I was lucky enough to perform this poem at my local poetry open mic night at The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, the theme was 'Social Media'. There were many great poems and stories told and the night was wonderfully open and friendly to all. I had never read my own poetry aloud to an audience before …
When was the last time you went to your library? I say your library as there are many different kinds: Academic, Public, Private and Workplace. You will have access to a library somewhere - when was the last time you went? I talk a lot on this blog about writing and reading and how important …
Reading is always a good idea - to quote Stephen King from his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, …
Continue reading Why you should be reading as well as writing
I've just graduated with a First class degree in Creative & Professional Writing from the University of Wolverhampton, and I could not be happier about it. Sometimes though, when I talk about my degree I get this... "A Humanities degree?" "What job are you going to get with that?" "Ah, you're doing English, so you're …
Continue reading So you’ve got a writing degree – what next?
If you haven't seen the cover of Margaret Atwood's new book plastered in the media and over the windows of your local bookshop, where have you been? More importantly... Go check out your local bookshop! The Testaments, a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale was released 10th September 2019, and it is a long-anticipated entry in Atwood's …
Continue reading Book review: The Testaments – Margaret Atwood. *spoiler-free*
You held my hand, when I was sad, When I missed my mom and needed my Dad, You kept me grounded when I stayed awake, You held me tight when I started to shake. There's no-one like you, Treats me like you do. Oh, walking next to you. You pulled me up, when I started …
What if I'm not good enough? What if they laugh, sneer, or use my work as a bad example? What if I fail? Without bravery, I'd still be working a stressful and mostly unsatisfying job in retail. I'd still be questioning if I was good enough to be a writer, instead of showing people just …
CALL FOR WRITERS: I'm looking for contributions from all writers about their experiences of the writing world. #writingcommunity #bloggers #blogging #supportcreatives
Your messy garage was a fort, a haven and a dusty adventure, one I can venture that you had to lure me out of many times. "Don't go in there!" I had to be aware because it was just so dangerous to climb. My mountain, my mission, a tomb of treasures, I couldn't just decline, …
I am guilty. I am guilty of not basking in a moment of pure joy and pride. I have anxiety. I've had it as long as I can remember, but only put a name to it in my teenage years. Generalised Anxiety Disorder. GAD. Why is this important? Well, sometimes when you have anxiety, you …
Continue reading To Stop and Smell the Roses – Writing & Anxiety
CHARLOTTE FORD 