January 4th 2023 - Going for Goldsmiths

As a bit of a new year treat, I've booked myself onto a short story course run by Goldsmiths university which I'm now very much looking forward to. The official title is 'How To Write Short Stories That Resonate'. It kicks off online on January 24th and runs for 10 weeks, by the end of which it promises I should have at least 1 fully edited story. Looking forward to it, though slightly apprehensive as it says sharing work will be a key part of the course. I've never shared my writing with a full group of writers before. It seems like a good step out of my comfort zone though and I'm sure I'll gain a lot from it.

December 17th 2022 - Autofiction? I barely know them.

I'm currently reading 'My Name is Lucy Barton', by Elizabeth Strout and a review quote from the Washington Post in the top left corner on the inside cover caught my eye when it said, "...coming close at times to the rawness of autofiction...".

I've never heard of autofiction before, but I'm intrigued. Especially after what I wrote in my previous post with wanting to experiment with writing elements of myself into my work more. I'm also glad to see that I have some examples already on my bookshelf. Outline by Rachel Cusk, How Should A Person Be? by Sheila Heti.

It's always nice when you find the name of a thing in your head.

December 7th 2022 - Know yourself, then write what you know

I've always felt like I need to convey something when I'm writing.

Like a message. Something I've learnt or felt or thought that I'm wanting to share.

I've always thought that stories are the best way to share those messages but I'm wondering if that's really correct.

I often wonder, if I have something that I feel needs to be said, why not just say it? Why does it need to be gift-wrapped in a story?

For instance. I sometimes feel that I spend too much time wishing my life was different. There, I've said it now.

Do we need anything extra?

I've been thinking about experimenting with a different form of writing. Something a little closer to life - a little more autobiographical.

Not a memoir. People who aren't famous and say they're writing their memoirs make me heave slightly. Definitely not a memoir.

But I'm wondering if there is a form of writing where I could present a character who is essentially me in a disguise and then push him through various stories.

If the old idiom is to write what you know, then surely I, as the best authority on myself, should be able to write myself quite well.

A story I'm working on now has a central character who is very close to me. I wonder how different it would be if I took that extra step and just made him me (in disguise as a protagonist).

Or is this all just really arrogant and conceited? Am I overthinking this a tad - most likely.

In short - I think I should try writing with a character that is essentially me, and pushing them through experiences I think about from my own life to see if the things I want to say can be said in a clearer way than trying to communicate the same thing implicitly through a story.

Simple.