Big news!
I wrote a story that other people actually read… and it won the Short Story category in the recent Bradford Libraries Crime Writing Competition, themed ‘A Murder in the Library’.
Why is that such big news? Well, I’ve never really thought of myself as a writer. I’ve got reams of scribblings and unfinished stories tucked away, but writing was always just something I did for me. My mind is always coming up with plots, characters and funny lines. Whenever I’m reading a book or watching a film or TV, I’m trying to work out the characters’ motivations, what’s going to happen next and how it’ll all end. I’m often underwhelmed!
So, after nearly four decades of working full-time in manufacturing, I decided it was time to find out if I really did have a book lurking inside me.
Two years ago I enrolled on Bradford Libraries Write Your Novel ten-week course. Every Saturday morning I’d toddle off to Keighley Library to join a friendly bunch of aspiring writers at a novel writing class. We covered everything from plotting and characters to agents, publishing and what to expect when things don’t quite go to plan.
This class eventually evolved into Lonely Writers, an informal drop in writing session (still Sat morning Keighly Library 10am-1pm) where people from the original class and many newcomers meet to sit quietly, write and be motivated simply by sharing the same creative space. Some pretty impressive work has come out of those sessions too, including novels by published crime writer Roshan Pitteea! Keighley Crime Writer, Roshan Pitteea explains… – Bradford Libraries’ Blog
One thing I quickly realised was that 40 years in manufacturing hadn’t exactly expanded my literary horizons! So to stretch myself a bit more, I now also attend Steve O’Connor’s Creative Writing class, where I’ve been learning about poetry and other writing styles outside my comfort zone…like short story crime writing. I certainly didn’t arrive at the class with a writing background, but that never mattered. Everyone’s there to learn, encourage each other and hopefully enjoy the cakes (I also bake).
So I suppose my final thought is this. If you’ve ever fancied writing, just chuck yourself in. Two years ago I was just someone with a head full of ideas and a drawer full of unfinished stories. Now I’ve won a short story competition and, more importantly, I’ve found a hobby I genuinely love. You never know where it might lead.
NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY. Catherine was a talented writer from the start. Her short story is excellent, you can read it on this blog.
If YOU would like to attend a writing course at the library, follow us on Facebook at Bradford District Libraries, to find out where and when, or visit our website and sign up to the newsletter!
We have all sorts of fun courses and classes and YOU too, might find yourself on a journey like Catherine!
Libraries | Bradford Council – For the newsletter sign-up, please scroll to the bottom!
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