Writers' Clinic April 2024 - Speculative Fiction with Nalo Hopkinson

This was my first attendance to a writer's clinic and I found the session with Nalo Hopkinson inspiring and engaging. It pushed me to further interrogate my prose.

Thank you very much Writer's Clinic. I look forward to attending more sessions.

As promised, from Nalo....

Below is my 2 cents' worth 😉😊…..

My Highlights:

·        Listening to Nalo read others’ works... the poems and excerpts.... Bonus! A workshop and a reading! LoL

·        The way Nalo offered instant incisive feedback on participants’ offerings... tells me she’s a keen listener.

·        The way that Nalo was able to weave instruction into a narrative form... captivating.

·        The way she shared so freely on personal and professional levels.... we could have chatted all day!

·        The writing exercises... I particularly loved hearing participants’ responses.

·        Nalo’s description of her lesson on point of view.... which I’m now itching to adapt and try with my second formers! LOL

My Top Takeaway (Writing) Tips (paraphrased!)

·        Make the reader the protagonist... have them immersed in your world.

·        Descriptions don’t give life, emotions do. (Which echoes what Kerry Belgrave noted last month about writing what is true.)

·        Coyness has no place in writing sex scenes and fight scenes.

·        A little seasoning goes a long way... consider this when using modifiers

·        Pay attention to language... to everyday use of speech.

·        You’re not the narrator, the reader is.... they are inhabiting the world and story you’re creating.

·        Using highlighters when revising your work, to ensure balance in sensory-evoking literary techniques.

Thank you, again, Nalo, for a wonderful session!

And thanks to all who participated by listening and sharing your writing, laughter and experience.

See you next month!

Stay blessed!

Today's session was wonderful. It not only introduced me to Nola's work, but her experiences and stories were shared openly and creatively. I enjoyed the conversations and being among the other brilliant writing minds present - hearing other writer's words and working on my own.

Thanks again to Nailah and the NCF for putting this session - I am ready to go edit and write.

This was just fantastic!! Can't thank the NCF enough for facilitating!

The reader is a ghost - looking for a body to inhabit. What an awesome session - the highlight of my week!