William Sutton's Blog, page 7
February 8, 2022
Portsmouth Bookfest in the press
Novelist William Sutton previews Bookfest’s writing events. See listings.
Writing is a solitary pastime: if you write, you’ll know how much we need encouragement. Portsmouth Bookfest 2022 is packed with events for writers (and readers).
The range of events is amazing. Artist Kim Edith leads a Zine Making Workshop: create narratives with words and pictures in ‘Storytelling through Portsmouth Museums collection’. Ever wanted to write a film? Book in advance for ‘Wave Makers’ at your local library. “No experience required,” says screenwriter Matt Wingett, “just an aspiration to be creative with words.”
In ‘Transmedia storytelling’ workshop, writers with too much imagination learn interdisciplinary collaborative skills. ‘Off the Shelf Poetry Masterclass’ invites you to submit work to award-winning poets Denise Bennett and Maggie Sawkins. Discuss your poems at ‘Poetry Corner’ with Tina MacNaughton.
Children create characters with author Shelagh Moore in ‘Storytime’ (ages 5–7) and ‘Writing Workshop’ (9–11). Becci Louise invites 10–14-year-old environmentalists to create ‘Octopus Medicine’ poems and art.
There’s a bonanza of advice for fiction writers, whether beginning your novel or selling it. Wendy Metcalfe advises on ‘Writing a sparkling first page’. Everyone needs to learn ‘How to Edit Your Writing’: in this constructive online group, two authors post excerpts to be pruned into shape.
‘Speak Up’ encourages writers to read confidently. These friendly workshops help you to engage audiences. Exploring our city’s different histories, ‘Diverse voices’ is a free workshop/performance.
To get you started, five novelists offer ‘Tips for aspiring authors – from the horses’ mouths’. Don’t postpone signing up for ‘Writing for Procrastinators’; two of last year’s attendees already have books out. Congratulations!
Once your novel’s polished, ‘Pitch and Punt’ it with award-winning writer Lucy Flannery. Publicist Esther Harris and scout Naomi Tongue reveal ‘What do Literary Scouts do?’ The effervescent Scott Pack shares insider knowledge: Tips from a Publisher explores writers’ mistakes in submitting.
For readers, David Lammy MP’s Tribes explores our compulsion to belong. “He interrogates polarisation, tribalism and identity politics… blending memoir with shrewd analysis.” (Independent)
Mohsin Zaidi’s award-winning memoir A Dutiful Boy explores diversity and inclusion, mental health and justice.
‘Around the world in 10 books’ is always enlightening. ‘View from the Hill’ illuminates folklore, flora and fauna. Local crime writer and raconteur Pete Adams proposes ‘A funny way of being serious’. Full-day Mystery Fest hosts bestsellers Leigh Russell, Linda Regan and Jeff Dowson alongside local stars Christine Lawrence, Chris Blackwater and Carol Westron.
And lots more besides: Google ‘Portsmouth Bookfest’.
Twitter @PompeyBookFest
Facebook PortsmouthLibraries
Tickets eventbrite.co.uk/e/portsmouth-bookfest-2022-tickets-209159992167
Edit Your Writing & Writing for Procrastinators: william-sutton.co.uk/events
SIDE PANEL
Author Loree Westron writes:
I’ll be joining Helen Salsbury and Christine Lawrence, discussing ‘A funny thing happened while I was researching my novel’. Each of us has written a novel set in ‘near history’. We’ll discuss using real experiences to shape stories we tell. (Central Library, 23 February: free).
In ‘Literary Fiction – an Intensity of Language’, Helen and I join novelists Gabrielle Kimm and Alison Habens to define the elusive term ‘literary fiction’. (Central Library, 13 March: £4).
