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Plotting the course of a novel – on a defunct railway

I recently put together a mind map for my writing students about world building. this is a phrase usually used in conjunction with fantasy and science fiction, but part way through, I realised it applied just as much to stories set in unfamiliar real worlds – whether they be unknown because of distance, or time.…
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Festival Season

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Stories out loud

Back in October, we were in Shoreham for their Word Fest, with Liberty Tales and Songs of Protest, which meant I was hosting, reading and singing alongside a sliver of Vocal Chords Choir. And also in October, at Archway With Words, I read Mirror. (from Lovers’ Lies) It’s the first time I’ve read it myself,…
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Rising Dawn at Story Fridays

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The Speed of Light – Story Fridays
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Vocal Chords at Crystal Palace Overground Festival this Sunday

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Old Women in Books: on publishing your mother
Today is my mum’s birthday. Ghillian Potts is 84. Like me, she has written all her literate life, and still has a notebook full of poems written between the ages of about 7 and 12, (of variable quality!) To celebrate, my publishing company, Arachne Press, is publishing two of her books today. I crowd funded…
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TODAY: Songs of Protest at Brockley Max

Vocal Chords are reprising our Songs of Protest repertoire for Brockley MAX Festival today, Sunday 4th June at 3.30. St Hilda’s Church, Courtrai Road SE23 1PL We are joined by Carrie Cohen & Silas Hawkins who will read poems from Arachne Press’ Liberty Tales anthology. £7 on the door (proceeds to Wheels for Wellbeing)…
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Brockley Max – urban myths

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Songs of Protest

Back in the day, when you went on a march through London – something I did a lot of in my youth, starting with the march against the Corrie Bill, and moving on to Section 28, the Police Bill, Anti-Nuclear marches with CND, Reclaim the Night, anti-cuts marches with various unions, Lesbian Strength, Gay Pride…
