Submission Tips, Characterisation & The Story in a Song
NEW Writing Workshops in May and June
Hey, so I have a whole trifecta of writing workshops coming up over the next six weeks — from honing your submissions game to developing authentic characterisation to using music to inspire your stories.
Here's what's coming up in May & June:
How To Make Your Submission Stand Out
Saturday 24th May @ 5pm BST
The brilliant folk at
have invited me to talk about ye olde slush pile and how to navigate the submissions process — whether you're submitting to a lit mag, a competition or an agent.Join this 1.5hr live Zoom workshop for insights on the most common reasons a piece of writing might get turned down — and how to make yours stand out.
Write What You Know: Characterisation
Wednesday 28th May @ 7.30pm BST
Explore how to craft authentic, nuanced fictional human beings using a little (ethical) identity theft...
Join me for a 1hr live Zoom workshop full of generative exercises to create characters with depth, realism and personality — borrowing from people you know to those you observe in the wild.
(The session will recorded, so if you can't make it live, you can still take part!)
The Story in a Song
A four-part workshop starting 2nd June
Find the music in your writing with this weekly self-paced workshop series, running throughout June at The Joy of Fixion.
Each lesson will invite you to immerse yourself in a varied playlist of songs to inspire ideas, characters, settings, scenarios and stories — all that jazz (and maybe even some actual jazz).
If you’re already a paid subscriber (thank you!), you’ll receive the full workshop in your inbox automatically. :)
If you’re a free subscriber, or new to The Joy of Fixion, join in with The Story in a Song by upgrading to a paid subscription:
And for a sneak peek, try an introductory Story in a Song exercise right here:
Oh, one last thing — in case you’re in need of something more personalised to help you with your writing:
One-to-one Creative Coaching & Mentoring
These one-hour informal sessions are a chance to talk about your work, discuss any worries, troubleshoot problems, make a plan of action, and boost your confidence so you can get on with the important bit: writing.
It's like therapy — but for your creative brain.
Some folk just need a one-off consult to break through writer’s block or kickstart their creativity, while others work with me monthly to keep themselves accountable and make steady progress with dedicated support.
Get in touch to tell me more about your WIP and see what works for you:
Hope to write along with you soon :)
Will all of these be recorded and available for members?