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The Northern Newsletter

Tag: writing

  • Book review of ‘Where the Heart Should Be’ by Sarah Crossan

    Oliver Mellor

    Title: Where the Heart Should Be.

    Author: Sarah Crossan.

    Publisher: Bloomsbury.

    Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Poetry-verse and Young adult.

    ‘Where The Heart Should Be’ can be accurately described as a miscellany of a victorian era event woven into Ireland’s history while being presented in a modern and innovative writing style, separating itself from society’s normalities. Upon collecting the novel, I was unsure as to its intensions due to its short blurb which left a heavy dosage to the imagination. However, after shortly finishing this novella I had received knowledge regarding the repercussions of  the ‘Irish Potato Famine’.

    The Novel’s exposition greets us with our protagonist Ellen Quinn. A teenage girl who is living in Ireland in July 1846 shortly before the Irish potato famine crisis reachers her family. As the novella develops we experience love, loss and an overwhelming captivation to discover its ending.

    The writing is definitely simplistic and this is highlighted further by the structure of the books

    poem-esque technique, constructing short and easy to digest chapters. This is effective in making the book a short and pleasurable read but in all honesty this contradiction can result in gaps of knowledge, causing confusion. A final issue regarding the book was that sometimes the story can emit the emotion of emptiness since some pivotal moments come across hollow or eviscerated of context. Most notably towards the denouement of the novella where the protagonists romance, once forbid appears to be accepted which in my opinions wouldn’t be a reality. Which can indicated the novels rapidness can also result in a lack of clarity and inaccuracy, leaving a feeling that the author prioritises are directed at a hurried ending. My personal advice would be improving certain interactions and developing Ellen’s internal monologues, to remove the problem of its murkiness and rushed feeling throughout.

    Although this book is not one of my preferred genres, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from choosing this unique novel as I can certainly view someone else enjoying this writing style, displaying itself as a clear individual within the world’s multitudinous library.

  • An event featuring author and filmmaker Matt Dickinson

    Oliver Mellor

    On Thursday the 11th of April, myself and lots of lucky students had the pleasure of attending an eye opening event with author and filmmaker – Matt Dickinson. Who is most notably famous for ascending into the clouds through the notorious North Face of Mount Everest in 1996, amid the worst inclement conditions ever recorded. This would leave a significant mark on the author as it influenced him to write ‘The Everest Files’ – an award winning trilogy. 

    I attended the event as an exclusive journalist, where I was able to learn about Matt’s enthralling adventure through the narrow corridors of publishing and during his exploration through the worlds library. He has met authors such as Jeff Kinney, Michael Morpurgo and astonishingly at Edinburgh Book Festival; Matt met the then unknown writer of the Harry Potter series – J.K Rowling who was preparing to publicise the first of a soon to be successful series. As well as his writing career, Matt has also worked on the debut series of ‘Man Vs Wild’ which not only begun but elevated the then unknown Bear Grylls’s and his future career. Which the students had the grotesque experience of viewing Bear consume a pair of Palm Weevil grubs, alive and wild. 

    Continuing on his influences, Matt told us about how he himself had become interested regarding Everest and his creativity. The Ascent of Everest by John Hunt which Matt had been given by his grandfather was the match that sparked his future. 

    Since we were all completely encapsulated within the idea of writing our own individual climb up the almost unconquerable peak, Matt then proposed that we could write a piece of writing in the style of a postcard. Which would entail our experience or journey upon the ‘goddess mother of the world’. Helping to enhance our imaginations, Matt had collected pictures to paint his powerpoint canvas. These detailed the Mountains beautifulness while contrasting this with some lamentable and startling ones that certainly taught the attendees the power of mother nature. Arguably, the most notable pictures proposed the argument of should Everest become a tourist attraction or stay sacred and belong to the locals. This could clearly be seen as certain pictures showed the landfill and exploitation of the porters*. Once the event had closed, the students were able to have their books signed by Matt himself and to be treasured forever.

    I am certain that myself and the fellow attendees would recommend this experience to anyone else if they want to attend a future talk featuring Matt. Definitely, also check out Matts books and notably the fascinating Everest Files trilogy. Perfect for those interested in Geography, creative writing and a thrilling story.

