Essex Fresh Talent Scheme 2004

In December I was invited to be one of the judges for the Essex Fresh Talent writing scheme.

So alongside other writers Bernadine Kennedy, Heather Reyes and Martyn Waites we spent a whole day reading excerpts from over 300 manuscripts.

We finally managed to agree on a shortlist and I will post more news here when I get some, so keep an eye out….

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Essex Book Festival 2005
I was very excited to take part in the Essex Book Festival 2005, which ran through the entire month of March, and there really was ‘something for everyone’.

To kick off the festival I helped to launch World Book Day on Thursday 3 rd March at Chelmsford Library with a live BBC Essex broadcast along with other writers, such as Martina Cole, Nasser Hussain, Maureen Lee, Pat O’Keeffe and Brian Mooney. I was invited to give a talk about a writers life by Wickford Library, where we had a good few laughs and a fun couple of hours.

The Essex Book Festival was the biggest writing and reading festival in the Eastern region of England with authors hosting readings and Q&A sessions at libraries right across Essex with names like Will Self, David Baddiel, Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Buerk, Fay Weldon, Libby Purves, Martina Cole, Mavis Cheek, Polly Toynbee and JoJo Moyes taking part.

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Wexford Book Festival 2005
Girls Night In – Byrnes Bookshop, Wexford

On the evening of 16 th April, as part of the Wexford Book Festival, I was invited to take part in a fun evening in Byrnes Bookshop. Fellow authors Marisa Mackle – (Mr Right for the Night, So Long Mr Wrong, The Mile High Guy and Chinese Whispers), Catherine Daly – (All Shook Up and Charlottes’ Way) and myself spent over three hours in the bookshop where we gave an informal chat, drank wine, ate strawberries and fabulous Butlers chocolates while we answered questions, gave advice and generally had a proper ‘Girls Night In’! We are hoping to stage similar events throughout the year, so please keep an eye out!!

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Girls Night In – Ottakars Bookshop, Chelmsford, Essex

I have been invited to take part in another fabulous and fun Girls Night In in Ottakars Bookshop in Chelmsford. The date has been provisionally arranged for the evening of Tuesday 5 th July at around 7.30pm and, although things are still in the planning process, we are hoping that JoJo Moyes will attend. Please keep an eye out on the website for further details as they emerge! If you would like updates on this event please email me at alison@alisonnorrington.com

Ottakars in Chelmsford is a huge shop and we should have lots of laughs! I can’t wait….

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Get Writing Workshop

It has been said many times that ‘everyone has a book in them’. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. The tricky part is – getting the book out!

This 2-hour workshop is for anyone and everyone who wants to start writing, but isn’t sure where to begin - a real hands-on, ‘beginners’ workshop.

Alison Norrington , best-selling author of Class Act, Look Before You Leap and Three of a Kind will help you with the basics, giving practical advice on;

• Getting Started
• Deciding on genre – what style of writing interests you and what are the options
• Setting the scene & plotting the storyline
• Making notes
• Defining your characters
• Building and getting to know characters
• Engaging with the reader
• Dealing with publishers and agents
• The writer’s journey

Please do not hesitate to contact me at alison@alisonnorrington.com if you are interested in my workshop.

Many thanks!

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Queens Writing Group

This is my second year of involvement with the Queen’s Theatre Writing Group and I haven’t managed to attend hardly any of the meetings so far!

The Group meets usually once a month and we discuss plays – some well known and some not-so-well known – and all work individually and together to create our own work. The Queen’s website can be found at: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

For further info on the Writers Group contact:
Beth Flatley
01708 462373

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