Ayr Writers' Club Blog

Being late was not a good start, especially when the first item on the programme was tea/coffee with handmade chocolates from Lime Tree Larder. Luckily, the other participants in Betty McKay's workshop had restrained themselves and left me a lovely selection of yummy treats.

Betty introduced me to 6 members of Largs Writers and one other solo writer, though we didn't feel on our own for long. We were all here for Betty's 'Writing Short Stories for Women's Magazines' workshop.

We quickly settled down to business and the morning flew past. We discussed the various magazines that still accept stories and what they are looking for then moved on to the serious business of finding ideas. In no time, story plots were coming faster than I could write them down. We may have been aided by the bowls of dark, milk and white chocolate nibbles lined along the table - truly inspirational!

The rest of the morning was spent discussing how to corral the basic idea and actually come up with the first draft.

Lunch was a chance to find out a bit about the other participants. It was a sunny but cool day as we sat outside and chatted. We'd bought our own food but Lime Tree Larder provided us with tea, coffee, ice-cream tasters and even more chocolate!

Then back to work, discovering how to turn that first draft into the best it can be by using dialogue effectively, considering different viewpoints and the infamous 'show, don't tell'. Throughout the day, Betty led us through all aspects of writing and submitting short stories for magazines. She motivated and encouraged us with examples from some of her own published pieces. Finally, Betty looked at how best to submit our short stories - and what to do when they came winging their way back!

We all promised to let Betty know WHEN our stories were successful and to look out for each other at SAW next year.

Of course, we couldn't leave without stocking up on chocolates and ice-cream from the farm shop for even more inspiration in the future!

Wednesday was our chance to celebrate the winners of club competitions through the year, but before Ann led us through the readings, she highlighted some of the successes our members have enjoyed in the world outside (i.e. publication). Our Success Book has many more items recorded this year than in previous years, including Alice Muir, one of our postal members, who has published four books on mental health issues. Others have had poems published in anthologies or in their own collections, and articles in various magazines.

The readings for the evening included short stories, articles, drama, children’s writing, book reviews, and part of a novel. Everything was so interesting that I forgot to take notes, so, apologies if I have missed anyone out.

Fiona ably acted out Wilma’s monologue - a supermarket checkout assistant with delusions about her own abilities - then we heard book reviews from Dorothy (Alan Bennett’s An Uncommon Reader) and Jennifer (Belinda Bauer’s Blacklands).

The next section was children’s writing, when Dorothy and Lorraine read their stories for the under-7s, accompanied by their descriptions of the illustrations required.

Joan took on the role of narrator for the first part of Flora’s novel, which whetted our appetite for more, then Catherine read her article on Doug Scott, the mountaineer. She included quotes from Doug that she had obtained during a family lunch, frantically jotting down notes on a napkin. Flora’s article dealt with a holiday in Pitlochry, and encouraged many of us to revisit the area.

Then we came to the short stories, when Wilma and Carolyn read their ‘twist in the tale’ submissions. Wilma’s story had such a surprise ending that it caused an “Oooh” to go round the room. We finished with Janice’s crime story about a bookkeeper’s final day at work.

Some of the winners who did not read their pieces will have the chance to let us hear their winning entries after the AGM on 9th May.

Jennifer West

Well ‘Who dunnit?’ but our very own Debby Broughton-Hay and didn’t she do it well?

Debby’s Murder Mystery ‘Brought To Book’ was originally written for ‘Crime Week’ at the local library.

She told us how she structured the piece to suit the participating library staff ‘actors’, main parts, lesser parts and a one-liner for the man who did the mobile library and never managed rehearsals!

Debby then explained the mechanics of murder mysteries.

The setting was a library, specifically the ‘Crime’ section where a body had been found beneath a pile of books.
The cast list came first then half of these characters became possible suspects.

Create and list motives these characters might have.  Humour was added to Debby’s play through character names – D. S. Holms with Constable Johnston, Mrs Fletcher and Mrs Barnaby, Mr. Jim Rockford – you get the idea!  Dialogue was sharp and witty with subtle red herrings along the way.

The play was ably ‘read’ rather than acted by our own ‘luvvies’- Simon, Andrew, Ian, Lesley, Helena, Sheila, Kirsty, Fiona and Joan, the audience was enthralled by the believable characters and focused on trying to solve the mystery.  Debby directed stopping the action just before the victim had been identified.

At tea time there was a ‘buzz’ of deduction and speculation around the room.

After tea Debby recorded the audience’s predictions of who the murderer might be and it transpired that all suspects were selected by at least two people.

