This is not an article on how to write for the health market (if that’s what you’re looking for, read A Health Writer Coughs Up) but rather an insight into how writing can be good for your health. While professional or semi-professional writers who have just had a string of rejections, worked past midnight to meet a deadline and whose bank accounts are on life support may shudder at the thought, let’s not forget that many people write for the sheer pleasure of it. And that’s something we should all try to reclaim. Continue reading ‘Writing for health’
Archive Page 8 of 22
One of the most time-consuming task of any freelance writer is looking for and following up leads on new markets. I’ve just come across a website that helps you find paying outlets in fiction, poetry and non-fiction writing. You can also sign up (free) for a weekly newsletter that provides you with a round-up of market opportunities. Visit Worldwide Freelance Writer for more information. There is also a dedicated European sub-division called EU Writer.
For all you LOTR buffs, there’s a new website that delves into the fascinating links between Tolkien’s fantasy and real historical events and places. Christine Ahmed has put in an enormous amount of work to chronicle the references to Scottish Border and Northumberland history and culture at www.lotrandthescottishborder.net
There’s a great new website out there that aims to give women writers an opportunity to be published and women readers a chance to be entertained. Laughter for Women is accepting submissions from women writers with a funny story to tell. At this stage there is no payment, but it’s good for the portfolio. Deadline for the January edition is Monday 14 December 2009.
Happy writing!
My short film Enemy Lines is about to cross the Atlantic. Director Mike Steel and I are honoured to have been chosen to showcase our film at the Short Short Story Film Festival in New York, this Saturday 21 November 2009, then the following Saturday on the 28th.
Festival organisers, Merging Art Productions, ask:
How do filmmakers tell a story in less than five minutes? Not just trailers, music videos, or experimental projects, but honest-to-goodness beginning-middle-end stories?
The Short Short Story Film Festival celebrates brevity in filmmaking, featuring films from across the globe. For more information visit the festival website
If, like most British writers, you’ve been chipping away for years trying to ‘break’ into TV drama, or you’ve been one of the lucky ones but have recently fallen out of favour, then you may find Why Britain can’t do The Wire over at Prospect Magazine an eye-opening read. Peter Jukes makes some interesting and at times controversial comparsion between the ‘quality’ of British and American TV writing. He looks at the issues of monopolies vs commercialism and the brain drain of British talent across the pond. He also points a finger at the BBC for the over-centralising of commissioning into the hands of four people.
WARNING: If you’re American (or anyone else!) and have bought into the self-promoted myth that British TV is the best in the world, you may be shocked by what you read!
Established and aspirant writers can spend much of their precious time trawling the web for resources to help them to the next stage in their writing career. If you’re on this page, then you’ve obviously discovered The Crafty Writer. But if you would like to venture further afield than his most useful (ahem) website, then the people over at Literature Training have an excellent A – Z guide to everything from writing books to workshops and publishing opportunities. Don’t let the word ‘literature’ put you off as they cover all forms of writing. Tell them I sent you.
Have you ever been on a writing holiday, or thought of going on one? Variously referred to as writing holidays, writing breaks, writing getaways, or even writing safaris, they all have a common theme: an opportunity to work on your writing while someone else worries about the boring stuff like cooking and cleaning.
I’m chuffed to see that Enemy Lines is going to be one of the films shown in the ‘LONDON’ exhibition at the Branchage International Film Festival in Jersey. LONDON is a selection of films which were previously shown at the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival. In the words of festival director Joe Bateman:
LONDON will showcase an engaging variety of creative short films (from this year’s Festival Shortlist) about, for or made by Londoners. The work includes factual accounts, fictional settings and animated adventures that will be sure to transport the audience into the many different worlds of London.
We have all looked at cards and thought ‘I could do that!’ It is only when you decide to have a go yourself that you come to appreciate that, somewhere along the line, talent and skill actually come into it and being able to reel out a rhyme just isn’t enough. I’ve just come across a website chock full of advice on how to go about accessing this potentially lucrative market. Visit The Greeting Card Association for more information.
