I would like to give a huge plug for the fabulous programme of the York Festival of Writing at the end of March. It's such an extensive and rich programme that there are lots and lots of places left, though many workshops are filling up fast.
If you come, you'll get to meet Jane Smith, Carole Blake, Emma Darwin, Harry Bingham, Julia Churchill, Debi Alper, Julie Cohen, David Nobbs, me... and so many more, writers, agents, publishers and all the people best placed to help you towards publication. I have no doubt that as well as the hard work, there will be a lot of fun. In fact, certain of us guarantee it.
I'm doing two talks - one on discovering what's wrong with your manuscript and one on writing for children and teenagers. You can book a place with a book doctor, too. I'm one of them and I am warming my stethoscope already.
Do come - I'd love to meet you. Jane Smith is apparently doing our elf dance ON HER OWN.
Meanwhle, tomorrow I'm heading to Inverness to do some talks for the Highland Lit Salon. Really looking forward to it. I love Inverness. Small problem is that I have a sore throat but will somehow have to speak for nearly two hours. Any tips?
12 comments:
Miaou! You will keep having it? I really DO want to come one day. It would be hard work but it would be fun as well. I am told they cater very well for EVERYONE!
I am sure anyone going would learn a great deal and meet many lovely humans. Who knows you might even see those purple suede boots AND their owner!
Ooohhh I am so jealous! Enjoy it for me too please!
Hope all goes well for you in the north.
A couple of things that have worked for me - if you want a drink of water, have it luke warm as opposed to cold. Also if you can get some extract of liquorice from chemists or places like Holland and Barrett, a few drops in a measure of water can calm your throat.
I so looking forward to meeting you at the festival!
I'd love to be at the festival of writing....
On the sore throat front, I'd second the warm drink advice. I tend to have a thermos around in lessons throughout the winter.
Clove oil in honey and warm water is also good if you can't get liquorice - you can always add some lemon and/or ginger tea if that tastes better to you.
The warm drinks and liquorice etc are all good advice. When I used to be a singer in a rock band, back at the dawn of time when London pubs and clubs were thick with smoke, I used to keep a small packet of Vocalzone lozenges in my guitar case. They got me through several gigs (though I'd sometimes lose my voice afterwards). If you can't find them, Fisherman's Friend will do in a pinch, but I never found they worked as well.
Throat tips given to my nephew - who is an auctioneer, and so dependent on his voice - cut out tea, coffee, wine and dairy foods (so no cheese, sorry) for 24 hours before you speak. I've no idea how it works, but I had a wobbly throat before singing in the Messiah before Christmas, and - while I can't claim I was note-perfect, my voice held up.
I wish I would join you in March - but I'll be away. I'll be with you in spirit, and - with luck - will make the next one. (Though I have a daughter expecting twins, so anything in the way of plans is a bit woolly at the moment!)
Good luck with the talk.
It sounds like a wonderful event - I wish I could attend.
Good luck with the talk. I hope the throat holds out.
Do it again NEXT YEAR and if I keep to my resolutions I'll have a completed novel to bring along and put under your stethoscope....
Good luck with the talk tomorrow. I've no advice on the sore throat except avoid alcohol, if you can bear to!
I'm really looking forward to meeting you at York. It seems this year's festival will be even better than last and that takes some doing, believe me.
Really looking forward to York!
Bad luck with the throat. My classical-singer sister would back the no dairy principle, also Meloids throad pastilles. As a more casual singer I'd add warm salt water gargles, and not honey and lemon. Very good luck with it.
Hi Nicola, the journey to York from Kent is a bit outside of my budget unfortunately; I would have loved to come along. :-(
Here's hoping it all goes well! :-)
PS As you've noticed, I'm sure, I've changed my writing pseudonym back to my real name. I'll keep it like this now...I think.
Looking forward to meeting you there!
Thanks for all the voice-preservation tips, even if some did contradict each other and the advice on Twitter! I tried to do everything, on the basis of hitting the problem with all guns. Result: I kind of survived, though there was a dodgy minute when I thought I wasn't going to get it back. However, now, the following day, I am very hoarse and coughing more. Am seriously wondering whether I'll have to pull out of chairing the event tomorrow as really the last thing the audience wants is me coughing and whispering.
I think the *warm* drink as opposed to cold/hot is definitely helpful. Though I do think honey is good - I invested in blooming expensive manuka honey on the advice of an actor, and I'd like to say it was better than ordinary honey but I can't as I didn't do a control!
Planned to be very quiet all day today but I bumped into Alan Bissett and his lovely girlfriend on the train, and he led me astray. All his fault, obviously.
David - re your name: good idea!
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