Workshops

The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. Louis l’Amour .

Let’s turn on the tap and get that water surging, words powering through your veins. And we’re going to use the rather incredible Anne Lister and Ann Walker as our focus, our inspirational muses.

It’s May 1832 and Anne has returned to Shibden Hall, Halifax, from Hastings. She’s emotionally shredded after Vere’s rejection, and has almost given up hope of ever finding a companion, lover, wife. Two months later, a knock on the door of Shibden Hall. Ding Dong! Hello Miss Ann Walker!

Join me as we step into the shoes of Anne Lister and Ann Walker and shuffle around a bit. In our ‘technique goody bag’ today, we are looking at Dramatic Monologues, the single voice. How do you create voice that is not your own? What techniques can be used?

Dramatic monologues are great in all forms of writing – poetry, journal, short story, screen play etc. If there’s a voice, dramatic monologues work! And witing in a particular voice, seeing it through the eyes of the speaker, is great fun to play with.

So, what did Ann Walker think, feel and indeed say when she met Anne? How did she speak? And Anne, our Anne Lister – what were her thoughts on the matter? She’ll have a few things to say, I’m sure! You’ll receive a useful resource pack with plenty of biographical information to help you get into the heads (and hearts) of these two women. It’ll be useful to familiarise yourself with Anne Lister’s diaries and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series but not essential.

We’ll be doing fun writing exercises, guided writing, and exploring the technique ‘Dramatic monologues’ in a supportive, happy and relaxed atmosphere.

Writing by women writers, as well as extracts from the diaries of Anne Lister, will be used as our resource material.

Let’s embrace technology. Zoom means I come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc…. Welcome! And remember, these workshops are all about celebrating you, and your work – there is no competition, only celebration.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Sunday April 16th 2023 5pm – 7pm BST 12noon – 2pm EST 11am – 12noon CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine

Love. A complex thing at the best of times – as Anne Lister knew only too well. There’s often joy, a dash of pain and a dollop of wonder all mixed in together. And there’s plenty of joy and wonder in the air at Shibden Hall, Halifax, as we go back to Anne Lister and Ann Walker’s world of early Spring 1834.

On 10th February 1834 Anne and Ann pledged themselves to each other by the exchanging vows. Two weeks later, on 27th February, they exchanged rings. Finally, on 30th March, Anne and Ann took the sacrament at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York, sealing and binding their love, their marriage.

Come and join me for a really great 2 hours of writing. Write in any form you wish – this is your workshop. An encouraging, happy, and positive time awaits you.

In today’s Technique ‘goody bag’ we have ‘Starting mid-conversation’. Ever walked past someone and caught a snatch of conversation? What happened before, after? How do we create alternative openings, the first line of a poem, chapter, memoir?

What conversations did Anne and Ann have in the carriage? What snippets do we hear? Let’s sit in Anne Lister’s carriage and listen. Hear snatches of conversations and whispers.

It will be of helpful if you familiarise yourself with Anne Lister and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series. You’ll also receive a handy resource pack full of biographical information to help you get into the heads (and hearts) of these two women. Writing by women writers, as well as extracts from the diaries of Anne Lister, will be used as our resource material.

Whether you’re just about to put pen to paper, or already published, these workshops work for you. You are a unique writer – there is no one like you. There’s no competition, only celebration.

Let’s embrace technology. Zoom means I come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc…. Welcome! And remember, these workshops are all about celebrating you, and your work – there is no competition, only celebration.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Wednesday May 10th 2023 7pm – 9pm BST 2pm – 4pm EST 1pm – 2pm CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine

Christmas is a special time for many. However, for newly-weds, like Anne Lister and Ann Walker, that first Christmas is often one to look back on, and remember.

Married in March 1834 and happily living at Shibden Hall, Halifax, Ann Walker had no idea what sort of Christmas lay ahead. Perhaps she imagined a day enjoying simple pleasures with her loved one, a walk, sitting by the fire, enjoying a game of backgammon, time together. How wrong she was.

What did Ann Walker wear that particular Christmas day? And Anne Lister – what did all that black suggest? Clothes say a lot, not just our style but often indicate how we are feeling. Few would wear bright yellow when feeling miserable.

In today’s Technique ‘goody bag’ we are ‘Clothes and Character’. Let me show you how to use this clever technique to bring Anne Lister and Ann Walker into 3D. Use it in poetry, journals, short stories, whichever form you wish to use.

During our 2 hours together we’ll use writing exercises, guided writing and more, whilst focusing on today’s technique ‘Clothes and Character’ . This will really drive your writing forward.

Write in any form you wish – this is your workshop. An encouraging, happy, and positive time awaits you. And whether you’ve yet to put pen to paper, or already published, these workshops work for you. You are a unique writer – there is no one like you.

You’ll receive a handy resource pack full of biographical information to help you get into the heads (and hearts) of these two women, Anne Lister and Ann Walker.

Writing by women writers, as well as extracts from the diaries of Anne Lister, will be used as our resource material. It may be help to familiarise yourself with Anne Lister through her diaries and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series.

Let’s embrace technology. Zoom means I come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc…. Welcome! And remember, these workshops are all about celebrating you, and your work – there is no competition, only celebration.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Sunday June 4th 2023 5pm – 7pm BST 12noon – 2pm EST 11am – 12noon CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine

The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. Louis l’Amour .

