Tell Us A Story is coming to Lennoxtown Library
Tell Us A Story is coming to Lennoxtown Library
Blogs are something I absolutely love to write. I never know what they’re going to be about. Sometimes it’s something that’s happened, an observation I’ve made, or telling you about the books I’m writing. Then there are blogs like this, when I have a big, exciting announcement to make.
On 9th September, from 6 pm to 8 pm, Lennoxtown Library, East Dunbartonshire, will host my first Tell Us a Story – an open mic evening for writers. It’s simple. You’ve written it, now share it. A novel you’ve written or hope to write, a chapter you’ve started, a short story, a poem, part of a longer talk you want to try out. So long as you can tell us your story in less than five minutes.
Let me tell you why I’m doing this.
Long before I was writing books, I trained people. My working background is in learning and development, and I loved helping people find their confidence, their voice, and the courage to speak out in their workplace. It’s always been the part of my work I love the most. Seeing people blossom and become the best version of themselves and knowing you have helped them is priceless.
That’s another reason why these events are free to attend.
Let me share a secret with you. I was once the person scared to share my own writing. I was afraid to stand up and read something I’d written out loud in front of other people. Yes, me, the woman who now runs workshops and speaks at festivals, can still remember the first time I had to deliver a talk in public. I thought it was going to be a little chat with a few people around the table. It turned out it was in a college auditorium, full of people listening to my words of wisdom as I explained to them how to integrate Workplace Core Skills into Scottish Vocational Qualifications. Some of you may know the vocational qualifications; others may not. But what you can imagine is how I felt, two months after moving from England to Scotland, still with my very broad Yorkshire accent, talking to people from across the country delivering these qualifications. I had to explain something that should have been happening, but wasn’t.
I had looked at things with a fresh pair of eyes and with my lived-in experience of delivering Key Skills and National Vocational Qualifications in England. Different names, but the principles were the same. I knew my stuff. I had written the documentation, the guidance notes, and the working examples for others to use. I just needed to share my ideas. In that big auditorium. With hundreds of people who didn’t know me.
What happened?
I was certainly glad that there was a lectern, as there was no way I could hold my notes without them shaking or me dropping them. I looked out at all those faces, opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Nothing. Not a single word. Maybe a little squeak.
I looked helplessly to where I knew my new boss and a colleague were sitting. What did they do? They smiled at me. Genuine smiles. They wanted to hear me. They knew what I had to say. They wanted me to be OK.
I took a deep breath. Looked around. And spoke. I shared all my ideas, experiences, and thoughts. I then opened the floor to question time. And do you know what? There wasn’t a single question I didn’t know, because I had done my research, had my examples and knew that what I was suggesting would work.
Workplace Core Skills are still being integrated into Scottish Vocational Qualifications now.
So yes, I know exactly what that fear feels like. And how it feels to finally let it go. That’s what Tell Us a Story is for. It’s not a competition. It’s not about being polished, or published, or perfect. It’s a safe, comfortable, joyful space for writers of every level. I’m hoping that seasoned writers, the just-starting-out, the confident, and the quietly terrified, will come along and share five minutes of their own work with people who genuinely want to hear them.
And when you, yes, you, the person who thinks they can’t do that, comes along and sees an audience of smiling faces, you will leave feeling that you have climbed your own mountain.
Sign-up will be first-come-first-served on the night, and I’ll be there too, ready to read if the room needs a nudge to get started.
These events will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, rotating between Lennoxtown, Bishopbriggs, Milngavie, William Patrick Kirkintilloch, and Bearsden Libraries. Come along to one, or come along to them all.
I was so excited to share this with you that I’ve told you all about it before the Eventbrite posts have been created by the Library. Watch this space.
Come along. Read something. Or just come and listen — that counts too. All I ask is that you stay for the whole event, even if you’re the first reader. Support everyone who is reading. Encourage those who think they can’t to believe they can. And applaud everyone who has the bravery to do so. And remember, smiling at a nervous speaker can make absolutely all the difference as to whether they just give squeaks or fine spoken words that they have written.
Tell Us a Story — Lennoxtown Library, 9th September, 6 pm–8 pm.
Thank you for reading. Don't forget to leave a comment on the blog, then I know I'm not the only person reading it!
Debra x