In 2014 I started taking writing a lot more seriously and reduced the hours of my “day job” from 37.5 to 30 – basically stopping work on Mondays. It was the best thing I ever did. I immediately started to get involved in more “writerly things”, the first being arranging to meet up for a coffee and cake with the women who run the Bath Short Story Award, while hubby and I were on a little holiday down there. From there, everything seemed to snowball and I started getting involved a lot more.
Fast forward a bit and I was texting the infamous June Palmer. Not the porn star one (see June’s profile!) but our very own poet one, and went along to a meeting of City Voices. I loved it from the very first time. Everyone was so friendly. Not long after joining they asked me to be Vice Chair and the rest, as they say, is history. Time has flown by but we have done so much and had some incredible guest workshop facilitators, speakers, readers etc etc.
Nowadays, not many weeks go by where I am not doing something writerly, like going to festivals and retreats, reading at literary events, and now, of course, busying myself with my own Creative Writing Workshops.
Finding time to concentrate on my bigger projects and longer term goals is sometimes a challenge, but I am having so much fun on the way.
Fast forward a bit and I was texting the infamous June Palmer. Not the porn star one (see June’s profile!) but our very own poet one, and went along to a meeting of City Voices. I loved it from the very first time. Everyone was so friendly. Not long after joining they asked me to be Vice Chair and the rest, as they say, is history. Time has flown by but we have done so much and had some incredible guest workshop facilitators, speakers, readers etc etc.
Nowadays, not many weeks go by where I am not doing something writerly, like going to festivals and retreats, reading at literary events, and now, of course, busying myself with my own Creative Writing Workshops.
Finding time to concentrate on my bigger projects and longer term goals is sometimes a challenge, but I am having so much fun on the way.
Profile - Debbi Voisey
How long have you been with the group? Just over 3 years (I think!)
What kind of writing do you mostly do? Short stories, novels, flash fiction
Are you published in print? If so, what, and where can we buy your work? –
Are you published online? If so, please let us have the titles and links to your work?
You can find a link to all my work – which I update from time to time – on my website here
www.debbivoisey.co.uk/my-writing-1
Do you regularly enter national or international competitions?
Too often!
Do you submit your work to literary magazines?
See above.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I have a few things on the go: a novella in flash, 2 novels, various short stories and flash. I also spend a lot of time working on my creative writing workshops, which I run every 4 weeks at Hanley library. Details are on my website www.debbivoisey.co.uk if you fancy coming along and learning all aspects of creative writing, and producing lots of new pieces.
What is your greatest achievement as a writer so far – what are you proudest of?
Every piece published means a success to me. My first ever published story was in the Bath Short Story Anthology 2015 so I am pleased with that, and the best award that I was absent for was when I won the 2016 Staffs Too Write Short Story Award run by The Sentinel and Staffs Uni. My mum and dad went to represent me so I was very proud that I won and made my dad cry.
What is the best thing about being part of City Voices? Anything the group has done that you have enjoyed the most?
I like running workshops, and also being part of the audience at other people’s. I also love our literary events that we run as a group, and being MC. Being on a stage in front of people is something that I apparently love – who knew? Being in City Voices has also meant I have had lots of opportunities to read in public, and even on the radio.
What do you hope to achieve in the future, either as part of the group or on a personal level as a writer?
Echoing June Palmer I would like to see CV get involved in more events in the community, to spread the love of writing and to get more people involved. On a personal level I would love to have my novella in flash and novels published, but that is probably not happening any time soon. It’s a tough world out there.
Which writer/book has influenced you most as a writer?
The writer solely responsible for making me want to pursue what was once just a hobby is Stephen King. The way he creates characters is an inspiration to me and something that I have striven to emulate. Every one of his characters comes alive and you care about them, even if that caring is limited to wanting to see them suffer and die! That’s the mark of a great character and a great writer.
Which books you would recommend?