FURTHER BOOKFEST LINKS TO SHARE
Delights for writers at Bookfest – Southsea Lifestyle – Free Magazine for Southsea, Old Portsmouth, Eastney & Gunwharf Quayshttps://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/portsmouth-bookfest-is-back-in-real-life-where-is-it-hosted-when-is-it-on-which-authors-will-be-there-3548861https://www.strongisland.co/2022/01/31/preview-bookfest-2022/https://www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2022/01/24/portsmouth-bookfest-interview-with-helen-salsbury-author-of-sometimes-when-i-sleep/http://www.helensalsbury.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Interview.mp3Please Feel Free to Share:
Portsmouth Bookfest: Delights for Writers
BOOKFEST LINKS TO SHARE
• Delights for writers at Bookfest – my piece in Southsea Lifestyle, above but readable
• Portsmouth News preview Bookfest, with me and Loree Westron
• Strong Island preview Bookfest, by Graham Brown
• Christine Lawrence and Helen Salsbury in Star and Crescent
• Helen Salsbury interviewed on Radio Solent
• Book Bookfest
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October 22, 2021
Writing Courses upcoming
Writing friends,
Writing courses I’ve got upcoming are listed below. Many of you have taken the Writing Your Novel course and/or Murder at the Theatre; but if you know anyone who’d enjoy, kindly point them my way, starting with course from 1 November at Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham. More below.
I’m putting on Writing for Procrastinators both online and in person in Portsmouth Bookfest on Saturdays Feb/March 2022.
There’s also a taster session for our ongoing Editing Club: Edit Your Writing (online), 3 March 2022.
Editing Club grew out of this year’s Take Your Novel Further course: the editing week was so productive that we instituted Thursday evening meetings (now fortnightly) where we edit a couple of pages of two writers work together. This is proving an invaluable exercise for us all in strengthening our editing instincts, as well as familiarising us with each other’s styles. It’s enlightening, and fun.
Southsea Scribblers’ Salon is likewise aimed at writers finishing, polishing and editing full manuscripts (mostly fiction, but we’ve also got non-fictionists and short story-tellers). Once a month, we convene online to think, write, and talk about those elusive aspects of writing most courses haven’t got time for. It’s a lonely calling, and this aims to remedy that isolation.
For those first three courses, you can simply follow the links to book. If Editing Club or Scribblers’ Salon are of interest, get in touch. The objective of all this is:
· To develop our writing community
· To offer nuts-and-bolts help for ambitious writers
· To offer writing workshop options parallel to other major creative cities
From a little poll on Portsmouth Writers Hub Facebook, I see there’s interest in a Historical Fiction course and Submitting to Agents/Publishers: I’ll aim to cover these next year at some point. Feel free to ask me about any of these courses. Thanks.
WRITE YOUR NOVEL (Ashcroft Arts Centre)Do you write? Are you interested in writing a novel? Join us for a short course where you’ll gain a clearer idea of how to write your book. The four sessions will cover the ideas and planning stage, right through to characters, plot, settings and finally edits and selling.
No previous creative writing experience is needed, but it may help if you enjoy reading. Experienced writers will also enjoy setting realistic aims, busting myths and getting down to writing. These sessions are run in a friendly, informal atmosphere by a published novelist, experienced in Mysteries, Crime Fiction and Gothic novels. But any genre will work.
6:30pm – 8pm Monday 1 November, 8 November, 15 November, 22 November.
Ticket: £35 for the four week course
What you need: Pen and paper, and an open mind.
Feedback on William’s workshops and courses:
Exceeded my expectations.More than good value for money. I shall not hesitate to recommend it. Excellent pace and differentiation, plus advice.
HOW TO EDIT YOUR OWN WRITING (online)
with Editing Club
7 – 8.30 pm Thursday 3 March.
£5 (£2 concession): www.wegottickets.com/event/527714 (Zoom link sent prior to event)
Drop in to observe a group of writers tackling this crucial part of the writing process.
