Festival: An Approach to Writing

K. M. Lockwood (Philippa Francis)

You perch a red felt topper on your head. You assault your tongue with raging chillies; remind your nose about the earthiness of patchouli, let your ears be beguiled by a hurdy-gurdy and the squelch of juicy mud. It’s festival time.



You go large on everything. It’s your turn to belt out sea-shanties in the bay, put the world to rights until the dawn interrupts, take in other ways of being.

Let your imagination walk on stilts and juggle with flaming poi. 

Here’s glamour in every sense of the word. A cross between the raggle-taggle-gypsies-oh and the thrill of the circus. Yes, you’re allowed to stop up, eat too many messy vegan tacos with your fingers and get very, very drunk. Engage deeply with others you may never see again. Weep and dance and lie down like a child when you’re knackered. No wonder there’s a festival called Latitude.


 Let’s get the ostrich feathers, the glossy satin and the bogs in.

What if that spirit infused your writing? If on the inside you were the purple velvet gown-wearing witch or steampunk samurai prince you always wanted to be? Go on – get some out-there material into your story. Push every sense. Stuff the stinks and the scents in there. Diesel and musk roses. Let’s get the ostrich feathers, the glossy satin and the bogs in. Lemonade and miso soup can go in the mix too.

If you can blend Balkan beats with Bluegrass musically, you can mash-up Star Trek and Chaucer.

And what about genres? If you can blend Balkan beats with Bluegrass musically, you can mash-up Star Trek and Chaucer. Let your imagination walk on stilts and juggle with flaming poi. Try something new: make a foray into hardboiled crime, high fantasy or teen romance. Be warned: it might just refresh you – or it might lead you in a whole new direction.

Look! They are rolling up the painted yurts. Will you follow them?



K. M. Lockwood is a writing name of Philippa R. Francis. As well as being a regular contributor, Philippa (@lockwoodwriter) also tweets as @Words8Pictures helping to maintain our 'Industry news' feed.

3 comments:

  1. Yo, Philippa. Sounds like you're having one helluva summer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love it! And you practice what you preach, Philippa - you tiara wearing mermaid you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mashing up Star Trek and Chaucer - now there's an idea ripe for the picking!

    ReplyDelete

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