blackburn is a teacher by profession, but writes poetry and short fiction. As well as appearing at a variety of open mic nights, her performances include reading as part of North Tyneside Libraries’ Story Tyne events, Manchester’s Victoria Baths’ Splash fiction event, at local Poetry Slam competitions, during Whitley Bay poetry festival (on a Metro station platform) and standing on a table at Parliament Hill Lido.
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Honing Your HistFic - Jennifer C Wilson
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Covering everything from pre-history to post-war, and crime to romance, historical fiction is never one set genre. However, there are a number of things writers should think about before setting off on a historical writing adventure. In this whistle-stop, one-hour workshop, we’ll look at top tips to bring your historical setting to life, drawing in your readers, and keeping them with you until the end of the book (and hopefully onto the next!).
Using primarily historical romance for examples, but by no means excluding other sub-genres, we’ll be looking at:
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Jennifer C. Wilson writes “historical fiction with spirit”, including romances The Last Plantagenet? and The Raided Heart, both awarded prizes in The Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year Awards, 2020, with The Raided Heart taking the Bronze award for historical romance. She is a founder and co-host of the North Tyneside Writers’ Circle, and holds regular workshops around Tyneside.
Jennifer C. Wilson – Historical Fiction With Spirit! Find here online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennifer-Wilson/e/B018UBP1ZO/ https://twitter.com/inkjunkie1984 https://jennifercwilsonwriter.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jennifercwilsonwriter/ |
Creating suspense in crime and horror fiction - Charlotte Baker
This workshop will outline what is meant by 'suspense' in the crime and horror genres. We will assess how suspense functions in these genres and the difference ways it presents itself in the texts. Next, we will work to breakdown the impact that suspense has on readers. The workshop will include tasks which inspire and create new ideas as well as tasks which build on previous works.
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Charlotte Baker is an associate lecturer, PhD student, and author. She has an interest in crime, horror, and the way in which people identify with these genres.
Charlotte's novel, Themis, a psychological thriller, is out now. |
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