Beautiful location and inspiration at first workshop

We held our first workshop on Tuesday this week, filled up the Long Gallery at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery with thoughts of diaries, of writing short excerpts and hard work.

It was a relaxed yet enjoyable morning, slightly chilly so we re-fuelled with digestive biscuits and tea that the Museum kindly let us make in their little kitchen. The museum, actually was a great place for the workshop - not too busy on a March Tuesday morning, with plenty of space for tables. It also led to thoughts about Hastings, and about living here really well.

We asked if people minded sharing a couple of pieces of their work on this blog to give others diary inspiration. Chris had asked people to write a diary from Monday, to then re-work it in several different ways - by adding the senses - what we saw, smelt, touched - by adding emotions - and finally cutting it down to 100 words (or less for the competitive editors there).

So here we are...some ideas for your diary entry written by real locals, and not (for once about dogs).

Today I felt like a driver. Gone were the nerves and doubts. The sun was shining as if the world had accepted my new status. It was also blessed by lack of phone noises. Only just over two weeks to go till my test and yes I have to pass to be able to drive about on my own but I am starting to taste the freedom I will be rewarded with alongside my licence. My feet automatically work the gears now. My hands don’t grip the steering wheel in terror anymore. I am more relaxed in the knowledge that I am coming to the end of this learning journey.

So our two-mile evening walk commences! What and who will we see this time? Although I start off feeling cold and wish I was at home in the warm I know there is a purpose to this. For it is exercise and helps regulate my blood sugar and means my diabetes is more manageable. Off we go as always wondering if the man in the mobility scooter will honk at us and bark “Get out the way!” or if we see the man by his window named for obvious reasons “The Naked Man”

And by another writer:

Monday 21 March 2016

Walked the dog. Thought about my mother. Took computer for repair. Interesting transgender woman in a flat scented with incense. Washing on. Re-read Philip Roth’s Plot Against America — shades of Donald Trump. Collapsed. Drank Pernod. Watched programme on Rudyard Kipling.

Thanks so much for sharing these entries with us, we literally can't wait to see what else Hastings has to say...

Diaries, Postcards & Secrets

                                                                                    

March 15^th

Over a month since I wrote – despite best intentions. On the plus side, found a diary I’d been given in 2013 today. As I already had one that year, I decided to use it to record ‘one thing I learnt today.’ No entries are more than a few lines, but range from:  ‘only 10% of anything you buy in the IKEA market area ends up being worthwhile’ to  ‘your children always surprise you.’  There are also more formal entries made after doing a drawing class about learning to draw elipses, and a recipe for carrot cake downloaded from t’internet. Still, after having a good nose, the diary went back in the cupboard, though I’m not sure why I’m keeping it.

Rereading Frank Warren’s PostSecret, -  a book of secrets written on postcards – it’s very engaging, funny, lovely, sad and a generally great reminder of what creative and vulnerable people we all are. It’s inspired us to think about secrets – as they are the bread and butter of diary writing - and how we can find safe ways for people to share secret diary thoughts.

Lastly, trying to get to grips with Instagram. I am officially old. I had to look at FAQs and YouTube. Sad moment!

Hastings Speaks Project Timetable

We've been working hard behind the scenes for the last couple of weeks finalising the project details...and just realised that apart from at the launch we haven't shared all details of Hastings Speaks' plans with you lovely lot.

So here we are...in chronological order, because, you know we like a bit of order...

March/April

Taking part in the workshops from March-May

Volunteering/cheerleading for the project with your organisation, friends or family

Downloading the diary packs from the fixed page on this blog or asking us to email it to you

May

Saturday 7 May at Priory Meadow -Pop up castle in Priory Meadow- some exciting

interactive plans being drawn up including using a mini diary booth, and creating postcard

diaries.

Thursday May 12th - Hastings Diary Day - we'll be around the town hopefully with our popup diary booth encouraging video diaries, written diaries and more. Exact locations to be confirmed very soon.

Schools, Colleges, Community settings - currently Mallydams RSPCA and Seaview first two to sign up to this holding their own diary days. Email us to ask about your organisation joining in too.

Diary Deadline Day - all diaries to be sent in by May 31st unless prior agreement due to creative process' (yes, that's right if you are transforming your diary in to a piece of work - play - picture- short story etc you get a little longer...)

Emails containing day diaries pop up in hastingsspeaks@gmail.com email account, and we begin to code names/address to separate from entries and publish diaries on our blog.

Diary entries are popped in to the Diary Collection Points - currently at The Bridge Community Centre and Hastings Tourist Information Centre - more to follow.

May/June

Last workshops held with possibility to transform diary entries in to creative pieces – plays, fiction, etc.

June/July/August

Editorial process for anthology and confirmation of details for Literary Event finalised

Tickets being booked for Literary Event - live diary readings

Hastings Speaks Exhibition planning continues

Excitement builds for root 1066 International Festival here

September

Small anthology of Hastings Speaks pubished in print

Exhibition of Work at Hastings Museum

Live Literary Events/readings at local venue

Phew...that is a lot of text, and a lot going on for a small project, so as always Chris and I are still on the look out for volunteers. We'd love everyone to signpost their friends and family to the project, get everyone filling in a diary day, help with events, support with typing up diaries if needed, scanning and much more.

Creative Writing & Diaries Workshop

A staggering amount of us keep diaries at one time or another. Some end up in the attic, others provide a rich source of information about our lives; serious, insightful, funny and healing. They offer inspiration for great writing – from fiction and memoirs to poetry and drama.  They can bridge a lifetime in a page or illuminate a specific incident. From social commentary, the confessional, therapeutic, reflective to the downright scandalous, whatever your musings, this workshop provides activities and guidance on how you can use a diary to develop a piece of fiction, poetry or drama.

Aimed at experienced and beginners.  - March 22^nd,  10-12pm at Hastings Museum. Places limited. Booking essential.