Devon Book Club discussion
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Mod
a) Read loads, and read with a writerly eye
b) Write. Just get it down. Doesn't matter if it's rubbish - it's getting words down there..."
How do you writers crystallise your ideas into the core theme of a book or a collecton of poems to get you started?
Ian wrote: How do you writers crystallise your ideas into the core theme of a book or a collecton of poems to get you started? I can't talk for novelists, but certainly with my own writing in poetry and short stories, themes emerge from the act of writing. A poem can start from a phrase or an image, which I then follow to find where it takes me. That doesn't mean that I don't have themes which I regularly explore - it just means that I don't sit down with a theme in mind. Subject matter is something slightly different - a poet might write a poem about, say, an owl, but that doesn't mean that the poem is just about owls!
Once certain themes start emerging, one might do research and reading that could feed into poems, and start being aware of how one might address certain recurring ideas from different angles, but generally the poem finds the theme. I've recently written quite a lot of ekphrastic poetry (poems derived from other art forms) and I've found that they (quite unconsciously on my part) are addressing a particular concern. So now, I'm thinking of other angles I can use, with the idea of perhaps putting them together in a chapbook or pamphlet. But that'll probably be another year or more of work.
The same with form - a poem may, in an early draft, start looking or feeling like a sonnet, so I might then decide that's what it's (probably) going to be. Or perhaps I find some interesting rhymes in an early draft - then I might decide to take it further and make the poem fully rhyming.
Sorry - seem to have got very long-winded here! Don't often get asked about the process of writing poems! :-)
Ian wrote: 'crystallise your ideas into the core theme' Also, you write loads of poems and choose the ones that fit best together as a collection. And then your editor disagrees, and then you eventually come to a compromise! :-)
Mod
I can't talk for novelists, but certainly with my own writing in poe..."
Wonderful explanation. Thank you. I love to hear about the process of writing - quite a lot of such discussion takes place on the writer's corner section. I was listening to an interesting programme on the Guardian Books Podcast toady which was looking at how we read. A fascinating bit about close reading - ways of unpacking the structure of writing and gettign more enjoymetn from it as a result. I confess I don't do that very often - although with poetry, more so perhaps.
Hi,My name is Mark, I live in Paignton. I have sort of bounced over here from the poetry forum as I have just published my first novel "The Dreamweaver". I have also published a book on poetry called "Rhymes from the Book of Life" and have had one of my poems - A Day in the Life - published in Devon Life back in April this year, augmented with a beautiful photo of Dartmoor.
The reason for my message is; does anyone know the best way to build up recommendations on Amazon. I did have some linked to each book but they have mysteriously disappeared and Amazon doesn't know why!
So back to square one.
Mod
My name is Mark, I live in Paignton. I have sort of bounced over here from the poetry forum as I have just published my first novel "The Dreamweaver". I have also published a book on poetry ca..."
Hi Mark. Glad that you have joined us. You are most welcome. I'll send you a longer e-mail message but you will find a writers section on the page where you might like to also share your experience with other writers. Hopefully someone there will have some advice for you.
Hi, I'm Jon Stein. I live in Totnes and I'm a writer and musician. I recently started a book club on my housing estate and we've just had our third meeting. We're currently reading Rose Tremain's 'The Road Home' which I'm enjoying. Yesterday I went to visit Agatha Christie's house at Greenway which I warmly recommend for inspiration. If you want to see some of my work, visit www.jonstein.co.uk where you'll see my regular blog 'Totnes Eye' as well as details of my book about India and original songs.
Mod
Hi JOn. Great to have you with us. I love that book by Rose Tremain. I gaev it on World Book NIght a few years ago. Such a great story. Well written and very topical. Hope you enjoy the Book Club and that you'll drop in often. Please pass on the word to your other book club members and, if you are fee this Saturday, join us at Winstones Book Shop in Sidmouth at 1.30 - we have 5 great authors joining us and the new Chair of the emerging Library Service Mutual - oh, and cake!. Check out the events section or join us on Facebook. Best Wishes Ian
Hello, visited your site, all looks very interesting. looking forward to your contributions here.