    *A porter is someone who is employed to carry luggage and other loads. Shockingly, some porters are even as young as 16 and hired to carry 116 kilos for £8 a day. 

  • A necessary legacy: International Women’s Day

    Oliver Mellor

    On Friday the 8th of March 2024, my school celebrated International Women’s Day. A necessary event that highlights and celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This captivating event allowed recognition and honour for those who have contributed to society, it also allowed us to reflect upon those who sometimes are unfortunately overshadowed and deserve significantly more appreciation. Those who attended were greeted by three individuals who had completely different experiences and interesting stories to share. These speakers were: Carolyn Mayling, Chérie Taylor Battiste and Katrina Hodge.

    The first speaker to share her story was, Carolyn Mayling who is the founder of Rosie’s Rainbow Fund. Rosie’s Rainbow Fund are a charity who use music and other forms of therapy sessions at John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in Oxford, Royal Berks Hospital in Reading and Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury. Established after Carolyn’s daughter Rosie, who was bright, creative and theatrical person regretfully became ill in December 2002 and eventually diagnosed with vasculitis, sadly passed away on May 14th 2003. However, Rosie’s legacy lives on after her expression to raise money to help children undergoing lengthy hospital stays. Her family were able to not only make that a reality but could also provide forms of therapy for tens of thousands of seriously ill, life-limited, disabled and special-needs children, as well as their parents, siblings and other family members. We wish future success for this incredible organisation of caring and charitable people.

    The second speaker was the famous poet and actor Chérie Taylor Battiste who was able to share multiple poems she had written herself regarding personal experiences from her novel Lioness. Most notably was the astonishingly powerful and expressive poem about the Japanese art of Kintsugi, this is when broken objects, usually ceramics are pieced together with gold lacquer. This poem perfectly symbolised emotion and the imperfections of beauty and truth. I would highly recommend purchasing a copy of Lioness by Chérie to discover even more captivating poems.

    The final guest speaker for this event was former soldier and beauty pageant winner Katrina Hodge. Katrina’s exceedingly inspiring and motivational story begins when she enrolled within the army and was sent to Iraq, when she was challenged and told she wouldn’t be able to do it. After serving for a number of years and earning a commendation for her bravery while wrestling two rifles from a prisoner following a road traffic accident. After she would enter Miss England without any expectations of winning it, but despite that she would be crowned on the 7th of November 2009. Most notably as Miss England, she would persuade the organisers to remove the bikini round from the competition. In an attempt to change people’s views of beauty pageants from being just about looks to surrounding more of the contestant’s personality. In 2011, Katrina would release her very own novel called Combat to Catwalk which detailed her experiences and impressive journey.

  • Exclusive interview featuring writer of the play KAILEY – Kerry Wright

    Oliver Mellor

    Questions about KAILEY and Kerry

    .Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

    Originally from Kent, I’m a writer, theatre producer and facilitator based in Bradford. I come from a working-class family and the first person in my family to go to Uni and work in the arts. I now work as a facilitator at Freedom Studios in Bradford where I run Youth Theatre and I facilitate the Young Writers sessions and outreach sessions in both primary and secondary schools across Bradford. As a producer, I self-produce and on placement at Sheffield Theatres. As for writing, I mainly write for theatre and now dipping my toes into writing for TV.

    .Can you please give us a short summary of the writing process of KAILEY?

    Before writing KAILEY, I carried out a 14 month research period which included interviews with people who had lived experiences of parental imprisonment. For me, this was a really important part of the process. Even though the play is based on my own experiences, it doesn’t mean my experience is the same for everyone. I wanted to ensure it was authentic as possible to young people and their experiences.

    I also worked with Tess, not only did she direct the play but she was the most amazing dramaturg who really helped me to make sure the storylines were the best they could be. She really brought the best out of the play and it was amazing having some fresh eyes on Kailey. Also it took 14 drafts of KAILEY to get it right for the production. Partly because I’m a perfectionist and really hard on myself but also because sometimes it genuinely does take time to develop complex characters and plot.

    .What inspired you to write KAILEY?

