Tales of York Volume 3: Festival of Writing 2015

(This originally appeared on my old blog 06/09/2015)

 

photo 3Over the weekend, I attended my third Festival of Writing at York. I can’t see myself ever getting tired of this yearly event. For one thing, writing is quite a solitary career even when you have a fabulous online support network of fellow writers and keen readers. Ultimately it’s still you, plodding (occasionally racing) along, putting one word after another and hoping very much that you’ll arrive roughly where you set out for. Actually during the novel writing process there are usually several points where you’re hoping to arrive (or finish) at all! So a chance to attend a three day event where you are among your own kind and don’t feel like an alien visiting a strange world where the natives regard you with varying degrees of disbelief is naturally quite a buzz!

Of course FoW York is more than just a writerly buzz. The workshops are excellent – let’s face it, as writers we never stop learning our craft. There is always more you can do, more you an try. photo 4There’s the chance to chat to industry professionals so you get an idea of what is and is not selling. And everywhere there are writers to talk to. And not in a ‘distinct whiff of desperation’ way but genuine, friendly people who want to talk shop and trade tips. Plus York is just a great place to visit!

This year I came away with a sense of just how much further I had to go with regard to writing. Bit like climbing what you think is a massive mountain, breaking through the low cloud at the top … and then seeing the full scale of the mountain range yet to be scaled before you. I will admit to a moments dismay. However looking at it from another perspective, I’ve still got all those mountains to climb. And I loved climbing the last one. However many or few the remaining days of my life might be, I’ve still got a lot to keep me occupied. Challenge accepted.

It might all sound like work-work-work but we all had time for a good knees up at the gala dinner on Saturday night. This year there was dancing. There should be dancing every year in my opinion.

A table full of Randoms. What is the correct term for group of Randoms? A gaggle? A gathering? A weirdness? (Left to Right - Karen Ginnane, Gail Jack, Me, Shell Bromley, Liz Crossland, James Bischeno and fellow Cloudie, Jeannette.)
A table full of Randoms. What is the correct term for group of Randoms? A gaggle? A gathering? A weirdness? (Left to Right – Karen Ginnane, Gail Jack, Me, Shell Bromley, Liz Crossland, James Bischeno and fellow Cloudie, Jeannette.)

Plus I was given books. This is always a good thing 😀

photo 1

Plus I had a mini signing session of my own and much to my surprise sold out of copies of ‘I Belong to the Earth’ in 20 mins! I may still have a very long way to go but I seem to have managed to get somewhere. So overall a lot to celebrate and feel grateful for.
On a final note, the thing FOW does best for me, is to re-inject that sense of fun and wonder. A sense of possibility. I don’t think I get that anywhere else, so I’ll definitely be going back next year!

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