Welcome to this extraordinary globe
Eleanor Rose.
And always remember, Ellie
there is a pharmacy inside your wonderful body.

Born Friday 1st May. 5 pounds 9 ounces.

Now we are into some more downtime, do send me your words.

Spread your Lovely Words and Not the Virus.

I am working on an anthology entitled ‘When This is All Over …’ in aid of the Rennie Grove Hospice Care which is a charity providing specialist nursing care and support for adults and children with a life-limiting illness.

Please send me any poems (Haiku? Limericks? Clerihew? Sonnets? Freestyle?) fiction or creative non-fiction up to 200 words for the anthology. Do write about your thoughts, wishes, hopes, reflections, experiences at this time: what is happening in your world and what is happening to the world out there. Look forward too. Submissions free and from all ages welcome. Send to info@janmoranneil.co.uk

There is no limit to submissions and published successes are welcome. The closing date for now is September 30th. I’ve had submissions from 9 to 90 year olds and from Dublin, Spain, South Africa, USA, Holland and Birmingham. We’re all in it together.

Also, give me one sentence describing yourself and where you come from.

Creative Ink News

Ruth Potts was one of my very first students in the late eighties. She sadly died last November. Those of you who attended classes with Ruth, and worked on Rhyme & Reason with her, will remember her as the kindest and sweetest of souls.

Pat Abercromby, along with other former Creative Inkers, has put together a delightful anthology called On Reflection which is available on Amazon.

Prolific poet Chris Johnson has been published in London Grip and Popshot and short listed for Acumen.

My poem ‘Sunday Shoes’ is one of six winners and commendations in the Enfield International Poetry Comp – 1000 entries and judged by Ruth Padel. You can read it here:

www.enfieldpoets.com

‘Spread your Lovely Words and Not the Virus …’by Ms Paige Turner
Dear Writers,
I am re-posting the info’ on submission for the anthology ‘When This is All Over …’ I’ve had submissions from 9 year olds and from Dublin, Spain, South Africa, USA, Canada and Birmingham.
Please send me any poems (Haiku? Limericks? Clerihew? Sonnets? Freestyle?) fiction or creative non-fiction up to 200 words for the anthology: ‘When This is All Over …’ But even Shakespeare had alternative titles (‘As You Like It’ or ‘What You Will’) so I may call it ‘Life in the Time of Coronavirus’. We’ll see. Do write about your thoughts, wishes, hopes, reflections on this time: what is happening in your world and what is happening to the world out there. I’ll put the best into an anthology and we’ll donate any profits to charity. Ideas for charities welcome. Submissions free and from all ages welcome to info@janmoranneil.co.uk

There is no limit to submissions and a closing date does sound a bit of an oxymoron so just lob your words in. We’re all in it together.
Give me one sentence describing yourself and where you come from.

‘Spread your Lovely Words and Not the Virus …’ by Ms Paige Turner
Dear Writers,
Now there is downtime for another three weeks you may wish to do some writing. Please send me any poems (Haiku? Limericks? Clerihew? Sonnets? Freestyle?). And/or fiction or creative non-fiction up to 200 words for the anthology:
‘When This is All Over …’ But even Shakespeare had alternative titles (‘As You Like It’ or ‘What You Will’) so I may call it ‘Life in the Time of Coronavirus’. We’ll see. Do write about your thoughts, wishes, hopes, reflections on this time: what is happening in your world and what is happening to the world out there. I’ll put the best into an anthology and we’ll donate any profits to charity. Ideas for charities welcome. Submissions free and from all ages welcome to info@janmoranneil.co.uk

There is no limit to submissions and a closing date does sound a bit of an oxymoron so just lob your words in. I’ve had submissions from 9 year olds and from Dublin, Spain, South Africa and Birmingham. We’re all in it together.
Give me one sentence describing yourself and where you come from.