Since last year’s sold-out Take Your Novel Further in Bookfest 2021 and Write Your Novel in 2020, a group of writers local and far-flung have been meeting regularly online to edit their work, reshaping, pruning, prodding, developing early drafts towards publishable standard, in preparation for submitting to agents or publishers.
See how seriously writers take this process. Pick up specific tips on how to improve dialogue, layout, structure, character. Feedback from participants:
– I’ve found the input on editing particularly useful because it gave objective criteria to cut through the sprawling first draft.
– Focused, generous feedback.
– I enjoyed interacting with the other participants. I’ve also benefitted from Will’s infectious enthusiasm.
Novelist William Sutton moderates the session – though his word is not final – while a panoply of writers contribute their experience and creativity to this fascinating process.
In person: 10 -11.30 am, Sat 26 Feb, Sat 5 March, Sat 12 March, at University of Portsmouth
www.wegottickets.com/event/527848
Online: 12 -1.30 pm, Sat 26 Feb, Sat 5 March, Sat 12 March
www.wegottickets.com/event/527850
£50 (whole course); £20 concessions.
Workshops for uncertain writers in uncertain times. Turn your creative weaknesses into strengths. Always wanted to write? Unsure how? Is your dream project permanently on hold? Try these friendly, informal workshops.
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.
Feedback from sold-out Take Your Novel Further in Bookfest 2021:
– Tutor was dynamic, knowledgeable, encouraging, empathetic.
– More than good value for money, it is informative, interesting and inspirational.
– 10/10, excellent pace and differentiation, plus advice on plot, characters, structure, editing.
In person: Room W 1.09, Eldon Building, University of Portsmouth, Winston Churchill Avenue, PO1 2DJ.
Parking: 3 hours free on-street on Eldon Road. £2 Pay parking behind Eldon Building, off Eldon Road.
Online: Zoom link will be sent to bookers prior to course.
Online. First & third Thursday of the month, 7 – 8.30 pm. Attend regularly or irregularly.
Submit a scene from your Work in Progress, 200-800 words, a few pages, by Monday previous.
I select 2 pieces, first come, first serve – unless your work isn’t ready. I’ll confirm when you’re on. We edit each piece for half an hour. Everyone can contribute, discuss. My word is not final. I’ll be 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.
Improving finished manuscripts; and developing ideas into fully-fledged stories.
For those looking to take their novel to the next stage.
Currently online. (Potentially at my house or Southsea Library, with online option continuing.)
Each month we tackle different topics of writing, share and discuss bits of our own writing.
2½-hr sessions, 5-10 participants.
First Friday and Saturday morning of each month.
£20/session; £10 concession; grants available.
4-month term blocks. May-Aug; Sept-Dec; Jan-Apr.
October 8, 2021
Workshop: WRITE YOUR NOVEL (Ashcroft Arts Centre)
6:30pm – 8pm Monday 1 November, 8 November, 15 November, 22 November.
Ticket: £35 for the four week course
Do you write? Are you interested in writing a novel?
Join us for a short course where you’ll gain a clearer idea of how to write your book. The four sessions will cover the ideas and planning stage, right through to characters, plot, settings and finally edits and selling.
No previous creative writing experience is needed, but it may help if you enjoy reading.
Experienced writers will also enjoy setting realistic aims, busting myths and getting down to writing. These sessions are run in a friendly, informal atmosphere by a published novelist, experienced in Mysteries, Crime Fiction and Gothic novels. But any genre will work.
Feedback on William’s workshops and courses:
Exceeded my expectations.
Tutor was dynamic, knowledgeable, encouraging, empathetic.
More than good value for money, it is informative, interesting and inspirational,
and I shall not hesitate to recommend it to others.
I enjoyed interacting with the other participants.
I’ve also benefitted from Will’s infectious enthusiasm.
I 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 and more.
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June 20, 2021
From Inspiration to Full Stop #creativewriting #workshop
Friday June 25 1-3pm. https://ashcroft.org.uk/event/creative-writing-inspiration-full-stop… “Brilliant!”
