Out and About

What a blogging time I've had lately! And I’m not just referring to the one you’re perusing right now. I’ve also posted another A Write Life! scenario based on  my recent visit to Harpenden Writers where the room simply throbbed with literary zeal. So what else could I do but translate the experience into one of my blogs?  Do go to www.hertfordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk to get the lowdown on my visit. It has a slightly humorous bias, of course.

My latest Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle missive is also in the throes of its final tweak.  As you know, these are fortnightly musings for Hampshire Life (www.hamsphire.greatbritishlife.co.uk) and  My Lady Garden is due to entertain readers from Monday, 21^st May.  How my alter ego enjoys the opportunity to share her well formed views!

Now what else? Oh yes, just the other day I went to the quintessentially English Chalfont St Giles to run a workshop as part of their Literary Festival and was based in the Old Reading Room just across from the duck pond and next to an ancient public house.  My ladies and gentlemen learners were overflowing with ideas and questions. We brainstormed storylines, delved into feature possibilities and discovered how to tap into the literary stimulation that is but there for us all to recognise and exploit. The organisers were incredibly hospitable and there are already rumours of my return to their next event, in two years’ time.

ICome to think of it, ’ve been out and about quite a lot this month including a rather interesting networking lunch in Amersham. Unfortunately there were no other writers with whom to network. Nor publishers, editors or agents. But still, over generous helpings of pasta, dips and delicious pizza, I chatted with solar panel experts, life coaches and solicitors. It made for a rather welcome break in my hectic schedule, actually.

Talking of which, I have a family to feed and pets to fuss. Please excuse me . . .

The Sharing of Knowledge

Sun dappled sandstone, legions of literary luminaries and writers both committed and eager: such was the aura of Chipping Norton when I arrived at their recent Literary Festival. I was greeted in the Green Room by a brace of organisers who escorted me to my venue – the delightful Old Mill Cafe – where a throng of learners awaited. True, the below stairs venue was short on space. Nevertheless it oozed a satisfyingly intimate atmosphere. Tips, hints, advice, guidance, handouts; I resisted not in sharing. Yet, oh, how quickly time passes. For I’d barely clarified The 3 E’s when it was time to despatch my audience, safe in the knowledge that they were now fully equipped to tease a morsel of mirth from the most laughter challenged reader.

A number of other teaching commitments are also entered in my leather bound diary: a further Humour Writing workshop at the forthcoming Chalfont St Giles Literary Festival; and an imminent visit to Harpenden Writing group where I will also discuss my work and answering numerous questions.

Meantime the Festival Director of Thame Literary Festival, having invited me back for a third successive year, is thrilled with my workshop proposal. Oh, and my latest course – Inspiration to Write – is both fully subscribed and a third of the way through its tenure.

Honestly, it’s a wonder I have time to write these days. But, of course, I must remember to put my own rules into practise . . .

A Profusion of Apologies

Please forgive my absence. February simply whizzed by faster than an Italian cruise captain could abandon his ship and, with Easter fast approaching, I have only just got round to rekindling my blog duties.

You see I have been somewhat focused on deadlines, not to mention preoccupied with an overabundance of feature ideas, hence the neglect of my webby.

So what has been happening since my last post? Well, first of all, BBC Radio Oxford has invited me onto Bill Heine’s Sunday morning show. Do put 27 May in your diary in case it slips my mind to remind you. Secondly, the March issue of Country Living included my Country Character snippet in which I interviewed the charmingly eccentric collector of 11,000 milk bottles, Paul Luke.

And what else? Oh yes, budding writers are enrolling on my Inspiration to Write course which begins mid April and, as part of my Chiltern Writers’ duties, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Waterstone’s longest serving manager, Martin Latham, who entertained a packed Wendover Library Room with advice for authors.

I have also launched yet another Short Story Competition for Chiltern Writers having persuaded the ever fragrant journalist and author Tessa Harris to be our judge.

Finally, my Twitter following is escalating by the day. Over 300 fellow twits now receive my daily tips and anecdotes. Well, when I say daily, I mean as often as I can. Or, at least, as often as I remember . . .

Commitments, Commitments, Commitments

Less than a month into the new year and I am filled with jubilation since 2012 has begun with unbridled variety and rampant energy. For no sooner had the non drop pine been escorted from our drawing room - and the non drop needles hand picked from the shag pile - than literary appointments began to fill my leather bound diary.

Harpenden Writers were first off the mark and I eagerly anticipate sharing my work and running a Humour Writing Workshop with them just a few days before celebrations for my wedding anniversary in May.

Allow me to continue with further forthcoming engagements.

In a neighbouring county, organisers of the Chalfont St Giles and Jordans Literary Festival wish to include my Inspiration to Write Workshop in this year’s programme. And to complete my trio of county appearances only last Saturday I journeyed to Bedfordshire in order to appear on BBC Three Counties Radio where the effervescent Gareth Wesley interviewed me about Chiltern Writers and how to convert literary ideas into written words.

However,despite said obligations I have still found time to organise another course. My Inspiration to Write (a more fully developed and matured version of my Festival workshop as detailed above) begins mid April and will consist of 6 weekly two hour sessions during which I will entice your imagination, nurture your creativity and delve into your personal experiences, using all of these unique qualities to generate prose. Please go to my Writing Workshops and Events page for further minutiae.

In the meantime, I am saddened to report that The Lady’s Lady Ambassador initiative has been suspended. Who knows whether it will resurface at some future date? I do hope so. However, I have taken great pleasure in my association with this iconic weekly and particularly my colleague at Bedford Street HQ, Susan Wade Weeks, mother of the phenomenally talented brace of daughters, Perdita and Honeysuckle.

