Helen Cox's Blog, page 2
May 9, 2017
Starlight Diner Giveaway
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Now that the weather is warming up it’s the perfect time to read my debut novel: Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner (published by Avon Books UK), which is set in New York in the summer of 1990.
To celebrate the fact that the summer reads season is well and truly underway, I’ve organised a little #StarlightDiner themed giveaway.
To enter, simply follow @Helenography on Twitter and retweet the competition tweet which you can find here. If you already follow me, just retweet to enter. You can also enter by liking my Facebook page and sharing the competition post there.
Entrants welcome from all over the world and if selected will receive:
A range of diner-themed stationery including notebook, pencils, erasers, stickers and post-it notes.
A milkshake keyring.
Starlight Diner pinbadges designed by Dan Evans.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday 23rd of May 2017 via Facebook and Twitter.
More competitions can be found at: http://www.UKwins.co.uk
May 3, 2017
Write Away: A Creative Writing Event
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Last Wednesday I had the privilege of leading a creative writing event with fellow author Leigh Russell, organised by Katherine Sunderland who runs the Bibliomaniac website. Although I’ve previously guest lectured for City University and have led sessions at Citylit, where I currently work as a Writing Coordinator, this was the first time I’d been invited to lead a writing workshop outside of an institution. Consequently, it was a very exciting event for me both personally and professionally.
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The event took place in Harpenden and on the train out of London I thought about the usual questions a person asks themselves when asked to speak at this kind of event: will everybody turn up? Will people be open to what I have to say? What will it be like?
Particularly, my mind latched on to that last one. Managing creative writing workshops takes more strategy and sensitivity than most people realise. The participants are often sharing deeply personal thoughts and feelings through their writing and a certain trust must be established for the whole thing to hang together.
Less than three seconds after I asked that question however, a smile came over my lips. I remembered that it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what it would be like because whatever happened in the fifty minutes or so that all eyes were on me, I would trust myself to work through that moment and do what I could to help the people in front of me travel a little bit further down their writing path.
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That’s precisely what I did, and the experience was intensely enriching because of it. I had prepared some short, punchy activities about plot structure and within minutes the room was buzzing with warm energy, people were sharing their ideas, their thoughts, their feelings, their writing and it was a joy to facilitate.
Leigh stepped up after me to deliver an activity on character and audience reaction and offered so many words of wisdom to the writers in the room. My favourite was when she said: ‘Very few things in this world ever truly belong to us. But our writing is ours.’ So true. And a reminder of why it’s important to be true to yourself when you put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard.
Katherine’s openness, good humour and slick organisation skills meant the event was a welcoming and accessible experience for all who joined us, and I’m very grateful to her for involving me in the event.
I am heading back to Harpenden in June to take part in another bookish event organised by Katherine. An author panel about scorching summer reads and as you can see from the list above I’ll be in excellent company. If you’d like to get your hands on one of the last few tickets click here.
If you can’t make the event but are looking for a summer read, you can pick up my first novel: Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner, here.
April 19, 2017
Handlettering: An Arrow Can Only Be Shot
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I practised some handlettering in my journal the other day by writing out this quote. Sadly, I can’t find out who the author is. The arrow washi tape and ‘follow your dreams’ washi tape are both from Paperchase.
March 2017 Journal Flip Through
Want to see inside the pages of my journal? Well, let me open the door to you. Come on inside and read between my lines. I just uploaded a March journal flip through to Youtube. Click here and enjoy.
April 13, 2017
My Last Breath, A Poem
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One of the poems that will feature in my first poetry collection due to be published this October.
March 28, 2017
My Portable Journaling Kit
Ever wondered what a writer carries around in her handbag? For the most part, you probably don’t want to know. But, I can tell you I don’t go ANYWHERE without this portable journaling kit full of creative activities.
I made a Youtube video to talk you through all the bits and pieces that go everywhere with me. The method was inspired by another Youtuber and blogger called Seaweed Kisses who suggested putting together a journal kit in a passport holder. I’ve linked to her video too so should you be as stationery obsessed as I am and want to make one of your own, you will have lots of inspiration to hand.
The only slight drawback to making this video is that our Mam is going to ridicule me for being such a nerd. But to be honest, that’s no different to any other day of the week.
Click here to watch my video and take a look at my portable journaling kit.
March 9, 2017
Soundcloud Broadcast 4: Facing the Fear of Feedback
How do you deal with negative feedback on your writing?
It’s a question all writers have to face at some point in their career. So many of us have poured our heart and soul into our first draft only to have a trusted friend or teacher come back with a list of notes for improvement when all we really wanted to hear was how brilliant we are.
Getting editorial feedback doesn’t have to be a nightmarish ordeal however. In this broadcast I discuss why feedback is so difficult for us and offer some tips on making the most out of constructive feedback and ensuring it enriches your craft rather than drags you down.
If you can’t access the recording above you can access it directly here.
You may also enjoy my previous Soundcloud Broadcast: How do I get started with my story?
February 3, 2017
Going Poestal
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Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know I am very fond of old-fashioned, hand-written letters and when I was writing my 2017 to-do list ‘write more letters’ featured somewhere near the top. ‘Send more poetry out into the world’ was also in the running. Consequently, I’ve decided to combine the two resolutions in a snail mail project that I hope will bring a little bit of joy to my followers.
[image error]I found this duplicate book in a drawer. It’s left over from my teaching days when I used it to give students a copy of their feedback. During 2017 I’m going to write poetry into the duplicate book, stick the top copy in my poetry journal and send the carbon copy out in the post with a little note attached.
I already have a list of penpals who will be the first to receive a poem through the post. But if you think this is something you would enjoy, you can sign up to receive a poem here.
You don’t have to live in the UK to take part, I will happily send my poetry all over the world. I’m very much looking forward to sending out the first poems next week.
February 1, 2017
Daffodils at Imbolc
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When my husband proposed a few years back, our Mam presented me with a glass vase. It was given to her by her Nana, and she had decided to pass down to me.
“It’s for when Jo buys you flowers,’ she said.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Jo was very unlikely to do that. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he knows I am averse to having cut flowers in the house. I don’t know whether it’s because of my spirituality or my Yorkshire roots or the fact that I was once a teacher but as a general rule I like to see things grow. Flourish. Blossom. And once you cut a flower it can’t do that for very long.
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I allow myself to break this rule once a year, and that is around Imbolc, when I bring daffodils into the house. Looking into their sunny yellow faces makes me smile and brings me hope. They are a reminder that spring is on her way.
Moreover, it feels right to let my Nana’s vase (pictured on the left, the other ‘vase’ is just an empty pasta sauce jar I washed out) fulfill its purpose at least once a year…
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An hour after I put the daffodils in water this afternoon, yellow petals were beginning to emerge. Resonating perfectly with the time of year. Imbolc translates as ‘in the belly of Mother Earth.’ A time when seeds start to stir in the soil. A time of promise.
January 13, 2017
Soundcloud Broadcast 3: How To Get Started With a Story
Welcome to my first Soundcloud broadcast of 2017.
If you can’t access the broadcast above, there’s a direct link here.
Starting a story and getting the first words down can often be one of the most problematic elements of writing. It can all seem so intimidating. I was asked how I centre myself and clear my head when I sit down to write a new story and in this broadcast I offer some tips and hints designed to help you get some words on the page.
Every writer’s daily mission.
You may also enjoy my previous two soundcloud broadcasts:
How do I make my writing original?
How do I deal with bad reviews?
More articles about writing can be found here.
