William Sutton's Blog, page 6
May 17, 2024
Autumn Writing Workshops
I’m planning my autumn 2024 workshops. Details TBC. I’ll aim to offer:
Writing Retreat (2-days, in-person & online), Portsmouth venueWriting for Procrastinators (3 weeks course online, one-off in person)Write Your Historical Novel (3 weeks course in person, Portsmouth venue)Edit Your Writing (one-off, in person)Editing Club (monthly, online)Scribblers Salon (monthly, online)hoping to have events at
New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth – who hope to run literary events in their café spacePetersfield Museumpossibly at Guildhall, The Spring Havant, and Ashcroft, FarehamIf these are of interest, let me know – without committing yourself to anything – and whether daytime or evenings better.
Take Your Novel Further (3 – 6 weeks)Updates: william-sutton.co.uk/workshops Please Feel Free to Share:
May 7, 2024
Writing Workshops, meet-ups, competitions, shows & opportunities
I’d like to share upcoming writer stuff in the #Solent region. I’m planning my autumn workshop options, so I’ll add my tuppenceworth too.
Portsmouth Writers HubMy Autumn Writing Workshops, including Editing Club restartVictory Radio Story CompetitionThe Spring (Havant)’s upcoming literary shows: Conception (Mary Shelley), Freshwater Five, Bookshop BandRapid Response at Chichester Festival Theatre, open to early-career writersPortsmouth Writers HubThese monthly meetings at the King’s Theatre are keeping the Hub alive, thanks to Christine Lawrence; hopefully it will regroup and expand in the years to come. This will be excellent, constructive and specific:
6pm Monday 13 May at King’s Theatre. Tom Sykes: Typing Territory: Writing and Publishing on Self, Place and TravelDr Tom Sykes will explore style, structure, emplotment, drafting and editing in your memoir and place writing, and offer insider’s advice on pitching and publishing your work.Autumn Writing Workshops william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
I’m planning my autumn workshops – hoping to have events at
New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth – who hope to run literary events in their café spacePetersfield Museumpossibly at Guildhall, The Spring Havant, and Ashcroft, FarehamIf the following are of interest, let me know – without committing yourself to anything – and whether daytime or evenings better.
Writing for Procrastinators (3 weeks or one-off)Write Your Novel (3 weeks or one-off) also available as: Write Your Historical NovelMurder at the Museum/Theatre: Crime WritingWrite Your Story (memoir/non-fiction/life-writing)Edit Your WritingTake Your Novel Further (3 – 6 weeks)Writing Retreat (2-days)
+ Editing Club onlineWe ran Editing Club for 18 months through lockdown, learning loads about nuts and bolts editing. A few of you have asked for more sessions. How about:
Weds 5 June 7 – 8.30 pmWeds 13 July 7 – 8.30 pmAttend regularly or irregularly. Submit a scene from your Work in Progress, 200-800 words, a few pages, by Monday previous. We edit two pieces for half an hour each. Everyone can contribute, discuss. My word is not final. Tough on technical detail and cutting; but merely provocative on wider issues. It’s no masterclass; it’s a workshop for robust debate.
Pay what you can, eg: £10 to be edited; £5 to attend; £0 concessions.
Many of you come to our monthly online Scribblers Salon, aimed at those working on full manuscripts, to keep us all sane —more community mentoring retreat than workshop. Ask if of interest.
“New for 2024, our Rapid Response scheme offers writers a creative challenge to respond to CFT’s Festival 2024 productions. Open to amateur, aspiring and early-career writers alike, get inspired by the work on our stages and generate an original response.”
Our friend Lucy Flannery says, “I’d be really grateful if you could share details with your writerly networks of this new event at Chichester Festival Theatre which starts next month: https://www.cft.org.uk/rapid-response “ E: flannery.lucy@gmail.com W: http://bit.ly/2uTjP1W
Victory Radio Short Story Comp: open through MayJackie Green writes: DO YOU WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY BROADCAST ON RADIO? ‘PICK OF THE POPS’ VICTORY RADIO 600-WORD STORY COMPETITION
Loree Westron, founder member of the Portsmouth Authors Collective and Bob Bruce, owner of Victory Online radio are offering a unique opportunity to new and experienced writers to hear their short stories on the radio. Victory Online is based in Portsmouth but has listeners all over the UK tuning in on phones, tablets, computers and DAB+ radio. In Bob’s words, “Radio like it used to be.”
