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Last minute Christmas Presents for Writers

Written by Della Galton on . Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Writing conferences & schools. Leave a Comment

So… have you finished your Christmas shopping? Is everything wrapped and under the tree? Or have you just looked at your calendar and thought blimey, is it only a week away I’d better get cracking? (pun intended!).

If you fall into the latter category – I um may actually be in that category – here are some nifty ideas for presents for the writer in your life.

Up to £10

  • Novelty pens/mugs with writing quotes.
  • USB drives for backing up work.
  • Reference books such as Thesaurus or Book of Baby Names (handy for naming characters)
  • Books about writing or inspiring writing quotes.

£15 to £60

  • Book vouchers. (One of the best Christmas presents I ever got was a voucher to buy books from an ‘online book store’. It kept me going all year.)
  • External hard drive for backing up work.
  • Subscription to Writers’ Forum (£38 for 12 issues)
  • A one hour mentoring session with Della Galton. (Special Christmas Voucher can be provided). (£30).
  • A four week course of evening classes in Gillingham Dorset. 7th Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan, 28 Jan. 4 x 2 hour sessions. (£34).
  • A one day course on Saturday 12 January in Gillingham Dorset. Write a Short Story in a Day. (£45).

£60 to £150

  • Ergonomic chair.
  • New desk.

£150 plus

  • New laptop!
  • Or if you really want to push the boat out, why not buy your writer a week in a writing retreat, or a writing holiday, (some weekend suggestions below) or even his/her very own writing shed.
  • Weekend writing course at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. 15th to 17th February, 2019. (£249). Click here for more details.
  • Weekend writing course at Cirencester, 12th to 14th April, 2019. (£255). Click here for more details

For any of my courses please email me HERE for more details. Please state name of course for which you would like details.

Happy Last Minute Shopping!

All best wishes

Della xxxx

Writing Courses – Five tips on finding a good one?

Written by Della Galton on . Posted in Short stories for magazines, Woman's Weekly, Writing, Writing conferences & schools. 2 Comments

I am lucky enough to be able to teach creative writing at various venues.  This is Woman’s Weekly’s new home at Canary Wharf. How can you fail to be inspired by this view?

Tip Number One – Credibility

Do the course organisers have the credibility factor? Yes, if they are a respected publisher. such as Woman’s Weekly, they certainly do.  Choose carefully.

Tip Number Two – Marketability

Can the course organisers actually buy the work you produce? Yes, in Woman’s Weekly’s case – they buy twenty plus stories a month. They  also buy features. Which means that what you learn on the course may actually help you to sell your story to them.

Tip Number Three – Venue and accessibility

Woman’s Weekly have courses in London and in Birmingham. They cost £79 for a full day’s course. Choose from fiction, poetry or journalism. Check here for details.

Another wonderful venue, particularly if you are looking for something longer than a day is Writers’ Holiday, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.   Check out their winter weekend in February 2018 but be quick because it books up fast. £229 fully inclusive.

Tip Number Three – Inclusivity

Does your course include all levels of experience?  If you’re a beginner you don’t want to feel out of your depth. But equally if you’re a more experienced writer you don’t want to sit through a course that is too basic. Check with the organisers.  Both the Writers’ Holiday, at Fishguard and Woman’s Weekly cover all levels of experience, often on the same course.

Tip Number Five –  The Fun Factor

It’s not all about the work, it’s wonderful to have fun too.  Choose a course which has a reputation for friendliness.  This is where The Writers’ Holiday comes into its own. Ann and Gerry Hobbs, who run Writers’ Holiday, are amazing. It would be hard to find a nicer couple. Nothing is too much trouble. Don’t take my word for it. Check out their  website. www.writersholiday.net

And while we’re on the subject of friendly, I’m pretty friendly myself. Here are the details of my next two Saturday courses in Bournemouth. They run from 10 am till 4.00 pm.

Saturday 5 August, 2017 – Fiction Workshop – summer special DISCOUNT RATE £29.00

A day of inspirational workshops, designed to get your creative juices flowing. Workshop based. Places will be on a first come, first served basis.

Saturday 11 November 2017 – Writing Your First Novel £45.00

  • The first chapter and beyond.
  • Writing the synopsis and cover letter.
  • Approaching agents and publishers.

Please contact me if you’d like to book. I will leave you with some biscuits.  These are the ones Woman’s Weekly have on their courses – just saying!

Thanks for reading.

Writing Courses – are they worth it?

Written by Della Galton on . Posted in Short stories for magazines, Tips on writing, Woman's Weekly, Writing, Writing conferences & schools. 11 Comments

teaching at fishguard
Teaching at Fishguard Writers’ Holiday

There are so many writing courses around these days. Universities run them, publishers run them, magazines run them. In fact every Tom, Dick and Harry (if you’ll excuse the cliche) runs writing courses. Even the smallest town has a literary festival. But are they worth spending your hard earned cash on?

In my opinion, that depends on what you hope to gain. So before you begin, establish what you want and choose the right course for you.

I started my writing career by joining an Adult Education Class called Writing for Profit and Pleasure back in 1987. My tutor knew about getting published. Jean Dynes,who currently writes a column for Writers’ Forum as Barbara Dynes, was already well published.

  • Top Tip Number One: Choose Credibility
  • If you want to get published, get someone to teach you who is well published themselves. It helps if their students are too. I was inspired by another student in the class who had got published since joining (she’d just sold her 27th short story that year).
  • Top Tip Number Two: Choose Expertise
  • If you’re aiming to get published in a magazine and they run a course about getting published in their magazine, then go. They are the best people to teach you. I teach for Woman’s Weekly Magazine in London, Manchester and Glasgow, alongside their fiction editor, Gaynor Davies.

    Woman's Weekly at Blue Fin Buildings
    At Woman’s Weekly with Fiction Editor, Gaynor Davies.
  • Top Tip Number: Three Choose longevity.
  • I’ve just come back from the Writers’ Holiday at Fishguard, which is run by the lovely Anne and Gerry Hobbs. This year’s Writers’ Holiday was their 30th! They have a huge repeat rate of students, who can’t resist their courses because they are well organised, the food is fabulous, the locations (Fishguard, Pembrokeshire) is wonderful and the tutors are all working and well published writers. Top marks Anne and Gerry.
  • Anne and Gerry also run a weekend course at Fishguard in February. I’d advise booking as soon as possible if you fancy it because places are limited. I’m teaching the short story course in February 2017  by the way.
  • More information about Anne and Gerry’s courses can be found at Writers’ Holiday.
  • More information about Woman’s Weekly Courses can be found at. Woman’s Weekly Courses. (incidentally that photograph is not of me, but a much fatter imposter, tee tee).
  • More information about my courses is usually on my website, or you can email me. Next week I am running a day course (Saturday 6 August 2016.) Write a short story in a day. (£29 summer special offer, they’re usually £45). Venue Kinson Community Centre. Please email me if you’d like to book. Or leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

Happy Writing!

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