    KAILEY is inspired by my teenage experiences of parental imprisonment. When I was 17, both of my parents were sentenced to prison. As a direct result of this, I had to drop out of school, leave the family home and my whole life changed. There was very little support and it was a really difficult time for me. When I got into theatre, i noticed there were lots of tv series, plays and books about being in prison which is just as valid but none of the experiences of families and children on the outside. So I decided I wanted to write it myself to highlight the lack of support for young people.

    .What was the biggest challenge in writing KAILEY?

     I would say the redrafting! It’s so challenging redrafting after a set of notes! Don’t get me wrong it’s rewarding but so tiring redrafting the script.

    .What was your favourite experience in writing KAILEY?

    Probably hearing the actors read it for the first time. There’s something so special hearing it come to life and the feeling is indescribable.

    .How long has it taken for KAILEY to be from pen to stage?

    It’s been a really long process and all in all it’s taken 4 years to get KAILEY on the stage. The reason being is that I always wanted to do it ‘properly’ so ensuring that everyone gets paid properly and to work with a professional team. Therefore it did take a long time to secure the funding to make this happen. Also another reason was that I wanted to take my time to develop the script to make it the best it could possible be.

    .Please describe the emotions you felt when KAILEY was first performed?

    I was so so nervous and felt super vulnerable like I was bearing my soul. That feeling didn’t go until the very last show either.

    .What are the future plans for KAILEY?

    The plan is to (fingers crossed) tour it nationally next year! I need to get secure more funding which is terrifying but also so exciting to ride the wave it’s now created.

    PERSONAL FAVOURITES

    .Who or what are is your biggest inspiration?

    I love music. I have to listen to music every day otherwise I just don’t feel right and I have such a varied taste. I love grime, folk, drum n bass, indie and RnB! When writing, I love listening to movie scores such as Lord of the Rings, The Batman and Pirates of the Caribbean. I know this sounds cheesy but I’m really inspired by Beyonce as I’m in awe of how she is her own boss and so involved in every aspect of her creative career and I was really inspired by her work ethic when working on KAILEY.

    .What was one of the greatest books you’ve ever read?

    Such a hard question but the one that comes to mind is The Color Purple by Alice Walker

    .Do you have a favourite quote and if so what is it?

    I love a good quote and my current phone lock screen is:

    ‘Be brave, be different. Just be you and be consistent’ – Ghetts

    PERSONAL QUESTIONS

    Why do you write?

    I write because I love creating different worlds and I find it really cathartic. I try and write what I feel is needed now and shows a different outlook of the world. I have a huge imagination so it helps me channel that.

    Had you ever written any plays or Novels before writing KAILEY?

    Lots of short plays!

    My short play ‘THIRD EYE’ exploring complex family relationships with a magical twist was performed as part of Art at the Arms at The Constitutional and Seven Arts in Leeds. My radio play SUCH IS LIFE was developed as part of the Dream Reality Radio Scheme and was performed at Leeds Playhouse’s Furnace Festival 2021. I was awarded an Arts Council DYCP grant to explore working-class female voices within my writing. I was a writer on Freedom Studios’ Street Voices 8 where my short play POUND TWENTY was part of a live-streamed shar

    Are you currently working on another up and coming play?

    Not yet but I have an idea in the back burner – again exploring my own experiences again. I am keen to write a story exploring sibling grief as it’s often overlooked and it’s so complex and I just feel it’s a story needed now.

    Are you planning on publishing in the future?

    I hope so!

    What are your general plans for the future?

    I’m going to be pursuing a career in producing. I’ve just been successful in getting a placement at Sheffield Theatres which is so exciting. I’m not stopping writing or anything like that but keen to create another income stream and also to develop my current skill set so I put on even bigger plays in the future!

    ADVICE

    What would you recommend to be essential to any writer?

    Being a writer and pursuing writing is a lifestyle, you have to live and breath it. You need to be so motivated and have so much belief in yourself because rejections are a massive part of the job and sometimes it’s super tiring getting them and feeling like no one has your back. But trust yourself and your process and if you keep at it, you will succeed – I believe in you!

    What tips would you give to an aspiring writer?

