For the last two years, I tried (and failed) to summon the balls to attend Weegie Wednesday.
It's a monthly writers event in Glasgow, where creative people get together to talk about their writing, or publishing, or other endeavours. There are usually author talks and/or workshops of sorts too. The author talks/workshops lured me in, but the prospect of "networking" had me scarpering.
You know me, I'm an anti-social bastard. What if someone exposed me for the fraud I most certainly am? Surely I, Catherine Noble, cannot seriously call myself a writer yet. Pahahahaha... what a brass neck.
This month, however, the guest author was Lisa O'Donnell, writer of The Death of Bees. I haven't read the book yet, but it's high up on my "To Be Read" list and the sample extract of her novel intrigued me enough to want to find out more.
To my delight, Fiona from my writers group agreed to go with me and so I bit the bullet.
I really shouldn't have been such a fearty. There were lots of people there talking about their writing, but not one of them stormed up to me and demand that I produce a list of published works. We got talking to author G.W. Colkitto, who chatted away about all things writerly. It was good to gab away, about characters and editing etc. etc.
Back to the main event: Lisa's talk. She gave us a bit of back story on how she became a writer, and it was mighty refreshing to hear that it wasn't simply a case of plonking herself down, scribbling out a story in a fortnight, then being subject to a bidding war for the publishing and movie rights. Fair play if that's how you got published (I hate you.). Her writing career started with a two-page screenplay competition, which she won. Then followed a variety of creative jobs and projects, of which some succeeded and some failed. She told us that sometimes you have to just let a project go if it isn't working, and there were nods of agreement throughout the room.
Nearly two decades later she did find herself in a bidding war for her novel The Death of Bees and I, for one, can't wait to read it. When an opening page starts with: "Today is Christmas Eve. Today is my birthday. Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard. Neither of them were beloved.", how can you not want to read on?
Looking forward to the next Weegie Wednesday. If you're in the Glasgow area, you should come along!
Take care,
Catherine x ◦
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4 comments:
Hi Catherine, I was at Weegie but am now guilty of not bothering to network much- tend to sit in a corner all night to chatting to people I know, but next time I'll look out for you! (though I won't be at the April one). I also found Lisa's talk refreshing and think her book sounds great!
Hi Vikki, don't worry I was very much burrowing in a darkened corner myself! I'll definitely be there for the May Weegie so please do say hello. I'll look out for you too, though my eyesight is shocking in darkened rooms! It will be good to meet you :)
I can see why that opening made you want to buy the book. It sounds very intriguing.
Hi Catherine, Its been a while since I visited, forgive me, this juggler keeps dropping all the balls! Sounds like you are doing okay, I'm glad you finally made it to the event, its sounds really good! Sadly Glasgow is too far for me. :-)
Keep writing, and thank you for sharing.
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