Every Thursday on Bob’s popular ‘Morning Call’ show he invites Loree and another local author to the studio to talk about writing events and their latest books. Now they have joined forces to launch a 600-word writing competition ‘Pick of the Pops’ so that more voices can be heard.
Writers are invited to take their titles and their inspiration from Victory’s playlist – spanning pop tunes from the 1950s to the Noughties. This is a national competition, which is being promoted to writers and writing groups all around the country. The top ten stories will be recorded by actors and broadcast on Victory Online and authors of the top three will win a selection of prizes.
Full details of the Pick of the Pops competition are available on the Victory website: https://victoryonline.cso.uk/pick-of-the-pops/
I love this station as it plays all the tunes I can remember the words to with lively presenters that really want to engage with their listeners. Have a listen and I’m sure you’ll hear a track that inspires you to rush off to your notebook or laptop to start writing that winning story! Many thanks
Upcoming Shows at the Spring HavantEmily Harlow of the Spring writes: We have a few book/poetry related events coming up in our Summer season which I thought would be of interest to members of your hub and I wondered if you would be happy to share them with your network?
Conception: Mary Shelley – The Making of a Monster
Date: Friday 10th May, 7:30pm
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Frankenstein under Mary Shelley’s name, Conception follows Gothic writer Mary Shelley’s return to Europe in October 1840 after two decades, defying her father-in-law’s wishes. Returning to Lake Geneva, where she wrote her famous novel, she grapples with her past and seeks solace at Villa Diodati, where she spent a memorable summer with Percy Shelley and Byron. The journey depicted in Conception explores Mary Shelley’s self-discovery in her later years, delving into the Romantic poetry of her contemporaries and culminating in a raw confrontation with her creation on the Mer de Glace. This narrative by CLAIR/OBSCUR S.O.E celebrates another remarkable female figure in history. Further information and ticket link
The Freshwater Five
Date: Thursday 16th May, 7:30pm
“The Freshwater Five” delves into the true story of five Isle of Wight fishermen convicted of drug smuggling, exploring the community divisions it caused. Through storytelling, verbatim accounts, and poetry by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the play delves into themes of smuggling, coastal decline, and folklore. Led by Deadman theatre company, the production offers a rich theatrical investigation into the men’s tragic downfall, enriched by Tennyson’s verses connecting the narrative to the island’s literary heritage.
Further information and ticket link
The Bookshop Band
Date: Saturday 3rd August, 7:30pm
Join us for a special concert featuring The Bookshop Band celebrating their 14th album, “Emerge, Return,” produced by Pete Townshend. Formed from a collaboration with local bookshops, they craft songs inspired by visiting authors. Experience a mesmerizing blend of music and literature, guided by Beth Porter and Ben Please. No prior knowledge of the books necessary. Enjoy songs inspired by authors like Margaret Atwood and Philip Pullman.
Further information and ticket link
April 12, 2024
Writing for Procrastinators, Petersfield Museum
Mañana, mañana! Are you tired of making excuses? Are you itching to put pen to paper, but need a helping hand?
Whether you’ve always just wanted to write, or you have a finished manuscript in your drawer, these friendly workshops with novelist William Sutton will coax you into taking your project further.
Turn your creative weaknesses into strengths. Grab inspirations, discover fresh approaches and crash through those blocks.
Five writers from recent courses have already published their novels.
Feedback from recent workshops:
Exceeded my expectations.Tutor was dynamic, knowledgeable, encouraging, empathetic.Very useful to learn that creating and editing are separate processes.The egg timer is great – makes me realise I do have some time.Come and be coaxed into getting started with your project. Discover fresh approaches to crash through those blocks. Develop characters, settings, plots, endings. Get words on the page.