When This is All Over … by Ms Paige Turner
Over the next few weeks and months send me your poems and any narrative up to 200 words about your thoughts, wishes, hopes, reflections on this time: what is happening in your world and what is happening to the world out there. Unpublished submissions from all ages and no submission fee. I’ll put the best into an anthology with illustrations and we’ll donate any profits to charity. Ideas for charities welcome. The title? When This is All Over … So look forward too. Send to info@janmoranneil.co.uk
Closing Date – which is a bit of an oxymoron at this point – September 30th. Please add one sentence describing your status.
10% off all editing, assessment and proof reading fees during the time of Confinement to Barracks. (Please – I’m not touting for trade, but writing might just keep you sane.)
Starr Office Shop in Beaconsfield is photocopying and delivering your stationery needs free of charge locally. www.starrbusiness.co.uk
On Mother’s Day, I posted a note on Facebook saying that I couldn’t even place a daf on my mum’s grave. A few hours later I received a photo with … a daf on my mum’s grave. A former drama student of mine had read the post and remembered that some years earlier I had told her where my mother was buried. Kerriaberry must have spent a long, long time finding the grave. But just as she was about to give up Kerria found the grave. My mum must have done her own posting. How kind is all that?

‘A Kind of Grief …’ by Ms Paige Turner
I’ve been in isolation all week and yet it’s been the busiest of weeks doing something which has been a lifelong anathema to me: cancelling. And I’ve been cancelled on. It’s a kind of grief. Having to let go of booked out evening workshops and a reunion with a full complement of college alumni. Face to face consultations, not to mention the gym. Alas, alas, alas. Ah to the plans of mice and men … And cheers … here’s to the overriding priority: your health.
But there’s one thing I can see burgeoning as my inbox seems to suggest: online editing and mentoring of your words. So here’s my fee sheet and to telephonic consultations. (I will do Skype but find them jumpy and distracting.)
Creative Ink for Writers and Creative Ink Publishing
Jan Moran Neil – MSt. Cantab, B.Ed.Hons CSSD
www.janmoranneil.co.uk
Critical Assessment, Editing & Proof Reading Services
10% off for Creative Ink enrolled writers.
Full length novel (80,000 words) £500
Full typed assessment emailed. Edits on text. Full proof read. (More or less than 80,000 words – to be agreed.) Handout sheets given where appropriate – separately – and not copied and pasted into my detailed and specific feedback of your words.
Synopses of novels – 500 words and lob back £50
One hour telephonic consultation for £50
£130 for a one hour and a quarter consultation, 3500 word assessment and 500 word synopsis inclusive. (Half fee due if cancelled within 24 hours of consultation.)Poems and synopses are twice the weight of straight narrative.
Tailor Made Packages – £150 – 10,000 words of narrative or 15 poems, ongoing assessment, email dialogue and modules on Beginning, (to include Developing an Idea and Synopsis), Characterisation, Viewpoint and Plot. (Send up to 5 batches.)
Articles, short stories (up to 2,500 words) £35
Poems whose weight in words are heavier than narrative. (An email lob back to check a re-draft.) £10
1. Please send an SAE or in the case of a novel, return postage or send online.
2. Weekly turnaround guaranteed.
3. Errors will be marked, suggestions made for alterations, marketing ideas given if possible.
11, Pitch Pond Close
Knotty Green
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1XY
Tel: 01494 680816 email: janmoranneil@tiscali.co.uk
Jan is a Writers News Home Tutor and Writing Magazine monthly contributor and is able to refer to two leading London agents.

I am tutoring this course so no pressure on me then.
AT: Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre, East Commoon, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7AD
ON: Saturday 25th April
TIME: 10.00 am until 3.30 pm
COST: £45
COURSE CODE: A6ECO7AHO
CONTACT: EMAIL: studentenquiries@buckscc.gov.uk
www.adultlearningbcc.ac.uk

TEL: 01296 382403

Delivering a speech at a gathering or wedding? Giving a talk or reading of your book or collection of poetry or just want to know you can get on to the motorway of speaking to a group of people? Then come along. I shall be as nervous as you but it’s making pals of those nerves that’s the trick …

