Writers get out your pencils and write.
storyslingers
an occasional project-orientated writing resource
kids, middle grade, YA :: fantasy :: sci fi :: magical realism :: weird fiction :: counter-culture :: genre-benders
In 2011 I co-founded a writing group with fellow-writer Jennifer K Oliver. Together we ran regular writing meet-ups, events, story slams, outings and we published resources and articles on our website. The group disbanded in 2015, but here’s a selection of the resources that we created over the years. I may add new resources to this page, and would consider reviving the group if there was enough interest (Frome, UK).
There’s a load more on our previous site if you want to delve deeper. http://storyslingers.blogspot.com/
Toni was a quiet man
Flash fiction by Jennifer Kyte (nee Newbury)
Toni was a quiet man was originally published by Dingsdabumsda magazine, illustrated by David Callow.
Has your writing ever upset someone important to you?
By Stephen Pellow
Have you ever produced something that has had a negative effect on someone you know, or your relationship with them?
(Other People's) Thoughts on Story Structure
By James Broomfield
This is something I came across when reading about story structure a while back, that I thought I'd share. I think story structure is one of the harder things to talk about because it diminishes the role of the writer a little bit. It's the man behind the curtain, it's admitting the presence of a method, it contradicts the lovely myth that stories gush out in a moment of pure creative genius.
Where the Wilderness Lives review
Review of Where the Wilderness Lives by Jess Butterworth
The (Vast) Difference Between a Critique and an Edit
By Jennifer K Oliver
Usually, when a writer has finished a story or taken a story as far as they can, they send them out to critique groups or beta readers for feedback. As the author, it’s difficult disconnecting from a story’s headspace, and that makes it tricky to judge if everything is working. This is where critique groups and betas are invaluable: the fresh eye, the new perspective, the telling reactions. These all help author see where a story might still need work.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain review
Review of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
What can Chekhov, Tolstoy, Gogol and Turgenev teach us about writing short stories? Plenty, according to one of the best modern short story writers…
Geofiction (fictional maps)
Have you ever looked at a map and wondered what stories might have happened there? Map making is a great way to start getting into a story. Back in 2012 we ran two geofiction competitions, and got some amazing entries from around the world from writers, cartographers and artists.