Workshops every other week to allow for procrastination.
Feedback from previous sessions:
– Such a great course: really designed to motivate and inspire– Inspiring varied contact; great practical advice– 10/10″
Welcome to Writing for Procrastinators—four recent writers already in print—back by demand following from strong feedback last year for a one-off course @Ashcroft Arts Centre.
Please bring pen & paper or preferred device—and a diary or planner if you use one.
–William Sutton
More at https://www.william-sutton.co.uk/events/
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January 27, 2024
Writing Workshops Fareham, Portsmouth, Petersfield, Spring 2024
WRITE YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL online 7-9, 21 Feb
WRITE YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL in person, 10-12, 23 Feb
Edit Your Writing (online, Portsmouth Bookfest) 7-8.30, 28 Feb
Writing Retreat (Bookfest follow-up) – one day or two, online 8-9 March Write Your Novel – 3 Week Short Course Petersfield Museum March 14, 21, 28th.I’ve got a string of writing events coming up through the spring:Links/tickets: https://www.william-sutton.co.uk/events/Writing for Procrastinatorsnext Thurs 7-9pm 1 Feb Ashcroft Arts Centre.These have proven popular; we have at least two recently published authors from recent sessions. Postpone at your peril.
In Portsmouth BookfestWrite Your Historical Novel:WRITE YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL online 7-9, 21 FebWRITE YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL in person, 10-12, 23 FebHow do your characters speak? How do they dress? What are their secrets? Put pen to paper and develop your own historical novel.– Wonderful course– inspiring to work alongside like-minded writers.
Edit Your Writing (online, Portsmouth Bookfest) 7-8.30, 28 FebReduce that waffly draft to a sleek hard-hitting story.– I’ve edited out 30,000 words! Not a chore, but fun.– Gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.
Writing Retreat (Bookfest follow-up) – one day or two, online 8-9 March.– Inspiring session.– I edited 15,000 words.Full Bookfest programme/ticket links here:Portsmouth BookFest – Public Library Service
Write Your Novel – 3 Week Short CoursePetersfield Museum and Art GalleryMarch 14, 21, 28th.Story itching to be told? Whether seasoned wordsmith or complete beginner, our writing workshop is designed just for you.
https://petersfieldmuseum.digitickets.co.uk/even…/54638…
Ticket details above. Click the event title for more information.
01/02/2024 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pmWriting for Procrastinators – Ashcroft Arts
Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham Hampshire21/02/2024 – 09/03/2024 | 12:00 am
Portsmouth Bookfest 2024 – Editing, Historical Novels, Retreat21/02/2024 – 23/02/2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Write Your Historical Novel (online/in person) – Portsmouth Bookfest 2024
Portsmouth Central Library, Portsmouth Hampshire28/02/2024 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Edit Your Writing – Portsmouth Bookfest 202408/03/2024 – 09/03/2024 | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Writing Retreat (online), following up Portsmouth Bookfest 202414/03/2024 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Write Your Novel, Petersfield Museum, 3-week course
Petersfield Museum, Petersfield HampshirePlease Feel Free to Share:
November 5, 2023
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June 28, 2023
Ashcroft Arts Centre Writing Courses Autumn 2023: Procrastinators, Editing, Novelists
Ashcroft Writing Courses Autumn 2023
with novelist William Sutton
Writing for Procrastinators with Will Sutton | Ashcroft Arts Centre (one-off Workshop)
Tickets: Booking | Ashcroft Arts Centre
7-9pm Thursday – 28th September, £25
Mañana, mañana! Are you tired of making excuses? Are you itching to put pen to paper, but need a helping hand? Two writers from last year’s courses have already published their novels.
Whether you’ve always just wanted to write, o r you have a finished manuscript in your drawer, these friendly workshops with novelist William Sutton will coax you into taking your project further.
Turn your creative weaknesses into strengths. Grab inspirations, discover fresh approaches and crash through those blocks.