Be like Anne Lister – write it all down. Many a marriage has a difficult start, and for Anne Lister and Ann Walker, their story was no different. The two women disagreed constantly. And at different times, both women wondered if the marriage would continue. Life at Shibden Hall was not a happy one.

In February 1838 Anne Lister did what she always did when emotions were strained – she turned to travel. May 1838 saw Anne and Ann Walker in the carriage heading for Europe and Mount Vignemale.

In our ‘Technique goody bag’ today we have ‘What is not’. This clever technique allows the reader to be told what is not remembered, what didn’t happen and what was forgotten. By shading in the dark, we see the light. And remember, this is your Anne Lister Writing Workshop – you write in the form you choose.

I love facilitating these Anne Lister workshops, you’ll find that a positive, happy, and enriching time awaits you. During our 2 hours together we’ll use writing exercises, guided writing and more, whilst focusing on our technique ‘What is not’, to really drive your writing forward.

Whether you’re just about to put pen to paper, or already published, these workshops work for you. You are a unique writer – there is no one writing quite like you.

You’ll also receive a handy resource pack full of biographical information to help you get into the heads (and hearts) of these two women – Anne Lister and Ann Walker.

Writing by women writers, as well as extracts from the diaries of Anne Lister, will be used as our resource material. It may be help to familiarise yourself with Anne Lister through her diaries and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Wednesday June 28th 2023 7pm – 9pm BST 2pm – 4pm EST 1pm – 3pm CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine

Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, Halifax, died on September 22 1840 in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, Russia. The cause of death was an insect bite.

Emotionally fragile Anne Walker had Anne’s body embalmed and the two women returned to Shibden Hall six months later. Anne Lister’s body was interred at Halifax Minster on 29th April 1841.

A stark and blunt end to the life of a woman who was a trail blazer, lesbian, mountaineer, diarist.

The socking death of Anne, bringing her back to Shibden Hall, the funeral, would have been a torturous time for Ann Walker. One where her senses were very switched on.

The summer sky was the colour of cat vomit. Unexpected, surprising yes. But notice the mood of the speaker. Today in our ‘Technology goody bag’ we are pushing all boundaries and senses – we’re pushing imagery. Let’s create eye-brow rising, bang on the nail, similes and metaphor.

As always, this is your Anne Lister Writing Workshop – you write in the form you choose and what works for you. You’ll find Anne Lister writing workshops, a place that’s positive, exciting, and enriching. During our 2 hours together we’ll use writing exercises, guided writing and focus imagery to really drive your writing forward.

Whether you’re just about to put pen to paper, or already published, these workshops work for you. There is no one writing quite like you – your writing is unique.

You’ll also receive a handy resource pack full of biographical information to help you get into the heads (and hearts) of these two women – Anne Lister and Ann Walker.

Writing by women writers, as well as extracts from the diaries of Anne Lister, will be used as our resource material. It may be help to familiarise yourself with Anne Lister through her diaries and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series.

Let’s embrace technology. Zoom means I come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc…. Welcome! And remember, these workshops are all about celebrating you, and your work – there is no competition, only celebration.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Sunday July 23rd 2023 5pm – 7pm BST 12noon – 2pm EST 11am – 12noon CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine

After Anne Lister died, Ann Walker inherited Shibden Hall, Halifax and began the journey of living there alone. Extensive renovations had taken place since Anne Lister and Ann Walker had left Shibden Hall. The expected excited return was replaced with silence. Emptiness. Loss. A traumatic return, and one which would have tested the mental state of anyone.

Captain Sutherland waited impatiently, itching to get his hands on Shibden Hall. On 9th September 1843 Ann Walker was dragged out of her Red Room and put into Clifton Asylum, York.

Let’s use Ann Walker’s experience to drive your writing forward. Today in our ‘Technique goody bag’ we are looking at ‘themed vocabulary’. The focus of a specific theme linking to vocabulary choice, cleverly reinforces the subtle undertone of mood running throughout your work.

As always, this is your Anne Lister Writing Workshop – you write in the form you choose and what works for you. Anne Lister Writing Workshops celebrate writing, your writing. It’s a space that’s positive, exciting, and enriching. During our 2 hours together we’ll use writing exercises, guided writing and focus on specific vocabulary to really drive your writing forward.

Whether you’re just about to put pen to paper, or already published, these workshops work for you. There is no one writing quite like you – your writing is unique.

You’ll also receive a handy resource pack full of biographical information to help you get into the head (and heart) of Ann Walker.

Writing by women writers, as well as written records of the time will be used as our resource material. It may be help to familiarise yourself with Anne Lister and Ann Walker through diaries and/or the BBC Gentleman Jack TV series.

Technology is incredible! Zoom means I can come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc… Welcome!

Let’s embrace technology. Zoom means I come to you, whichever country you’re in, and you write wherever you feel most comfortable, your kitchen, sitting room, bed etc…. Welcome! And remember, these workshops are all about celebrating you, and your work – there is no competition, only celebration.

• Writing workshops held online via Zoom.
• 2 pre-Funded places per workshop. Just contact me in confidence.
• Resources sent prior workshop

Wednesday August 16th 2023 7pm – 9pm BST 2pm – 4pm EST 1pm – 2pm CST

As always, any questions at all, just ask.

See you there,

Christine