“Will is such an engaging supportive speaker”
“Excellent”
“Content perfectly paced. Going home I found I had the seeds of a novel”
“Inspirational, thought-provoking”
It’s a condensed version of my Write Your Novel course.
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April 1, 2021
Raisin Deckchair, Jamie and the Jets
Jamie & the Jets new album, Raisin Deckchair, articulate, melodic, absorbing, is out Friday. I think it’s good.
Pre-save Raisin Deckchair on Spotify.
Songsmith Jamie West launches Raisin Deckchair with a brief set this Fri 2 April 7pm: https://facebook.com/events/777862122840788
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February 15, 2021
Portsmouth Bookfest 2021: ‘It’s lovely when reading becomes a community thing’, by Chris Broom
Excerpt from Portsmouth News 13.2.21, feature on Portsmouth Bookfest by Chris Broom, including an interview with me.
Portsmouth Bookfest 2021: ‘It’s lovely when reading becomes a community thing’Over the past year, many of those who found they had extra time on their hands due to diminished options elsewhere, turned to books. By Chris Broom Sunday, 14th February 2021, 3:40 pmOne of Bookfest’s most popular strands over the years has been the workshops helping people develop their own writing – from first ideas through to publication. And as well as reading more over the past year, some have decided now’s the time to try and write that novel they’ve been kicking around for goodness knows how long.
Novelist and teacher Will Sutton, creator of the Victorian detective Inspector Lawless, is hosting two of his popular courses on novel writing.‘Last year was face-to-face, and it was sold out,’ says Will, ‘the range of ages was about 20 to 70 which was really nice.
‘I’ve got returners from last year, I did this Write Your Novel course last year, and I said, you guys need something to push you a bit further, so I’m doing another course that does that, it’s for people who maybe don’t have a full draft, but they’ve got a shape, a structure, characters, and need to take it that extra mile towards the finish line – editing and submitting, the dotting and crossing – the difference between a rough draft and the finished product.’
As to running the course online, Will is a fan, even if it does present its own difficulties.
‘I like it, I’ve been doing some things online for quite a while, so I’d been on Zoom before lockdown started, and it’s fine for the actual teaching.
‘But I do miss the bits around it where you get to know the person a bit more, you come in a few minutes early and chat or whatever, I’m not sure how to do that on Zoom. I think I’ll encourage people to arrive early and have a chat and stay late.
‘My group from last year, we’ve still got a WhatsApp which we’ve been chatting on all year, and that’s been really lovely.
‘In a way, you can’t really teach people how to write, but you can teach them how to reach out for what they need at the right time.’
And he’s glad Bookfest is here in 2021.
‘A lot of people have talked about turning to books in lockdown.
‘Reading is obviously a solitary thing, but it’s lovely when it becomes a community thing as well. I love the fact that Bookfest is run by the library service, and by people who love books.
‘They’re not flamboyant organisers, and they don’t do huge publicity campaigns, they just want people who are book-lovers to come along.
Novelist and teacher William Sutton will be running two novel-writing courses and interviewing crime author Mark Billingham in this year’s Bookfest.
Will is also interviewing best-selling crime author Mark Billingham on February 27 for Bookfest.
‘I’ve met him at crime-writing events, and he’s a very entertaining man. It’s just trying to find a way to unleash his wit online – that’s going to be the challenge!’
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Writing Workshops in Portsmouth Bookfest
I’ve hugely enjoyed my Writing for Procrastinators course in association with Ashcroft Arts. If you’re working on your writing you might consider the workshops below, or any of the events in Portsmouth Bookfest.
Write Your Novel, Portsmouth Bookfest
4 weeks: 20, 27 Feb & 6, 13 March, Saturday 10-11.30 am
Tickets: wegottickets.com/event/509116 £40 (£20 conc) whole course. Workshops delivered by Zoom.
