By Kerrie McKinnel, Events Manager This year, Lockerbie Writers is going through something of a shift of membership. As I prepare to take my own step back, it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on my time with the group. First, let me ask you a question. Have you ever said these words? “I’ve … Continue reading Lockerbie Writers: Reflections on the last six years (2015 – 2021)
Workshops
2020: A Year of Writing (Or trying to!)
"2020 unwritten … will this be the year you write your story?" This quote came from one of my Facebook posts back in January 2020. Before the world began to use the words "lockdown" and "socially distanced" on a daily basis, I was ready for the new year - and ready to make it a … Continue reading 2020: A Year of Writing (Or trying to!)
Story Factory at Shambellie: Writer’s block, multi-writing and generating new ideas, July 2019
Do you suffer from writer's block? Need some help coming up with new ideas? And what on earth is multi-writing?! Participants at our sell-out workshop were about to find out ... It had been a sunny week to say the least, with the year's hottest temperatures so far recorded only a couple of days earlier. … Continue reading Story Factory at Shambellie: Writer’s block, multi-writing and generating new ideas, July 2019
How to Write a Short Story in One Day: Short Story Factory at Shambellie House, June 2019
Could you write a short story in one day? Participants at our sell-out writing workshop were ready to give it a go! Read on to find out how they got on ... After a week of mixed weather, Saturday 1st June dawned bright and calm, ready for the first ever Short Story Factory workshop. Shambellie … Continue reading How to Write a Short Story in One Day: Short Story Factory at Shambellie House, June 2019
How to Write a Short Story: 5 top tips from published writers
Want to write a short story but not sure where to start? What is the best way to find inspiration? And are there any short cuts? In this special blog post, published and established writers share their top tips for writing a short story. Read on for their five top tips! You know the feeling. … Continue reading How to Write a Short Story: 5 top tips from published writers
New Writing (March 2019)
Theme: Strong Women In the second of our New Writing workshops, we visited the Devil's Porridge in Eastriggs (27th March 2019). What a fantastic venue - warm, comfortable and spacious - everything you need to produce a great story! The theme of the morning was 'Strong Women', with a mixture of writing games and exercises … Continue reading New Writing (March 2019)
New Writing (January 2019)
Theme: New Year, New Writing I do love a new writing workshop - and this literally WAS a "new writing" workshop! Despite the grey January weather, six enthusiastic writers (plus one busy, happy toddler!) came along on Saturday 19th January 2019 to Lockerbie Library/DG Customer Services Lockerbie - ready for tea, coffee, biscuits, and to … Continue reading New Writing (January 2019)
One to One: How to get the most out of a discussion about your writing
If you've ever daydreamed about attending a creative writing retreat (or if you've been lucky enough to go on one!), you'll be familiar with the term "one-to-one tutorial". These are usually with an experienced writer/tutor, and can be a fantastic opportunity to advance your writing. But let's face it: for those of us who don't … Continue reading One to One: How to get the most out of a discussion about your writing
Writing about Place: The importance of setting in your fiction/non-fiction
If I asked you to pick your favourite book - the one that sticks out most in your mind - what would it be? A literary classic, something funny, a tearjerker, or a board book from your childhood days? I'm terrible at answering this question - not because I don't have favourite books, but because my … Continue reading Writing about Place: The importance of setting in your fiction/non-fiction
Kerrie McKinnel 