Melanie Fraser

Thanks for all your hard work @woolleybeans.

Nice summary @JaneShuff. I think you’re right – it’s about getting in the mindset of making notes and creating work regularly. I read an interesting quote from Ira Glass about closing the gap between what you want to be creating and where you are now. That was all about doing a big volume of work and having deadlines. It’s back to the old idea of…[Read more]

Works for me. I’ve got my journal ready, just haven’t written in it yet! But a step in the right direction.

I believe there’s a chemical released in your brain during traumatic (or very happy) events that fixes the memory. Probably some sort of survival learning mechanism I would guess. But this does mean our I Remember pieces are like to be tear jerkers. I had a go yesterday and was reduced to sniffling. I’m going to a conference on UK GAAP this…[Read more]

So poignant, Hil. He sounded like a lovely person.

From a child’s perspective, this is quite a scary, stomach churning tale. Nicely evoked. I’m glad it had a happy ending.

There’s a big ouch in the middle there with the dentist! My teeth are aching at the thought of it. You really conjure up the childhood feelings beautifully (and painfully).

I’m with you on all that @Raine.

I enjoyed the Burroway chapter. There were lots of great suggestions to kick start ideas and, like Woolleybeans, I think I shall have to summarise them before they slip away. I’ve seen free writing suggested many times but never tried it. Perhaps now is the time to give it a go.

I struggled to understand the gorgeousness of the pieces in the Le…[Read more]

What a fab idea to use the I remember exercise to find a character’s voice. I shall do that in future. Your ‘I remember’ is very lovely and conjures up so many scenes and senses. It needed several reads to take it all in.

Thanks, Wooleybeans, this is all looking great. Just waiting on the books before digging in.

I should have ordered mine earlier, but they’re on the way now.