This year, First Story launched its first National Writing Day to get people writing. So at Ink Academy we created a Twitter competition to keep people writing – offering writers the chance of a free one-off consultation with founding tutor, Marina Kemp.
We were bowled over by the response – not only the quantity but the quality, originality and breadth of the submissions. All submissions were a pleasure to read. It was heartening to know how much amazing writing is being created every day.
This week we will post the pieces by one of our runners-up, Polly Hall, and the winner, M S Pallister. All are extracts from the beginning of novels, as yet unpublished:
Watch this space…
CM
This article by George Saunders is the most gorgeous description of how a writer writes, and why, and why it matters. It’s too good to do justice by summarising it here* so I am just recommending you read it.
It really deserves being read somewhere quiet while you’re sitting comfortably with a nice cup of tea – but even on a busy tube with wet feet it should…
One of the major hurdles to overcome when you’re just starting to write is taking yourself seriously. Thinking ‘I am a writer’ and not shying away from that can feel almost impossibly bold. So we like going back to this article from March 2011, in which famous authors talk about the “secrets of their craft”; namely, what it is that makes a writer, and how they go about the business of writing a book …
You’ve been working on your book for a very, very long time. There have been moments when you’ve wanted to give up on the whole thing – when you’ve marvelled at your audacity ever to have believed you could be a writer. You pushed through those moments, and through writer’s block, procrastination and – probably – extreme financial pressure. And then, out of the uncertainty …
Applying to the Ink Academy Writing Course is quick and simple. Just upload a sample of your writing below, along with your name and email address, and we will be in touch with enrolment details.
The sample of your writing does not need to be polished or perfect, or even from the work you want to develop on the course. It is just so that we can ensure our course is best placed to help you. For more details, please see our FAQs.
