Lakes Writers School

Two of Cumbria's top writers – the award-winning children's writer Janni Howker and novelist Sarah Hall – will be running workshops at the next Lakes Writers School course, 16-20 May 2011. They will be teaching on:
The Essential Elements of Creative Writing, including Conquering Point of View, The Joy of Telling the Truth, and The Power of the First Person Narrative.

Other speakers on the course include Cumbrian poet Angela Butler, ghostwriter Andrew Chamberlain and commissioning editor Ali Hull.
Any local authors who want to improve their creative skills are welcome to come along, either on a residential basis or as day visitors. The course, which has been running twice a year since 2003, aims to help writers at all stages, from beginners through to published authors. It takes place at Lands End, Watermillock. For more information, go to http://www.lakesschool.com/

For more information on the course, phone Ali Hull on 07977 670868 or Mark Finnie on 07917631785

Note for editors – to talk to the course organisers, phone Ali Hull on the above number or Mark Finnie on 01768 863331

The Tuesday Tip - the reader loves to snoop

Who doesn’t love a secret?
Create interesting characters by giving them a secret or intrigue that they don’t want people to know about. Characters need skeletons in the closet, buried emotional wounds, hidden needs and shameful pasts. These are what keeps the reader engaged, creating tension and an urge to delve deeper into the characters background and personality.

A book is a wonderful excuse to be nosy and snoop in a way that is unacceptable in everyday life. It is the one thing a book can offer that real life does not – we can probe the underlying motivations of fictional characters in a way we dare not attempt with our real-life acquaintances, friends or lovers.

Incomers 1592

At the end of the 16th century London had become such a popular place to live that Elizabeth banned any more building.

The Act of 1592 says there are
"great Mischiefes and Inconveniences" from the habit of dividing up houses "into several Tenements or Dwellings". Because of this overpopulation it was hard to find food or fuel - after all coal had to be brought in by boat from elsewere, and there were few trees left standing. The document says

"great Infection of Sickness and dearth of Victuals and Fuel hath growen and ensued."



Elizabeth was also concerned about the kind of incomers that were making their way to the city.

"Many idle vagrant and wicked Persons have harboured themselves there and divers remote places of the Realme have been disappointed of Workmen and dispeopled." 

The solution? Just as we are preserving the countryside with our Green Belt laws, a law was passed forbidding any more building 

"That noe person (shall) henceforth make and erect any newe Building or Buildings House or Houses for Habitation or dwelling within either of the said cities [of London and Westminster] or within three miles of any of the Gates."


Of course the law had no effect whatever, and by the time of the Restoration, the city had stretched to Piccadilly and beyond.

Which is just as well, for by the time my two incomers - Sadie and Ella Appleby from Westmorland - arrive in 1661, it is a veritable warren of tenements and rookeries, alleyways and ginnels. The Gilded Lily tells how the sisters hope they will be able to hide from their pursuers. But the London underworld is full of beggars and ne'er-do-wells who will sell their soul for a penny, and they soon find there is no-one they can trust.

Not even each other.