Frances Pamley
Love to Read, Love to Write
Fiction
Novels are my preferred reading and writing. I like characters with depth that take a novel-length time to develop, often to the surprise of the characters themselves. Building a sense of place, an intimacy of a home or natural environment can't be done without revisiting the location, observing the changes and reinforcing emotional attachments. The rhythm and pace is like a symphony, introducing themes and developing them before returning to a satisfying resolution.
So far I've written a few novels. The first one that's ready for publication, Are We Still Friends?, is a book group fiction about two friends trying to reconnect fifteen years after finding the school bully murdered on the common - Sally needs to know what really happened but Debbie most definitely does not.
Short story
Sometimes a short story is just what you need, like a song that lifts you spirits and stays in your head long after it's finished. Carefully selected words reshape preconceptions of what the story is about or what the characters will become, often accepting that, like life, not everything is going to make sense or be happy ever after. Simplicity is key and competitions like Globe Soup and NYC Midnight can be a lot of fun
I was a finalist in a WAWA competition and you can read my story about halfway down https://www.irelandwritingretreat.com/post/four-stories-from-wild-atlantic-writing-awards-time-competition.
I've also had short stories in anthologies and one is available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BZ94DDTZ?tag=uklinktagbk-21&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true
Poetry
Poetry is on my list of things to explore and, hopefully, improve. Some of my poetry ended up as successful songs, bringing together words and music while inviting the listener to collaborate by singing along.
I wrote a long rambling poem called I Hate Poetry after buying a book with a similar title that failed to address my concerns. Whilst writing my poem I realised that poetry requires an emotional connection, which, often, I'm reluctant to do. Maybe that's why I don't resonate with other people. Or maybe I just don't work hard enough at it.
I've performed at Word of Mouth in Bristol but, otherwise, my only public outing was on Radio Bristol after winning second prize in a junior school competition when I was eight.
Creative non-fiction
This is a new genre for me and I'm not quite sure how I'll approach it.
I'm finding more and more family tree stories that I'd like to share but I don't know whether it should be a dry discourse on Life on the North York Moors; semi-fictional ghosts commentating on generation after generation taking over the farmhouse; the farm itself expanding and contracting as evidenced through land documents, providing a backdrop to the tales I'm unearthing about the people who lived there.
Or should it be my personal journey of discovery, from searching microfiche in the library to seeing my 8th-great-grandparents initials carved into some polished wood and being granted access to five-centuries' worth of documentation pertaining to the family farm.
I've played with a few ideas and enjoyed finding out more so let's see where I end up.