Recently I was asked by Marie Shaw, Arts Development Officer for Aberdeenshire South, to write a poem specially for the centenary of International Women’s Day, and read it as the introduction to a big event at Buchanan’s, Banchory Woodend Barn on 8th March. As I knew little about International Women’s Day apart from the name, and not enough about women’s lives in other parts of…
Beating the Block
I’m delighted that, after several weeks of not writing much at all and feeling that my ‘writing rhythm’ had gone when my beloved dog Trix died just before Christmas, this week at last ideas are sprouting as well as my usual drive to write those ideas in story or poem or dialogue and drama. Lost rhythm… I hadn’t realised how much my days were linked…
Nativity Story
Nativity Story by Gráinne Smith And there were shepherds Dad, do you remember? They left their sheep that night, brought orphan lambs, and found the baby in the mother’s arms. And there were kings Dad, do you remember? Great strangers from the east, with gifts and crowns – Awesome! – they came, to kneel on straw in that poor stable. And cushie-doos Dad, do you…
workingtogethercare.com – what is it?
In February 08 I attended a Society of Authors conference in Edinburgh and heard a presentation about how non-fiction writers could reach a much wider audience through the internet. Setting up a website based on our work was suggested… I thought, What a good idea! Having listened to so many people on local and national telephone help-lines, and hearing so many common themes about communication…
Chanceshot – full-length play…
Directed by Roddy Begg, my play Chanceshot was performed at Aberdeen Lemon Tree, 2 evening performances and an afternoon matinee, on 20/21 January 2009, part of a series of new plays, November 09 – February 09 selected by Writers and Actors Collaboration (WAC), who usually meet on Wednesday evenings at HM Theatre, Aberdeen to discuss playwriting and read scripts. A very exciting initiative to be…
Workshops – Practical Writing
Workshops – for ages 8 to 80, designed for your group, planned as a series or may be a single workshop – include Scenes and Settings – How to use all your powers of observation, including your senses, to maximise descriptions Building a Character – Make a character live for your readers Dialogue and Monologue – Use of dialogue and monologue in stories Planning and…
Moving On in 20th Century Scotland
‘Moving On in 20th Century Scotland – The Moose and Ither Tales’, published 2004, Smaa Biggin Press A series of stories and poems which illustrate how major changes in heating, lighting, plumbing, transport, communication, shopping, cooking, housing, education, entertainment – you name it! – have affected the lives of people over the last 100 years. Although set in Scotland, the stories could have taken place…