    •Reach out to companies/organisations/artists and network not for work but to get to know people. Big orgs aren’t the be all and end all

    •Apply for everything and anything (within reason)

    -BBC Writersroom Opportunities

    –The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting

    •Read and watch theatre plays (watching online counts!)

    •Trust the process and take your time! Don’t give up you need to keep going despite rejections and anything that comes your way.

  • Metamorphposis By Franz Kafka

    Oliver Mellor

    From breadwinner to burden – a literature and book review of metamorphosis.

    ‘As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect’ – One of the most bewildering yet bizarre expositions to a novella ever written, Metamorphosis is argued to have secured Franz Kafka’s podium within literature as ‘20th Century’s most significant writer’. His cacophony of anxiety and alienation has established his own writing technique within the human emotional spectrum, ‘Kafkaesque’. Kafka’s society isn’t pleasurable, reflecting the tiresome torment of an inescapable nightmare yet for some dark periods of time we will eventually end up there.

    Therefore, Metamorphosis is the petrifyingly perfect example of Kafkaesque. Portraying the treachery of family it is riddled with arbitrary power, with Gregor Samsa’s misfortune decreeing life is simple taking and not giving. Critiquing capitalism and our desires for profit and wealth, our protagonist’s mental state is displaced by his family’s increasing thirst for money.

    But what is the enduring tale of Metamorphosis? Be warned, this piece of writing will include spoilers. As the narrative hook indicates, Gregor Samsa awakes to find himself altered into a ‘gigantic insect’. Although this may appear startling or distressing, our protagonist is not fearful or panicked. Instead, he resorts to returning to his slumber and concluding that it was just a bad dream. However, as he finally reawakens to reality Gregor realises his appearance has been mutated into hideous vermin. Due to Kafka’s original text being written in German, translations wildly differ in the description of Gregor Samsa. Unexpectedly, Gregor is able to easily accept his new form but discovers his first difficult challenge. Getting out of bed. This pivotal extract can provide the portrayal of those within society who value compassion over inconvenience and are willing to come to Gregor’s aid. Unfortunately for our tragic hero, Gregor is shunned and dehumanized later being referred to as an ‘it’ as if the metamorphosis has entirely alienated him from society. This ignorance and disgust towards Gregor only progresses throughout the novella causing mental and physical harm upon him. The motif of abuse from a father-like figure can be argued to have been influenced by Kafka’s own experience with his own father. Who would constantly subject Kafka to abhorrent and malicious actions. Towards the denouement of the novella, Gregor Samsa has found himself developing exceedingly more bug-like characterises. He is consuming rotten and stale food while crawling on the walls more frequently; this only causes further belief that Gregor is a problem rather than a provider. Initially, his sister, Greta, used to comfort and care for Gregor despite his obvious differences, but she suddenly despises Gregor and views him as a selfish burden. This then leads the family to unanimously decided to attempt to abandon Gregor. However, Gregor is able to unfortunately beat his family to that. By starving himself and finally ‘his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils streamed his last weak breath’. As if the family haven’t disrespected Gregor enough, they forget his existence and instead focus on Greta’s own ‘metamorphosis’.

    Overall, Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka can be perceived as a fictional story but metaphorically its themes contrast that belief. The novella symbolises the dehumanizing impact of modern society on the individual regarding business, social interaction or identity. Finally, I believe that everyone will eventually experience a similar lamentable destiny like Gregor Samsa. Denial. Acceptance. Decline.

    Recently I attended a performance of Kafka’s Metamorphosis at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. Despite my fears of the performance being unable to rise to the standard of Kafka’s own novella, it in fact distanced itself allowing it to be independent. But still having obvious themes and references to the original influence. I was pleasantly surprised by the crescendo of Gregor’s insanity climaxing, the motif of overworking putting strain upon his mental health was effective. Unfortunately, however there was no actor in an enormous vermin costume but instead the metamorphosis was acted out with a plethora of allusions. The two most notable being a very powerful and creative scene where our protagonist played by Felipe Pacheco used chairs to construct the appearance of multiple legs and a beetle-like shell. The other final notable allusion was Felipe Pacheco’s acrobatic talent which allowed him to scale and hang of walls reflecting Gregor Samsa’s bug qualities.