Information: https://www.william-sutton.co.uk/even...
Gain a clearer idea of how to write your book. Four sessions cover Ideas, Characters, Plot & Settings, Edits & Selling. 
Aimed at committed writers of all ages, these sessions are run in a friendly, informal atmosphere by a published novelist, helping you to set realistic aims, explode myths and get down to writing. (2020 workshops SOLD OUT):
Take Your Novel Further
6 weeks: Every Sat 20 Feb -27 March, 12-1.30 pm
Tickets: wegottickets.com/event/509118
£60 (£30 concs) whole course. Course moved online. I’ll send Zoom link before first session.
Updated info: https://www.william-sutton.co.uk/even...
For writers who have a clear idea for a book (fiction, autobiography or non-fiction), or a draft, full or partial, and want to develop their understanding of the further complexities of writing:
– writing techniques: plotting, characterisation, narrative voice
– paragraphs, dialogue, sentences, vocabulary
– structure, redrafting, using feedback constructively
– copy editing, line editing, proofreading
– submitting to agents, publishers, competitions and editors
– the writing industry, and how to fathom it
Updated info here and at william-sutton.co.uk/workshops
Crime Writer Mark Billingham interviewed by William Sutton27 Feb 2021 – 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Zoom Event. £20 tickets include Mark’s novel Cry Baby.
Feedback for recent workshops“Thank you for an amazing online writing workshop. It was very much needed.”
“Content perfectly paced – inspirational and thought-provoking.”
“Excellent workshop, even at a distance.”
“The workshop was managed well in these challenging times.”
“Engaging and so supportive.”
“On my way home, I pulled together some themes from the course and found I had the seeds of a novel. I’ve since mapped out the main characters and started putting together the plot. A good outcome!”
“I’ve just been on my first online writing workshop led by William Sutton, Author. I had an inspiring time.”
July 20, 2020
Difficult Days, Silver Linings – Portsmouth Creates We Believe art project
I was delighted to be selected as one of 20 local artists to make a poster for Portsmouth Creates We Believe art project, commemorating the life of the city through COVID-19 lockdown.
As I told them, I’m not a visual artist; but I am a typewriter person, a co-ordinator of writers, and a language obsessive. I suggested my idea: to ask local people to send me messages, dialogue, ideas, diaries, homeworks – anything that evokes the lockdown period for you.
I received beautiful contributions from friends and strangers: I typed them up; I shoogled them around; I slotted them together like a jigsaw. And I chose a couple of phrases to superimpose on top.
Thanks to all who contributed. Special thanks to contributors Maggie Sawkins (poem, letters), Christine Lawrence (diary entries, including my title Difficult Days, Silver Linings, and Jackie Green (whose phrase about her grandchildren’s visit is the visible sentence). You can find out about the trail here, and you may walk it yourself in a few different places around the city. My contribution is letter T. You can find it, and discover all the words people sent me, in Milton Park, by Southsea Rock Garden, and near the Garrison Church.
Have a look.
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April 19, 2020
How Fiction Works by James Wood
How Fiction Works by James Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A beautiful explication of how writers write, why writers write and why we read.
I’m particularly won by several parts of Wood’s argument:
– his defence of the moral aspect of the novel alongside its aesthetic and structural sides.
– his unpacking of ‘free indirect style’, how a third person narrative allows scope for the author, the narrator and the setting of the novel all to contribute in a comfortable polyphony.
– his identification of the opponents of realism (or rather what he calls ‘novelism’), and how they unfairly caricature, for example, the Victorian novel – so that post-modernism’s snobbish dismissal of the realist novel fails to acknowledge that both modernist and post-modernist strategies emerge directly from stylists such as Diderot, Flaubert and the Gothic novelists.
– his beautiful close studies of dozens of passages, spotting how the world of the novel is sprung into life through techniques simple and elaborate.
Bravo, Mr Wood, and thank you.
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