Raring to Write: A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!

Raring to Write: A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!: A few months ago, being of unsound mind at the time, I threw out a question, intending it to be rhetorical, 'Why don't...

A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!

A few months ago, being of unsound mind at the time, I threw out a question, intending it to be rhetorical, 'Why don't we have a book festival in the town?' Unfortunately, there are others out there of equally unsound mind who came back with the repeated answer, 'Why not?'. So here I am, taking precious time out from writing, to talk to book festival organisers around the country, downloading fiendishly complicated funding application forms and generally rushing round in a fever of passionate enthusiasm, nightly cooled by a cold poultice of doubt.

 I regularly attend book festivals, small and large (prefer the small) around the country so I know something about being a festival attendee. On the other hand, I knew precious little about the nature of the beast from an organiser's perspective until I started to make enquiries. Since then, it's been a steep learning curve but less painful than anticipated, thanks to the generous input from the organisers of other festivals such as Ullapool and Borders. Paula Ogilvie from the latter organisation, courtesy of Scottish Book Trust funding, has produced a comprehensive survey of book festivals throughout Scotland (currently numbering a staggering 34!) and this provides a wide range of vital information  from audience profiling to ticket pricing.

Already I have had offers of help from a wide range of people in the area. Now they just need pinning down. I'm hoping my unsound mind phase lasts sufficiently long to see this project through. All it takes is vision, energy, enthusiasm, meticulous organisation, professionalism . . . and a very brassy neck! Let's translate this vision into reality.

The Trick is in the Detail

This month I've set myself the task of keeping a writing diary of details: the telling significance of an object's shape, colour, structure, texture, scent, imperfections . . .

I've always admired writers who can use telling details to add symbolic layers to their writing. Recently, I re-read Robin Jenkins's novel, 'The Changeling' and was full of praise for the way in which he set down details which, initially, seemed insignificant but which gathered layers of meaning as they were picked up at later points in the narrative. It prompted me to think about the importance of detail in our lives: the small gesture that conveys so much, the exact tone of a well-chosen word, the telling sound and so on. As well, of course, as the absence of the above.

So, I've started in the garden - a bit of a disheartening task in this rain-sodden landscape - but it's made me look afresh at so many things: plants, 'beasties', walls, stones, hedges, horizons and much more. It's been a challenging exercise; selecting the relevant details, finding the right words to record them and jotting down any figurative or connotative significances.

I've carefully omitted to say, of course, that all this has been going on while I should have been writing my next short story! But I'm hoping that it will bear fruit in the long run. Well, that's my justification for the moment. How important is detail for you - as a writer/reader?

What a find! And I don't know how I've missed it. Just back from having spent a few glorious days in Stoer in the NW Scottish Highlands. Scenery to feed the spirit and people to gladden your heart. En route, we stopped in Ullapool and, quite by chance, discovered The Ceilidh Place (www.theceilidhplace.com), a hotel, bunkhouse, restaurant, arts centre AND wonderful book shop. The latter is run by a woman called Avril who clearly knows her books from her biscuits. The best display of Scottish literature I've seen in any independent as well as a refreshing range of children's books in English and Gaelic. I've no doubt May's successful Ullapool Book Festival helps to keep the stock fresh and up to date. But what a pleasure to chat to staff who really know their books. I could have spent a fortune (and nearly did!). I'll definitely be back and, hopefully, take in the festival as well.

Raring to Write: Great Reads and Inspiration.

Raring to Write: Great Reads and Inspiration.: Recently I've been reading two very different and yet, strangely, similarly inspired books: Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture' ...

Great Reads and Inspiration.

Recently I've been reading two very different and yet, strangely, similarly inspired books: Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture' and Dave Boling's début novel, 'Guernica'. The former, set in a mental institution in contemporary Ireland looks back to key events, both personal and political, through the eyes of a very elderly resident, Rose, who feels compelled to record her fading memories. Her testimony deals with shifting memory, loss and redemption. In common with his other novels, 'The Secret Scripture' draws some of its inspiration from Barry's real-life ancestry.

'Guernica' also records troubled and violent times - 1930's Spain and the ruthless bombing of Guernica by the Luftwaffe at Franco's invitation. The story starts with a Basque family and records their lives, loves and culture. Tragically, these individuals become caught up in the terrible events graphically depicted by Picasso in his famous mural. In an introductory letter, Boling explains the source of his inspiration for the novel:

 'Fresh out of college, I met a lovely Basque girl whose grandparents had come to America to herd sheep in the mountains of Idaho. Her family filled me with Basque foods . . . . . . and displayed a fierce loyalty to their families and heritage. From them I learned of the decades-long oppression of their culture by the Franco régime. And from them I also heard of the bombing of Guernica.'

I was thinking about both of these books while looking for an idea for a short story. And, you've guessed, I think I've found it in a particular family narrative about my maternal grandfather who, sadly, died before I was born but about whom my mother told many stories with warmth and laughter. These are truly inspirational.

Coping with Rejection!

On the same day as I was rushed to hospital after suffering a blackout, I received an e-mail from the Scottish Book Trust telling me that 'unfortunately' I had failed in my application for one of their New Writers awards. I wasn't really expecting to be a recipient but still, somewhere in the back of my mind, there lodged a vague hope that I might have an outside chance. So, still feeling very woozy after my hospital sojourn, it only took one reading to reduce me to tears!

Feeling sorry for oneself when faced with rejection letters, however, is not a very constructive response. The next day I had a serious talk to myself and spent some time reading samples of writing from previous winners of these awards. Despite admiring many of the extracts, I'm not sure I learnt an awful lot about what makes a winning entry.

Writing is fraught with the hazards of self-doubt and mood swings: one day you feel proud of your words, the next filled with despair. That's when I try to speak to others in the same position - come out of my solitary eyrie and bounce ideas off someone else. Remind myself of all those famous authors who've faced multiple rejections but finally won through, Ruthless tenacity is the key. That, and a passionate belief that this is what I want to do above everything else -write and keep on writing in the hope that someday I'll produce something of real merit.

Until then, I'll invest in a few more boxes of man-sized tissues and a steel rod for the back!

New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's arrived - 2012. And another chance to list those resolutions which, in my experience, generally last about five minutes! But this year it's going to be different - no really. Having lost two very special friends to cancer in 2011, I'm acutely aware of my own mortality and the need to get down on paper all the storylines that have been buzzing around in  my head for far too long. Procrastination is no longer a recognised concept!

So I've drafted out a writing timetable for January to March with targets and realistic deadlines. Because I know I respond better when under a bit of pressure, I've built in a couple of competitions with closing dates end January and end February. (My Tax Return might get in the way of the January deadline!)

I am resolved to make 2012 the most productive year yet! If there's anyone out there ready to share my resolution, I'd love to hear from you. Happy New Year.