I find books are very subjective, but I love most things by Stephen King (except his fantasy), Joseph O’Connor and Roddy Doyle. I do try to read the current “lists” from various novel awards, but find I read collections/novellas of flash or short stories mostly. There are so many great ones out there lately.
What advice would you give someone starting out in creative writing?
Listen to the advice that other, more experienced, writers give you because most of them know what they are talking about. Never take critique personally, but embrace it because if you treat it well, it will most definitely make you a better writer. No one should publish their first draft of any story or novel. If they do they are either superhuman and never put a word down wrongly, or very foolish. It’s tempting to be impatient because you get swept up in your excitement and eagerness for people to read what you have written. With self-publishing, there is no one invested in your work enough to advise you. You are alone. So get a couple of people to read with an objective eye (don’t trust your family and friends who adore you and think you poo golden nuggets! Ha ha).
Above all though, have fun! If you are in the writing game to be rich and famous, you are in the wrong game. But boy, it can be rewarding and can enrich you in many other ways.
How long have you been with the group? Just over 3 years (I think!)
What kind of writing do you mostly do? Short stories, novels, flash fiction
Are you published in print? If so, what, and where can we buy your work? –
Are you published online? If so, please let us have the titles and links to your work?
You can find a link to all my work – which I update from time to time – on my website here
www.debbivoisey.co.uk/my-writing-1
Do you regularly enter national or international competitions?
Too often!
Do you submit your work to literary magazines?
See above.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I have a few things on the go: a novella in flash, 2 novels, various short stories and flash. I also spend a lot of time working on my creative writing workshops, which I run every 4 weeks at Hanley library. Details are on my website www.debbivoisey.co.uk if you fancy coming along and learning all aspects of creative writing, and producing lots of new pieces.
What is your greatest achievement as a writer so far – what are you proudest of?
Every piece published means a success to me. My first ever published story was in the Bath Short Story Anthology 2015 so I am pleased with that, and the best award that I was absent for was when I won the 2016 Staffs Too Write Short Story Award run by The Sentinel and Staffs Uni. My mum and dad went to represent me so I was very proud that I won and made my dad cry.
What is the best thing about being part of City Voices? Anything the group has done that you have enjoyed the most?
I like running workshops, and also being part of the audience at other people’s. I also love our literary events that we run as a group, and being MC. Being on a stage in front of people is something that I apparently love – who knew? Being in City Voices has also meant I have had lots of opportunities to read in public, and even on the radio.
What do you hope to achieve in the future, either as part of the group or on a personal level as a writer?
Echoing June Palmer I would like to see CV get involved in more events in the community, to spread the love of writing and to get more people involved. On a personal level I would love to have my novella in flash and novels published, but that is probably not happening any time soon. It’s a tough world out there.
Which writer/book has influenced you most as a writer?
The writer solely responsible for making me want to pursue what was once just a hobby is Stephen King. The way he creates characters is an inspiration to me and something that I have striven to emulate. Every one of his characters comes alive and you care about them, even if that caring is limited to wanting to see them suffer and die! That’s the mark of a great character and a great writer.
Which books you would recommend?
I find books are very subjective, but I love most things by Stephen King (except his fantasy), Joseph O’Connor and Roddy Doyle. I do try to read the current “lists” from various novel awards, but find I read collections/novellas of flash or short stories mostly. There are so many great ones out there lately.
What advice would you give someone starting out in creative writing?
Listen to the advice that other, more experienced, writers give you because most of them know what they are talking about. Never take critique personally, but embrace it because if you treat it well, it will most definitely make you a better writer. No one should publish their first draft of any story or novel. If they do they are either superhuman and never put a word down wrongly, or very foolish. It’s tempting to be impatient because you get swept up in your excitement and eagerness for people to read what you have written. With self-publishing, there is no one invested in your work enough to advise you. You are alone. So get a couple of people to read with an objective eye (don’t trust your family and friends who adore you and think you poo golden nuggets! Ha ha).
Above all though, have fun! If you are in the writing game to be rich and famous, you are in the wrong game. But boy, it can be rewarding and can enrich you in many other ways.