Feedback from recent workshops:
How to Edit Your Own Writing Words: Edit your writing | Ashcroft Arts Centre (one-off workshop)
TICKETS: Booking | Ashcroft Arts Centre
Thursday – 7-9pm 19th October
This one-off writing workshop at Ashcroft Arts Centre will share methods, tips, pitfalls and secrets of the dark arts of editing.
This crucial but misunderstood part of the writing process can feel daunting or frustrating – or it can be fun, and satisfying.
Bring a section of your writing and discover how seriously writers take editing. Pick up specific tips on how to improve dialogue, layout, structure, character. Reshape your story, or perfect the dialogue. Reduce that waffly draft to a sleek hard-hitting story.
Appropriate for committed writers, 16+, writing fiction, drama, short story or non-fiction. Feedback on previous courses:
Gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.I learned about punctuation and dialogue.I’ve now edited out 30,000 words! I thought it would be a chore, but it was fun.
Tutor: william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
Take Your Novel Further (3 sessions): Take Your Novel Further | Ashcroft Arts Centre
TICKETS Booking | Ashcroft Arts Centre
7-9pm Thursday 9th November, Thursday 16th November, Thursday 23 November
Aimed at writers who have a clear idea for a book – fiction, autobiography or non-fiction – or a draft, full or partial. How do you take it to the next level? How do you make your work stand out from the crowd, to submit to agents, publishers or competitions.
You’ve taken the first steps. Now develop your understanding of the further complexities of writing.
writing techniques: plotting, characterisation, narrative voicestructure: redrafting, using feedback constructivelyline editing: chapters, consistency, making sensecopy editing: paragraphs, sentences, research, vocabularyproofreading: dialogue, spelling, punctuation, word choicesubmitting to agents, publishers, competitions and editorsthe writing industry: how to fathom it
Four writers from recent courses now published. Feedback on previous courses:
The input on editing helped me tackle my unmanageable draft.10/10, excellent pace and differentiation.Great advice on plot, characters, structure, editing.More than good value for money, it’s informative, interesting and inspirational.Tutor: William Sutton william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
Ashcroft Arts Centre Writing Courses Autumn 2023
Ashcroft Writing Courses Autumn 2023
with novelist William Sutton
Writing for Procrastinators (one-off Workshop)
7-9pm Thursday – 14th September
Mañana, mañana! Are you tired of making excuses? Are you itching to put pen to paper, but need a helping hand? Two writers from last year’s courses have already published their novels.
Whether you’ve always just wanted to write, or you have a finished manuscript in your drawer, these friendly workshops with novelist William Sutton will coax you into taking your project further.
Turn your creative weaknesses into strengths. Grab inspirations, discover fresh approaches and crash through those blocks.
Feedback from recent workshops:
Exceeded my expectations.Tutor was dynamic, knowledgeable, encouraging, empathetic.Very useful to learn that creating and editing are separate processes.The egg timer is great – makes me realise I do have some time. 
How to Edit Your Own Writing Words
Thursday – 7-9pm 19th October
This one-off writing workshop at Ashcroft Arts Centre will share methods, tips, pitfalls and secrets of the dark arts of editing.
This crucial but misunderstood part of the writing process can feel daunting or frustrating – or it can be fun, and satisfying.
Bring a section of your writing and discover how seriously writers take editing. Pick up specific tips on how to improve dialogue, layout, structure, character. Reshape your story, or perfect the dialogue. Reduce that waffly draft to a sleek hard-hitting story.
Appropriate for committed writers, 16+, writing fiction, drama, short story or non-fiction. Feedback on previous courses:
Gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.I learned about punctuation and dialogue.I’ve now edited out 30,000 words! I thought it would be a chore, but it was fun.Tutor: william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
Take Your Novel Further (3 sessions)
7-9pm Thursday 9th November, Thursday 16th November, Thursday 23 November
Aimed at writers who have a clear idea for a book – fiction, autobiography or non-fiction – or a draft, full or partial. How do you take it to the next level? How do you make your work stand out from the crowd, to submit to agents, publishers or competitions.