Phew, I’m breathless just reading about my itinerary.

Yet you know, however hectic my schedule, at the end of the day I nestle down in my king size with a mug of hot cocoa and invariably find a few precious moments to do a spot of reading. My present tome is The Necessary Aptitude, an exceptionally verbose work by the beautiful Pam Ayres whom I was privileged to meet last autumn. Not only talented, witty and eloquent, Miss Ayres even found time to endorse my copy “To The Current Mrs Smith!” Now I wonder why she felt the need for an exclamation mark . . .

Festive Greetings

My laptop may be pining for attention at the moment but, with the imminent festive season but days away, I have other duties to which I need attend. At the moment our house is bursting with a batch of 13 year olds whose excitement level rises with every Christmas song that’s blasting out from a small black box onto which Spousey has loaded thousands of tunes apparently. Our pets are matching the spirit by sporting an array of guises. Homemade, of course. I’m particularly pleased with Female Feline’s angel wings, even if they do enhance her expanding waistline. Her brother has yet to notice his tinsel collar since he snored throughout the fitting and Puppy only has to learn to ignore his halo attachment for the dressing up to be complete.

Yet I haven’t totally neglected my literary calling. The other day I conducted an interview with the charming David Burrowes MP about juggling his faith and career, my latest Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle and A Write Life! blogs are duly posted and Chipping Norton Literary Festival has confirmed a date for my humour writing workshop: Sunday 22 April, 10.30am at The Old Mill Cafe.

On the Chiltern Writers front I was delighted to welcome international best selling romantic comedy author Carole Matthews to our recent meeting. Carole judged this year’s Short Story Competition and generously donated both her time and prizes to the astonishingly talented winners.

Yesterday Offspring and I popped to the capital for a light luncheon with My Islington Friend followed by The Lady Christmas Carol Concert held at The Actors' Church just around the corner from their Bedford Street HQ. It was a most delightful service at the end of which my daughter was all agog at meeting the fragrant Perdita Weeks who will soon be gracing our television screens in various epics.

Now, I’d love to continue but I simply must dash. The Felines are scaling my spruce, Puppy is paying undue attention to my baubles and there’s a pitch waiting to be honed.

So that just leaves me to wish you all a Most Merry Christmas and the jolliest New Year.

Country Living

As my blog followers are aware, it is rare for me not to spend the morning either honing a feature, refining a pitch or writing up an interview. But then how tedious life would be without exceptions.
Today, for instance, I indulged in a welcome break from my laptop and decamped to a sunny corner of the drawing room with a pot of Earl Grey and a homemade scone. Not that this was simply a culinary break in my routine. Rather, Country Living magazine, a timeless classic that has garnished the shelves of quality newsagents for some considerable years, includes my 5 page feature, Farm from Afar, in its December edition and I took the opportunity to peruse the whole issue. If you are keen to support local farmers without risking any manicure repercussions, it is in your interest to purchase a copy of this gloriously colourful journal.
Now I realise we are still in the thick of autumn but, for those of you who like to plan ahead, the organisers of the Thame Arts and Literature Festival, at which first two events I have appeared, have asked me to return in October next year to run a further workshop. I have, of course, accepted and further details will be notified nearer the time.
On the teaching front, my Regular Writing attendees are blossoming beautifully. They are simply full of innovative ideas and publishable prose but just need a little more prompting in the latter direction. I am most grateful to one of my learners who posted on Twitter about my rare gifts of inspiration and generosity. How humbling!
While mentioning Twitter my fan base has now reached 200 and I trust those tweetettes amongst you appreciate my writing tips and humorous asides.
You are also, no doubt, taking time from your busy schedules to enjoy my blogs. Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle posts fortnightly for Hampshire Life while My Islington Friend(www.london.greatbritishlife.co.uk) and A Write Life! (www.hertfordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk) feature monthly.
Now, what else? Ah, yes. As part of my many recent duties I have been delighted to undertake some research for the charmingly fragrant children’s author Nicholas Halliday. Also, I will be running another Writing for Magazines course in early 2012and have decided to do a little more copywriting. The thrill of such diversity leaves me quite giddy with creativity . . .

A Brace of Blogs

Forgive my lack of preamble but I can delay not in sharing my literary latest. Two more blogs of the humorous variety are now in situ. In Hertfordshire Life A Write Life! relates my time as a freelance writer in which the lure of my laptop juggles with the demands of domesticity. While for Hampshire Life I have introduced one of my favourite alter egos – Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle – who neither believes in keeping her opinions to herself, not venturing from her private quarters without pearls.

In an entirely different publishing vein, my winter copy of Prayer for Today magazine has just popped through the letterbox and my 3 page spread – The Power of Speech – is, if I say so myself, rather inspiring. I, ahem, just have to remember to take my own advice.

As indicated on my webby, I have been involved with the Thame Arts and Literature Festival where last weekend I filled my humour writing workshop learners with equal dollops of information and inspiration and now I can look forward to hearing of the publishing successes they will undoubtedly achieve.

Yet I have also been aware of other editorial demands. One of my favourite magazines, Cotswold Life, was recently in need of some reader input for their letters page. So I mobilised my keyboard and obliged with the result featured in the October issue.

Despite my writing commitments please be assured I have still found time for the occasional social commitment recently. Indeed, the Chiltern Writers’ Literary Dinner was a thoroughly enjoyable evening with the chocolate loving Carole Matthews sharing her thoughts about the current state of the book industry between courses. And last week I was thrilled to see Sandra Hunt in the one woman show Fanny Craddock – The Life and Loves of a Kitchen Devil.

Which reminds me, I need to start writing a review for the village magazine. Please excuse me . . .