Jon wrote: "Hi, I'm Jon Stein. I live in Totnes and I'm a writer and musician. I recently started a book club on my housing estate and we've just had our third meeting. We're currently reading Rose Tremain's '..."Hi Jon. Welcome. Really interesting website. I love Greenway too - stunning place.
Hello Every-one I live in the Sid valley in East Devon and I was delighted to find the link to this Book club. I hope to be able to meet some of you soon hopefully at the next event. I guess the book I have re-read quite a few times and therefore would feature in my top ten is 'The Ginger Tree'. I have just finished reading 'Disclaimer' which had a good twist .
Mod
Hi Gillian. Great to have you with us. Crediton on 14/11 11-1 is next. Details will follow. Who are those books by? Havent heard of them. A helpful tip - if you refer to a book or an author you can add it to the message by using add book/author just above this message box. Then it leaves a link to details, reviews etc which is fun.
Mod
Hi Ana, Welcome to the group. I loved The Martian by Andy Weir. Have you read that yet? The problem is that the film has now come out and I wonder if less people will read the book. I haven't seen the film yet, although a few people here have.
Mod
Hi Ana - glad you've found us. So many books I could recommend - tell us a little about the sort of books you like to read. Also, visit the writers corner thread and talk with other writers there - they are really encouraging of other writers. Oh, and be great to hear about authors from your home country. I love reading books from other cultures.
Mod
Hi Carol - Having read the book and seen the film, I would still say that the book is worth reading if people see the film first. The film is pretty true to the book but inevitably misses out quite a lot and I don't think conveys the (accessible) science that you get from the book as Mark Watney solves the problems he encounters.
Mod
I should have siad, Ana, that my foolproof recommendation from the last couple of years has been To The End of the Land by David Grossman - a wonderful book. Hope to see you soon.
Ana wrote: "Hi, finally could manage to join this group and very glad to be part of it. As a reader and 'amateur' writer I am looking forward to motivation to start writing again and some book recommendations."Hi Ana. Welcome. What sort of writing do you enjoy doing?
Hi, I'm Sharon - I work in Plymouth and live just outside. I work as a mental health support worker / counsellor which is challenging and interesting. I love being out with my dog and I love to read, crime is my favourite genre. It will be nice to chat to other book lovers.
Hi Sharon - and welcome.My wife and I lived in Plymouth for 20 years before we retired to Brixham. If you fancy it, you're just in time to join in our first shared book read. If you go to the thread you'll find you have until noon tomorrow to suggest a book for us all to read. We'll then be voting to choose one.
Mod
Hi Sharon. You are very welcome. If you've not read his work you might like to chck out local author Graham Hurley. Graham joined us at our last event at Sidmouth book shop and was very entertaining. If you check out our Devon Culture and Events posts for September you will find out more about him Welcome once again. Please drop by often
Sharon wrote: "Hi, I'm Sharon - I work in Plymouth and live just outside. I work as a mental health support worker / counsellor which is challenging and interesting. I love being out with my dog and I love to rea..."Hello Sharon. Welcome. Looking forward to hearing about your reading. Equally important: what kind of dog do you have? (We haven't got a dog atm and I'm having withdrawal symptoms...)
Hi Kathy, I have a 3 year old black Labrador called Poppy, she's my world
Sharon wrote: "Hi Kathy, I have a 3 year old black Labrador called Poppy, she's my world "Sounds beautiful. :)
Hello, I'm Cathie Hartigan - I live in Exeter and my world revolves around books. I'm an author and also run a business called CreativeWritingMatters. We are responsible for The Exeter Novel Prize. Devon Book Group seems to me a wonderful way of connecting readers and writers and I'm really pleased to join.
Mod
Cathie wrote: "Hello, I'm Cathie Hartigan - I live in Exeter and my world revolves around books. I'm an author and also run a business called CreativeWritingMatters. We are responsible for The Exeter Novel Prize...."Hi Cathie. It was lovely to meet you on Saturday. So glad you've joined us.
It was good to meet you too, Kathy! I'm really pleased when I meet other indie published authors who have found it a positive experience.
Hi,I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. South Devon is my spiritual home and my next published novel and follow up are both very strongly Devon based.
I note the comments on Authors Corner and, when I find it, ! will mention details if anyone is interested.