‘A Garden in my Ears …’ by Ms Paige Turner
Fish Hoek Scribblers in Cape Town guinea-pigged my ‘Birth of an Idea’ workshop this last week and grateful I was to the 17 writers for being patient with my blocked right ear. In my writing I’m always endeavouring to ‘hear myself better’. At times this can be a challenge but it was a pleasant one last Thursday.
The forthcoming ‘Birth of an Idea’ evening workshop in March at Beaconsfield is now full. But do watch out for the next one in the series fully covering our slim adolescence. I will post details after March 19th.
With clear ears (thanks to Doctor Estherhuisen at Constantia Mediclinic – doesn’t Mister Justin Case know the car park well?) I did a ‘Red Lipstick & Revelations’ perf at Simons Town High School on Monday. I always shower and wash hair for a perf but our water was cut off so that was a first. (Eskom for power or the euphemistically called ‘load shedding’ is a challenge too.) Another first was to perform my rap to twenty Xhosa youngsters who were bemused when this elderly, white, UK woman said she would read her rap: fingers crossed. I loved watching their mouths open and then could almost catch them saying at the end of the rendition ‘Stitched Up’ – ‘Hear, hear’.
Thanks to Khuls Nkatshu, Karen Gray-Kilfoil and Earl Mentor for giving me passports into their communities.
Tuesday 3rd March – Book signing of ‘On Reflection’ at Beaconsfield Library by a group of Creative Inkers at 2.30 pm. See you there. All ears …

‘On Reflection’ by Ms Paige Turner
A group of Creative Inkers has put together this anthology of poetry and prose and I’m looking forward to attending their launch at Beaconsfield Library, 2.30 pm on Tuesday 3rd March. Ladies. Very. Well. Done.
I’m also looking forward to leading two evening workshops: ‘The Birth of an Idea’. Scribblers in Fish Hoek, Cape Town at the SARS Hall this coming Thursday 20th February at 6.00 pm.
Then Creative Ink for Writers’ Evening Workshop in Beaconsfield/Thursday 19th March at 7.45 pm. Suzie is hosting and I am leading so email me for venue details.

God and Lipstick

My first day! My first client! Oh, my God.
And her completed form tells me she’s eighty seven.
I’m giving her Bubble Bliss Heaven. Number
sixteen massage on the Client Care List. I say, “I hope
you have a lovely stay. Is your lipstick
Max Factor? Or X Factor? Let’s make a start then.”

She lies on the bed, all quiet like, and then
I’m thinking, it’s like stroking a post mortem, dear God.
I say, “You’re wearing such a pretty lipstick.
And why not? Just a number, isn’t it, eighty seven?
You’ve done well to get to that age. I hope
I get to that age. Head up a little. Yes, just a number.”

Then she croaks, “Shall I tell you a story about a number?”
And I say, “Oh, I love a story. Go on then.”
And then she says, “It’s a Story of Hope.
It’s a Story of how I wish to meet God.
It’s a Story about not just being eighty seven.
It’s a Story about a Consignment of Lipstick.

“In the days of release they gifted us lipstick
and to us it meant we weren’t just a number.
My number was A, two, six, one, eight, seven.
I had been a number, you see, up until then.
We were women who had never seen our faces or God
for years. We had forsaken hope.

“That ruby red stick gave us not food but hope;
we were just hollow women wearing lipstick.
I couldn’t be sure, you see, there was a God
or if there was, was I to Him just a number?
I had been a number, you see, up until then.
I was A, two, six, one, eight, seven.

“And now I’m eighty seven.
And I’ve learned to make friends with hope.
It gave a female corpse the thought that then
she might meet God with a slash of lipstick
on her sealed mouth. A mouth with a number
and no name. Just Lipstick and God.”

It’s then I notice it. Oh. My. God.
She’s in Room Seven. The VIP Gold Star Suite number.
Hope she won’t report me for mentioning her lipstick.

For 75th Anniversary of Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. To hear me reading this it’s bottom right hand corner on the Home Page of my website.
‘Birth of an Idea’ workshop/Thursday 19th March at 7.45 pm. Email me for details.

‘From Planet Janet…’ by Ms Paige Turner
I was going to write this short blog before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s (or are they still?) announcement last week that they were ‘stepping back’ from Royal Duties.
This must be in part because the duchess (is she still?) believes that one should ‘thrive and not have to just survive’ as she mentioned in the Tom Bradbury documentary interview last October.
What planet is the Duchess of Sussex on? The majority of people in this world learn to survive. I did. And when we can thrive comes in moments if we are fortunate. The Duchess of Sussex is very fortunate to hold this belief. She is rich and famous. And I am not racist.
Let me know if you want to come to the Creative Ink Evening Workshop on Thursday 19th March – 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm. £20 for the session, Suzie’s stunning snacks and hand out sheets. ‘The Birth of an Idea’. Beaconsfield.