You’ve taken the first steps. Now develop your understanding of the further complexities of writing.
writing techniques: plotting, characterisation, narrative voicestructure: redrafting, using feedback constructivelyline editing: chapters, consistency, making sensecopy editing: paragraphs, sentences, research, vocabularyproofreading: dialogue, spelling, punctuation, word choicesubmitting to agents, publishers, competitions and editorsthe writing industry: how to fathom itFour writers from recent courses now published. Feedback on previous courses:
The input on editing helped me tackle my unmanageable draft.10/10, excellent pace and differentiation.Great advice on plot, characters, structure, editing.More than good value for money, it’s informative, interesting and inspirational.Tutor: William Sutton william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
December 30, 2022
Upcoming Writing Workshops Jan-March
Here’s a heads up for the dark days of January/February. I start with a Write Your Novel course at the Ashcroft Arts Centre Fareham, late Jan to Feb, then have a series of events in Bookfest. More here: Events and Appearances – William Sutton (william-sutton.co.uk)
Several writers who’ve taken my courses have recently been published, with launches in and near Portsmouth, events at wider bookshops and even shortlisted for the Debut Dagger with the Crime Writers Association. So these are a great opportunity for those who’d like to take their writing more seriously, and a way to enter the local writing community.
Write Your Novel , £35 course, Monday 29 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb.Feedback from previous Bookfest sell-out workshops:
– Exceeded my expectations.
– More than good value for money
– informative, interesting and inspirational.
– 10/10, excellent pace and differentiation, plus advice on plot, characters, structure, editing and more.
ashcroft.org.uk/event/write-your-novel-creative-writing-workshops
£50 suggested price (£20 concession) – pay what you can
wegottickets.com/event/561034
7 – 9 pm Thursday 23 Feb, Room W1.09, Eldon Building, UoP PO1 2UP
£8 suggested price (£4 concession) – pay what you can
wegottickets.com/event/562642
Thursday 2 March 7 – 8.30 pm
£5 suggested (£2 concession) – pay what you can:
wegottickets.com/event/561031/ (Zoom link sent pre-event)
10 am – 12. 30 pm Fri and/or Sat March 3, 4 (attend one day or both)
£20 (£10 conc) – pay what you can
https://www.wegottickets.com/f/12966 (Zoom link sent pre-event)
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May 10, 2022
Edit Your Writing
I run a fortnightly Editing Club online with a group of writers local and far-flung. Since our Take Your Novel Further course in Portsmouth Bookfest 2021, we’ve met regularly to edit our work, reshaping, pruning, prodding, developing early drafts towards publishable standard, for submitting to competitions, agents or publishers.
– I’ve found the input on editing particularly useful because it gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.
Tickets; How To Edit Your Own Writing | Ashcroft Arts Centre
Sessions: Tuesday 31 May, 2pm – 4pm
Tickets: £20
Book your space on How to edit your own writing at Hampshire Cultural Trust’s Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
This one-off workshop at Ashcroft Arts Centre will share methods, tips, pitfalls and secrets of the dark arts of editing.
It’s a crucial but often misunderstood part of the writing process. It can feel daunting, frustrating or annoying – but it can also be fun, and hugely satisfying, when you reshape a story, or perfect a piece of dialogue, or reduce a waffly draft to a sleek hard-hitting story.
Bring a section of your writing and discover how seriously writers take editing. Pick up specifics tips on how to improve dialogue, layout, structure, character.
Appropriate for committed writers, 18+, writing fiction, drama, short story or non-fiction.
Tutor: william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
Feedback on previous courses:
– I’ve found the input on editing particularly useful because it gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.
– 10/10, excellent pace and differentiation, plus advice on plot, characters, structure, editing.
– Focused, generous feedback.
February 17, 2022
Interview with Roger Stacey via Taft School Rhino Reads
Thanks to Taft, Amanda Pulawski and Roger Stacey for inviting me to speak in Taft’s Rhino Reads series: you can watch the interview here.
Rhino Crash: Rhino’s Read with William Sutton ’89 and Roger Stacey from Taft School on Vimeo.
I spoke about language, sewers, pornography, the future and the past and the present, the whitewashing of Victorian Britain for our own aggrandisment.
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