Still Life Workshop Anthology

Living through the Covid-19 pandemic posed a particular problem for the writers of fiction, namely how to create work in a world which seemed to have risen ready made from the genre of dystopian fiction. Meeting in groups on Zoom broadened the scope of our workshops in so many ways but it also added an unreal element. For a time we were all characters in a fiction of someone else’s making. So how to react to such a life changing situation?

Some of the workshop writers avoided the subject like the plague while others grasped it by the throat. You’ll find it here in all its shades and variations. 26 writers, artists and photographers reacting in their own unique way to the threat of the unseen, the unknown. Available to buy on Amazon

“I was very familiar with Zoom but Roddy’s workshops really make the most of the format. Close reading other writer’s work onscreen is a revelation and I love watching videos of poets and plays. But one of the best things about the workshop is Roddy’s  help with homework. It’s like a magic wand has been waved over it.” Margaret Cooper  –  Zoom workshop writer.

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In this section we share a selection of our writers’ weekly homework pieces and timed exercises. Homework is normally 500 – 750 words maximum, the timed exercises are completed in the workshop within 20 minutes.

Its not uncommon for one of the workshop writers to develop and combine their homework pieces and craft them into a long form story, or even a novel. These two long form pieces by Sue Hitchcock are perfect examples.

The Disinformation Correspondent by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

Square One by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

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September

The  Man by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Shrink That by Jill Webb

 Listen to Jill’s Piece

A List of Necessities – a time exercise by Fran Duffield

 Read Fran’s Piece

Its True in the Story by Francesca Ryan

Life in the Fast Lane by Lesley Dawson

Read Lesley’s piece

 Read Francesca’s Piece

Dust 2 by Juliet Robinson

Read Juliet’s piece

Gosday by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

Possession by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

A Day in the Life of a Festival Goer by Lesley Dawson

Read Lesley’s piece

Tomorrow by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

Roddy’s column – Night at the Opera  

Read Roddy’s column

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August

The  Pact by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

That Fuzzy Feeling by Jill Webb

 Listen to Jill’s Piece

Man on No 49 Bus by Fran Duffield

 Read Fran’s Piece

Good Morrow by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

Dust by Juliet Robinson

Read Juliet’s piece

They Could Do Nothing by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

Homecoming by Marion Umney

Read Marion’s piece

Silence by Rosalyn Hurst

Read Rosalyn’s piece

Geraldine by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

The Presentation – a timed exercise by Marion Umney

Read Marion’s piece

Dr Russell T Hurlburt’s Psychological Blunder – a timed exercise by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Roddy’s column – The March to the Scaffold 

Read Roddy’s column

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July

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June

The Happiness Project by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Tired by Fran Duffield

 Read Francesca’s Piece

Hollows by Juliet Robinson

Read Juliet’s piece

Blood Oath After Midnight by James Wong

Read James’s piece

The Ethics of Being Unwashed by Lesley Dawson

Read Lesley’s piece

Power Moves and Pans by Helen Miele

Read Helen’s piece

Night Time by MaryPat Campbell

Read MaryPat’s piece

The Oasis by Juliet Robinson 

 Read Juliet’s Piece

Plausible by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

A Question of Happiness by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

An Afternoon at the Opera by Rosalyn Hurst

Read Rosalyn’s piece

The Lotus Flower by Chani Fifield

Read Chani’s piece

Once Everything you Cherished is Gone by Chani Fifield

Read Chani’s piece

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May

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The Demon by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Sub Rosa by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

The Fisherman and the Hourglass of the Gods by James Wong

Read James’s piece

Living the Dream by Helen Miele

Read Helen’s piece

Under the Apple Tree by Juliet Robinson

Read Juliet’s piece

Charlie by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

The Burden by James Wong

Read James’ Piece

Sub Rosa by MaryPat Campbell

Read MaryPat’s piece

Dinner Date – a timed exercise by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

Sub Rosa by James Wong

Read James’ Piece

Popping In by MaryPat Campbell

Read MaryPat’s piece 

Sub Rosa by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

And the There were Three by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

The World of Unexpected Happenings by Maureen Marsh

 Listen to Maureen’s Piece

Urs by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

A Question of Happiness by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

Knock Knock by James Wong

Read James’ Piece

And in the End by Rosalyn Hurst

Read Rosalyn’s piece

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April

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Aid Work by Meredith Shepard 

Read Meredith’s piece

When Life Gives You Lemons by Jill Webb

 Listen to Jill’s Piece

Eye of the Beholder by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

The Colour of Egg Yolk by Meredith Shepard 

Read Meredith’s piece

Too Fast by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good by Francesca Ryan

 Read Francesca’s Piece

Bing, Bing, Bing by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

Surprise by Sue Hitchcock

Read Sue’s piece

After Bangkok by Sho Botham 

Read Sho’s piece

The Accused by Ivor John

Read Ivor’s piece

The Train to Alexandria by Lesley Dawson

Read Lesley’s piece

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March

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February

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January

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