Category: Uncategorized

More from author Sue Burke

~ JacciGoodingAuthor

If you’ve ever had trouble wondering how to end your novel/short story/flash, where exactly to put that full stop, hopefully this article from author Sue Burke will help you make the decision.

‘I advise knowing the ending before you start writing‘

It doesn’t sound that crazy and yes I know there are Pansters out there but even they have to stop sooner or later. And what better way to stop than knowing how far your petrol/battery will take you before you embark on the journey? Some books I’ve read have an ending so annoying you know that the author has done their job. ‘It can’t end there!’ I’ve often declared, whereas the writer probably thought, ‘That’ll keep ’em guessing.’ Are endings meant to be fulfilling? Explanatory? Mysterious? Annoying? Damn you, Stasis!

Have read of Sue’s blog and have a look at the link she’s offered, too. Might be the best thing you do today!

How to write great endings

Love Letter to Myself (ok, poem then)

Featured ~ JacciGoodingAuthor 
A little ditty to myself to encourage that WIP to take flight. (But note, I've never won a prize for poetry...)

Will you be my Valentine?
I'd like it very much
I simply love the things you write
You've such a clever touch.

Your prose is just incredible
Your characters so true
Your confidence across the page
So quickly comes in view

With synonyms and grammar good
Your plot is thick and strong
No chance of getting quite unstuck
Or the storyline undone

Oh you’re such a clever writer
No more should be said
Just get the damned thing written though
And don’t procrastinate instead!

Back. Patted.

When it’s time to go

~ JacciGoodingAuthor

Recently I had cause to visit that most wonderful of places, Dartmouth, Devon, although sadly not for a fun day out. That’s the trouble with funerals – they can be so…what’s the word?…ah, yes, Miserable. On this occasion though it was to say goodbye to a longtime friend and colleague from the theatre world (my other life) so as you can imagine there were many theatre-related ridiculous reminiscences and enough anecdotes to make your heart sing. As what the departed would most likely have wanted, conversation was exuberant and sunny, amusing and often hilarious. A dull, damp and somewhat sad day in the West Country was certainly made cheerier by all this talk, not least when some bright spark posed the question: so what rhymes with vicars?

Knickers, obviously. Stickers interjected someone else. Snickers? Did someone mention food? And so it went on. Later, someone pointed out that there was in fact only one vicar so therefore knickers wouldn’t rhyme so what were we going to do about that? Stick with sticker or bicker but you have to admit that those words aren’t half as funny as vicars and knickers when in the same sentence.

But be generous – indulge me the nonsense. When faced with our mortality conversation can run to the absurd and maybe that’s a good thing, channeling all that nervous energy into scintillating and sparkly thoughts and talk.

Later, when the few remaining sandwich quarters and veggie wraps were abandoned uneaten on their platters and the Prosecco bottles were piled high enough to climb over, as the light began fading and the misty sun dipped in the west, it was time to make our way home.

A meander through the narrow Dartmouth streets, a gaze at the little boats dotted along the river Dart and back to the hotel.

           Sometimes, the sun goes down just a little too quickly.

Writing Competition Time

Featured ~ JacciGoodingAuthor

Don’t you just love January? Oh c’mon, it’s a great month! So much to look forward to. Do you notice the days getting a teensy bit longer? So it may be cold/wet/snowy/bright/sunny/windy/all of the above but it means the earth is tilting toward the sun again, at least here in the northern hemisphere. Daylight will be returning and before you know it the crocus and daffs will be out, such horticultural joy sending us all a tiny bit doolallie for a while.

And what better news than knowing the South Warwickshire Lit Fest’s writing competition opens for submissions on January 15th.  That’s next week! The categories are the same as last year – Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction and Poetry and the entry fee is a paltry £3.80 (actually £3.50 but there is a 30p booking fee) with a £50 prize in each category. Closing date is March 29th so there is Per-Len-Tee of time to create your masterpiece whether some cracking poetry, stunning creative non-fiction or gasp-out-loud fiction. We’ll be shouting about it all over the socials, FB, X, I, BS – is that an anagram I wonder? – and we’re very much looking forward to your entries. All the details on how to enter are on our website – basically pay your entry fee then email us your work plus your Ticketsource reference number, here South Warwickshire Literary Festival.

When I created SWLF it was not in the mix to have writing competitions but since we introduced them they have been a marvellous insight in to what people are currently writing.  Supporting the Warwickshire Young Poet Laureate, who for 23/24 is May Vaughan, is always a delight, and interesting to see what younger people are writing about – so important that these voices get heard.

So here’s to your entries dear reader. I’m not a judge, just curator, so although I get to read all your lovely words my opinion counts for jack – we’re leaving the judging to the experts -all of whom will be revealed in the fullness of time..

So what are you waiting for ? Stop reading this and get writing!!

And if you know a young person in Warwickshire, aged 13-17 who could be the next YPL…

Entries for Warwickshire’s Young Poet Laureate 2024/25 will open in June 2024 at warwickshire.gov.uk/youngpoetlaureate. For more information about the Young Poet Laureate scheme please email libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk or your local library service if reading this in the UK.

Transformations by Beth Brooke

~ JacciGoodingAuthor

Taking inspiration from sculptor Elisabeth Frink’s work, which at the time of writing is on display at the Dorset Museum, Beth Brooke has crafted beautiful and in some cases brutal poetry. Thus this new collection of ekphrastic poetry entitled Transformations and published by Hedgehog Press overflows such vivid imagery that to the reader it really does feel the works of art that inspired her live and breathe. Her offering Gourmand (one who enjoys eating and often does it too much) is deliciously dark, after all, who could not feel a tremor pass through them when presented with lines like ‘maggoty, they melt upon the tongue’ referring to bits of decaying flesh. Don’t worry though, we’re not talking human. I don’t think..! It’s the last two lines however that will make your toes curl. Beth’s view of the natural world is spot-on especially her ornithological observations.
In the wonderful poem Internal Monologue of the Wild Boar, line structure and word spacing make us really feel we are there with the boar as he snuffles gently across the forest floor gathering all to him. Acorns and crab apples are gobbled up with a ‘garnish of beetle’ as we ponderously wander the woods, nose down as earthy scents fill our nostrils and it is delightful.
Changing the pace is the next poem simply entitled Dog. Nothing exemplifies the happiness in this short poem than the line ‘howls with joy’ and you can feel the excitement and energy rushing off the page. Wonderful to read.
This gorgeous collection of poetry creates searing imagery through the thoughtful choice of words and their placement on the page. Not familiar with Elisabeth Frink’s work I certainly get an idea of it via Beth’s poems. For example in Chinese Horse I (Rolling Horse) although I cannot see the bronze I can see the horse, feel it’s strength and hear it’s pounding hooves through lines such as ‘I am body machine heart engine blood’ as the magnificent beast bursts into life, charging across the page with such vitality it is impossible not to feel the wind as it races by.

If you like poetry inspired by art and nature I cannot recommend Transformations enough. The poems are short, touching, clear in their message and in all cases emotionally moving in some way. And the image on the front cover? A favourite of mythology and folklore, the Green Man. A really enjoyable read.

Want me to review your work? Just message me!