Fictionfire

Welcome to my Speaker page

I love sharing my knowledge of the writing craft! Over the years I’ve given talks to many organizations and run workshops and classes too, as well as for my own business, Fictionfire. I offer a wide range of topics, covering

·        motivation/commitment/creating your writing practice

·        writing techniques

·        editing and the submission process

·        publishing options  

See the list of previous topics/titles here and organisations I’ve previously worked with here. I can design bespoke talks and classes for you – just ask!

Events in 2025:

Oxford University Summer School for Adults, 12-19 July 2024 (fully booked) plus 16-23 August (only two places left - details here)

Oxford University Creative Writing Summer School at Exeter College, 27 July - 15 August 2024 (booking is open)

Oxford University Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing: guest lecture 7 August

My key purpose is to inspire, to entertain, inform and offer support, giving writers a vision of what they’re capable of and the belief that they can go ahead and achieve it. I can help writers at all levels from absolute beginners to the more experienced and those seeking publishing advice. 

If you’re running a writing group or writing circle, or are organizing a conference or festival and you’d like to invite me to give a talk or run a bespoke workshop or course, then use this contact form or call 07827 455723 and we can take it further. 

I also welcome interview invitations, such as for radio or podcasts, or you can invite me to guest-post on your blog. Contact me via the contact form or call 07827 455723.

what can I offer you?

Ask me to create a new talk or workshop if what you’re looking for isn’t here! Some of these were created for the organisations listed below, but most for my own Fictionfire programme of workshops, day courses and retreats during the past fifteen years.

Sample formats: 60-90 minute talks, workshops lasting 2 or 3 hours, half-day or full-day courses, linked series over a weekend, courses lasting several weeks. I can design and structure workshops and courses according to your specific needs. I can also use Zoom for online sessions.

Here are some ideas for you! 

Finding inspiration, motivation, commitment, creating your writing practice

Talks:

Why write; making the transition from short fiction to the novel; how stories evolve; how to create a writing life for yourself

Workshops/class/course topics: 

Get inspired and stay inspired; staying committed to your writing for the long haul; transforming your life into art

 Writing techniques and skills 

Talks: 

Writing openings; creating/using a sense of place in fiction; using sensory details, making your scenes memorable 

Workshops/classes/courses topics: 

Complete novel writing course (10 sessions typical, but customizable)

Writing openings

Creating character; creating heroes and villains; making use of character ‘ghosts’; creating minor characters; creating inner lives for your characters

Creating narrative perspective; the uses of different kinds of point of view

Story construction/plotting; how to control and shape plot; how to pace your story; how to create memorable scenes; pacing individual scenes; how to create back story; raising the stakes of your story; playing with time; how to write happy scenes; creating layers of meaning; writing short stories; how to write spooky stories

Dynamic dialogue

Using settings and creating a sense of place/atmosphere; using sensory details

Improving your writing style  

Workshops exploring how you can use certain subjects in your fiction – techniques and purposes:

Friendship; war; the aftermath of war; love; parents and children; siblings; spiritual journeys

Editing, submitting and publishing your work

Talks:

Essential editing; historical fiction; how to get published/your publishing choices; cover design 

Workshops/classes/courses topics: 

Essential editing techniques; how to write a synopsis; how to create your pitch package; how to write your covering letter; how to edit your submission 

Writing retreats 

In the past I’ve run several writing retreats: Fictionfire by the Sea in St Ives, Cornwall, and Fictionfire by the Spires in Oxford. Each retreat had a taught themed component: past themes were Spirit of Place, Plot Structure, Get into Character, Reboot and Troubleshoot. 

If you would like me to structure and guide a retreat for you, whether themed or not, please contact me.

Past talks, workshops, classes and courses include for:

• Oxford University, from 2002 onwards: part-time course programme, Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing day schools; OUSSA summer school programme 2002 to present; Creative Writing Summer School 2013 to present.

• The Alliance of Independent Authors

• I Am in Print

• Women in Publishing summit

• WriteCon in Zurich

• Oxford Writers’ House

• Didcot Writers

• The Oxford Literary Festival

• Arcadia University

• Writers in Oxford

• The University of Winchester’s Writers’ Festival 2000-2018

• The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

• The Calderdale Writers’ Roadshow

• Aarhus University English Society

• Oxford’s C.S. Lewis Society