Edward Tracey
Mod
I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. South Devon is my spiritual ho..."
Hi Edward and a warm welcome to you. You can leave Devon but Devon can't leave you - or something like that! Great to have you with us. You'll find our writers corner as you scroll down the topic headings. Also, you might like to connect with the group over on Facebook. Best wishes Ian
Hi Edward, Welcome to the group. Delighted to see that you have a close connection with both Pembrokeshire and Devon, as so do I. My father was born at Pembroke Dock and husband and I used to live 'up the road' at Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion. Delighted to see that you are an author and interested in history and farming. I am particularly interested in the agriculture of the 18th century.
Hello Everyone. I've been a lurking member for a little while, but after the great event at Crediton last weekend (thank you Ian for inviting me) I thought it was time to speak up. I have lived in Devon for eight years and cannot imagine living anywhere else. I am supposedly a full time writer, but living in a small town where there is so much going on and lots of opportunities for volunteering, I find I spend around half my time on writerly activities and the rest of the time singing, organising events or just supporting other people's events. It's great to have reached the age where I can choose how to spend my time. I love the idea of Devon Book Club and now that I've 'broken my duck' hope to take part in lots of interesting discussions.
Hi Elizabeth, Lovely to see you here. I have just looked you up and didn't realise Chudleigh was quite so literary, with its own annual literary festival!
Mod
Great to have you with us Elizabeth. It was great to meet you last weekend )didn't that week fly by!). Looking forward to lots of bookchat with you
Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "Hi Elizabeth, Lovely to see you here. I have just looked you up and didn't realise Chudleigh was quite so literary, with its own annual literary festival!"Great to have you with us ..."
Likewise, Ian. Now I've started talking, it may be hard to shut me up!
Carol wrote: "Hi Elizabeth, Lovely to see you here. I have just looked you up and didn't realise Chudleigh was quite so literary, with its own annual literary festival!"Hello Carol. Yes, we run LitFest as part of the 10day Chdufest in July. It's always a good day; I'll post details on here once we have the programme sorted out.
Mod
Great to have ..."
I'll take that as a promise - active particiopants very welcome
Ian wrote: "Edward wrote: "Hi,I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. South Devon is ..."
Hi Carol, having just broken my tractor the 18c might be the way forward. The Chudleigh festival sounds interesting. Yours Edward Tracey
Mod
I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. Sou..."
How do you break a tractor? Hope you werent reading whilst driving!
Ian wrote: "Edward wrote: "Hi,I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. South Devon is ..."
Dear Ian thank you for your kind welcome, I hope to get down to some of your festivals that I am reading about. Will find the Authors part,facebookto folow. Regards Edward
Mod
I live on a small farm in Wales but my family have been in Devon since the the civil war. I visit every year to meet relations and pay my repects to my forebears. Sou..."
My pleasure. Glad to have you with us.
Elizabeth wrote: "Carol wrote: "Hi Elizabeth, Lovely to see you here. I have just looked you up and didn't realise Chudleigh was quite so literary, with its own annual literary festival!"Hello Carol. Yes, we run L..."
Thanks for this Edward Tracey
Hi, I'm Devon born and bred, but now live in the East Midlands. I really don't read enough (three kids, dog, work, etc. seem to get in the way!) and quite a lot of what I read necessarily has to be non-fiction/research as I'm an author of historical fiction. But I do miss being in a book group, so would love to hear what other people are reading and what they think. Clare :)
Hi Clare. Welcome to the group. I'm also an author of historical fiction, so am pleased to see you here. Are you writing a historical novel at the moment?
Hi Carol, yes I am - or I should be, I have been sucked into social media when I ought to be editing the 3rd draft! My debut novel The Gunner Girl (Simon&Schuster) is out now and I'm working on a follow-up. How about you? Cx
Best of luck with The Gunner Girl. It sounds interesting. I'm researching the American and French Revolutions at the moment, and have written a few chapters.
Devon Book Club
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a) Read loads, and read with a writerly eye
b) Write. Just get it down. Doesn't matter if it's rubbish - it's getting words down there that matter.
c) Edit. Review. Edit. But not at the same time as b)!
I think many writers have said the same thing, many times, before me!
Good luck.
Sally