Other Writing

Chris is currently running a series of Writing for the Terrified workshops.
Please go to Dates for your Diary for dates and locations of these and how to book

Writing for the Terrified

Does the sight of a blank piece of paper fill you with dread? Would you love to write lyrics, poetry, monologues or short stories? OR maybe you’ve started writing but have got lost along the way? Then this course is for you.

We will use lively discussion and simple ideas to help you to think like a writer, and selected topics, images and free and directed writing to ignite your imagination, inspiring you to write.

You will be given time to think, write and have constructive feed-back to develop essential editing skills. Bring your craziest ideas and an open mind!

“Chris Hoskins is an accomplished poet and song-writer. Her work is subtle and understated, working simultaneously at different levels, able to draw in the reader or the listener. As a singer she is keenly aware of the music of language and her poetry reflects this understanding. And, like many fine writers, her self-awareness as a writer extends to an ability to see the qualities of other writers’ work, to inspire them to write, to give them confidence.”

Jonathan Davidson, Director, Birmingham Book Festival

Chris’s poems, short stories, monologues and songs are published and have been broadcast by the BBC and others, and some are performed by other choirs and artists.

The Art and the Craft

With the kind permission of George Szirtes www.georgeszirtes.co.uk

I have given considerable thought to what I'd like to say on this opening page of 'other writing'. It seems to me that a good place to start would be right at the very beginning of my fascinating journey. By sharing this, I hope it will encourage others on their journey.

As you may have read on the 'a little about me' page, I have been singing almost all of my life, so music and lyric have always been a presence.
So why did I want to write and where did it all begin?

I've always had a fascination with words, rhyme, rhythm and melody so I began by writing rhyming poems in the early days that ultimately became songs, but more about this and the creative process on the song writing page.
But somewhere along the way I began writing something quite different, something that was free and much more like prose. I also knew that this something 'different' was what I wanted to write. It seemed to appear from nothing and nowhere. So there was no choice for me, I had to write.

Up until this point I wasn't sharing anything I'd written with anyone other than close family members, but one day I decided it was time I did. So I took myself off to the local book-shop in Letchworth where I was living at the time and asked if they knew of any poets living in the area that I could make contact with. Yes I was in luck; the local poet was George Szirtes. So I called him that same day completely unaware of his international reputation as a poet and translator, which was probably a good thing on reflection, and he generously asked me to send him some of my poems. I remember saying in my letter that I wanted to write and if I wasn't going to be good at it, then I didn't want to do it! Little did I know then the journey I was about to embark on.

So today, as I prepare to write this piece, I have before me the numerous emails and letters, some hand written, that George has written to me stretching over a period of many years. He has generously given me his encouragement, sensitivity, understanding, advice and most of all his time, invaluable insight and detailed critique of my poetry.

I can see now, with hindsight that some of the poems I sent to him in the early days were really not that good, but he took the best from them and gave me the best possible advice.
He gave me the confidence I needed to continue writing, calling me talented and gifted. He told me not to waste time with disappointments, but to write and read poetry. Each comment he made helped me to think more carefully about the craft of writing; to find the 'right' word and never to make do. To create imagery; show not tell.

Everything he said was consistently encouraging and motivating, even though there were times when I thought I'd never 'get it' but he supported me through those times, always moving me on to the next stage.
Then one day after sending three poems for him to look at, I received the letter that said... "Hooray, now we're getting somewhere!" and "these are the best poems you've written so far" This was music to my ears. There were signs at last that my poems were consistently well written and I knew where I was going. I'd finally got it. I'm not saying I've ended my journey, I'm saying I know where I'm going.

This process has influenced everything I write and consequently now, when I write anything at all, I feel him looking over my shoulder, as I do today as I write. Only when I think he'll approve am I satisfied with the piece. He's the critic on my shoulder. I examine every word, the imagery, the sound the smell and emotion of the piece and whether it conveys exactly what it is I want to say!

So yes I've been crafting my art and crafting my thinking and I try to share the experience of this journey with others whenever I can.
The creative process is a fascinating one and one I explore later in the song writing page as I have said. But as far as this writing is concerned, I've had an incredible creative journey. But reward is sweet and many of my poems and short stories are now published, some of which can be seen on this site. I can only aspire to develop the degree of devotion and dedication to writing that George has demonstrated over the years, but I can try.
He has been my mentor and my friend and I value the advice and support he gives to my poetic voice. He has indeed set it free. A thank you seems inadequate.