Sim Alec Sansford's Blog
May 29, 2020
The Storm had hit
Now, this is an interesting one... out of the many things I have written over my teen years, and my time studying Creative Writing with Open University, The Storm happened to be the first I had ever shared publicly.
When I heard about my local writing group in early 2019 I was hit with mild panic as I was informed 'the meeting is tonight if you would like to attend.' I had been suffering from severe writer's block for a VERY long time and was determined not to turn up empty-handed.
I riffled through the shelves in my home office, throwing around old notebooks and folders desperately trying to find a poem I had written a few years prior that I determined was 'pretty good.' Running late, as is custom, and with the poem nowhere to be found (in fact I believe the notebook still alludes me to this day), I grabbed the nearest wadge of paper and made for the door.
When I got to the meeting I sat, rather awkwardly, and quite possibly red-faced, as I heard the most amazing pieces of poetry and prose. Some dark, some sad, and some incredibly funny. All of a sudden it was my turn to share, I took a deep breath and read the story on the paper in front of me.
You guessed it... The Storm.
The reaction was amazing, I don't think I will ever forget that... and the best part was I wasn't just hearing 'good job' or 'well done', I was being asked questions about my writing process.
Where did the story come from?
Had I ever experienced what the character was going through?
From that point I decided I had to find a way to get my story published online, I knew I needed to share it with people that could relate, or readers that perhaps just wanted to feel something... be changed... inspired.
Since publishing the short I not only had cancer survivors compliment me on the relatability of my character but also people telling me they had been inspired to enter writing competitions or pursue something they had always wanted to do by watching my journey online.
It was incredible.
I decided to donate all the royalties I received from the title to cancer research, who dedicate their lives to helping thousands of people across the globe.
So tell me...
What's something unexpected that has changed your life for the better?
Let me know in the comments.
To find out more about Cancer Research visit https://www.cancerresearchuk.org
For a copy of The Storm head on over to mybook.to/TheStormShortStory
When I heard about my local writing group in early 2019 I was hit with mild panic as I was informed 'the meeting is tonight if you would like to attend.' I had been suffering from severe writer's block for a VERY long time and was determined not to turn up empty-handed.
I riffled through the shelves in my home office, throwing around old notebooks and folders desperately trying to find a poem I had written a few years prior that I determined was 'pretty good.' Running late, as is custom, and with the poem nowhere to be found (in fact I believe the notebook still alludes me to this day), I grabbed the nearest wadge of paper and made for the door.
When I got to the meeting I sat, rather awkwardly, and quite possibly red-faced, as I heard the most amazing pieces of poetry and prose. Some dark, some sad, and some incredibly funny. All of a sudden it was my turn to share, I took a deep breath and read the story on the paper in front of me.
You guessed it... The Storm.
The reaction was amazing, I don't think I will ever forget that... and the best part was I wasn't just hearing 'good job' or 'well done', I was being asked questions about my writing process.
Where did the story come from?
Had I ever experienced what the character was going through?
From that point I decided I had to find a way to get my story published online, I knew I needed to share it with people that could relate, or readers that perhaps just wanted to feel something... be changed... inspired.
Since publishing the short I not only had cancer survivors compliment me on the relatability of my character but also people telling me they had been inspired to enter writing competitions or pursue something they had always wanted to do by watching my journey online.
It was incredible.
I decided to donate all the royalties I received from the title to cancer research, who dedicate their lives to helping thousands of people across the globe.
So tell me...
What's something unexpected that has changed your life for the better?
Let me know in the comments.
To find out more about Cancer Research visit https://www.cancerresearchuk.org
For a copy of The Storm head on over to mybook.to/TheStormShortStory
The calm before The Storm
I'll be honest, ever since I was a child I always knew that I wanted to write... and not just write, I wanted to be an author.
Books were then (and are still to this day) my true calling. How can I ever forget the elation I felt from getting lost on some wild adventure amongst the pages... staying up way past lights out just to get another chapter in. I couldn't get enough.
To me, books are magic.
Yes, to be an author was THE DREAM, and there came a time in my early twenties where I thought that maybe a dream was all it would ever be.
Fast forward a few years and I not only have two published stories, but I am also one-fifth of the team responsible for our town's FIRST EVER literary festival.
I honestly can't quite believe the surge my confidence has taken just by sharing my work with the world, and I mean in every aspect of my life. Although it is still a struggle, I am finally starting to believe in my achievements and learn not to make comparisons between myself and others.
As a young writer, I was always terrified to share ideas for both fears of rejection and fear that my stories would perhaps be stolen by another aspiring author. I realise how silly that is now.
The key is to share your ideas, share your stories, poems, characters, worlds. Make them known. The feedback is crucial to building the foundations of great writing and self-belief.
To anyone reading this that has ever just wanted to do something, say something, but has been held back by their insecurities, in the words of Shia LaBeouf - JUST DO IT!
Trust me, you'll feel so much better.
Books were then (and are still to this day) my true calling. How can I ever forget the elation I felt from getting lost on some wild adventure amongst the pages... staying up way past lights out just to get another chapter in. I couldn't get enough.
To me, books are magic.
Yes, to be an author was THE DREAM, and there came a time in my early twenties where I thought that maybe a dream was all it would ever be.
Fast forward a few years and I not only have two published stories, but I am also one-fifth of the team responsible for our town's FIRST EVER literary festival.
I honestly can't quite believe the surge my confidence has taken just by sharing my work with the world, and I mean in every aspect of my life. Although it is still a struggle, I am finally starting to believe in my achievements and learn not to make comparisons between myself and others.
As a young writer, I was always terrified to share ideas for both fears of rejection and fear that my stories would perhaps be stolen by another aspiring author. I realise how silly that is now.
The key is to share your ideas, share your stories, poems, characters, worlds. Make them known. The feedback is crucial to building the foundations of great writing and self-belief.
To anyone reading this that has ever just wanted to do something, say something, but has been held back by their insecurities, in the words of Shia LaBeouf - JUST DO IT!
Trust me, you'll feel so much better.