Then in typical Agatha Christie style the detective discounted the suspects one by one until two were left.  The audience was kept guessing to the end. The crafting here was very clever as the audience was led to believe the murderer was one suspect then swiftly the other one was revealed as the culprit.

The play ended in humour with the teenage library assistant complaining that the library was ‘too boring’!

Debby then explained the importance of knowing where people were at different times: – clue: when Mrs Fletcher had taken a book from the Crime section out the body hadn’t been there at that time.  This information contradicted the murderer’s statement, case solved!

There was much discussion afterwards about different murder mysteries on television and we need never feel guilty about watching these in the future because ‘it’s all research’!

Greta Yorke

Thanks to good preparation prompts by Alison Craig, our workshop leader for the poetry session, the majority of attendees had brought along poems based on the theme of 'wind'. Whether finished item or first draft, all were welcomed and received an appreciative hearing by the group and rapid appraisal by Alison as to whether it was in fact 3 poems or may be better re-arranged.

This seemingly simple theme provoked the sharing of wide range of experiences, from sailing with a strong nor'easterly to mythical maelstroms to the wind that blew the knickers off the washing line. And seriously- we would love to see this one published, it provided such a comical picture to which we could all relate.

There were poems which would be great for children to read, dramatic works and simple verse. As the evening progressed we found markets to suit all styles. Even the 'tum-te-tum' verse had a good market as Ann suggested that DC Thompson and Prima will pay for this content.

Alison then moved on to looking at poem as story and as inspiration and provocation of personal response. In considering a variety of work, from Alice Oswald's contemplative 'Marginalia at the edge of evening' to Sharon Old's direct reflection 'My father snoring', we could see how to employ our connection or lack of such with a poem, to start our own creative juices flowing. Top tip: try using a poem you don't like- it may give you a more stimulating journey than one you do.

There is nothing wrong with re-working a story into verse if you give credit to the originator of the story.

Poetry publishing advice can be found in the Writer's and Artists Yearbook (cheaper bought on-line) and (I would also add) via the Scottish Poetry Library website. Before you send in work, do check the house style of the publication to ensure you are a good match. There are also many poetry competitions. Magazines even pay for poetry. Poetry Scotland edited by Sally Evans comes out three times a year and is filled to the gunnels with new talent, why should it not include yours?

Members were reminded to collect their competition entries and crits and that they need to book now if they wish to attend the club dinner at the Carlton next month.

Summer meets at members’ houses to review work were successful last year and venues are now being sought.

Rosie Mapplebeck

When Michael first set foot in the AWC of 1994 it was not with the ease and composure that characterised his presentation on ‘Crime Writing’, to last night’s audience. Apprehensive about his place within the anticipated superior, cravat wearing, intelligentsia, he was surprised by the ensuing years of support, encouragement and sound advice from which he benefitted.

Michael outlined the meandering path his early writing followed, from the ambitious attempt of an eleven year old to redraft ‘Tarka The Otter’, to teenage poetry and even a preliminary sketch of a novel. These skills were to re-emerge in mid-life, Michael initially establishing himself as a poet, before turning to a life of crime (writing, that is).

Despite his current literary successes, Michael is due to publish two books this year (‘Blood Tears’ in June and ‘Carnegie’s Call’ around September), the trials and tribulations of securing the support of an agent and publisher have not passed him by. With waves of hope repeatedly dashed against the unforgiving rocks of ‘rave rejections’, Michael described how tenacity itself would not necessarily secure success. The best way to proceed, he advises, is simply to write on, not waiting for a breakthrough with the first attempt, but refocusing immediately on the next effort.

A keen advocate of self-help, Michael found ways to support his writing by running classes in Creative Writing. He was also pro-active in pursuing outlets for his work by attending conferences, workshops and literary events that would bring him into contact with potentially helpful contacts. Michael urged fellow writers to do likewise, to actively seek out their own opportunities rather than wait to ‘be discovered’.

The key aspects and qualities of good crime writing were outlined with fellow enthusiasts being urged to lead their readers down a path of endless questions towards a satisfying resolution. Michael offered countless hints and insights regarding factors that we can control, those that we can seek to influence and those over which we have no apparent sway whatsoever. Good writing, Michael observed, requires a blend of qualities and skills that can be acquired and refined by effort and a willingness to use feedback productively. Publication, alas, is more challenging in that although it is influenced considerably by the author’s efforts, it is also subject to the vagaries of taste and the publishing market. But as for the good fortune of dreaming up a brilliant opening to a book, or the synchronicity of bumping into the perfect source for the information you simply must have, who knows what good fortune brings such things forth?

A night bursting with pearls of wisdom grown from years of experience, Michael’s thoughts and reflections were well worth the undivided attention they received.

Dorothy Gallagher