“For many years, I have been wondering how I could turn the bag of letters written by my father, in West Africa between 1942 and 1944, into some kind of story.” That’s what someone told me an email I received last week. I was excited by the coincidence of this particular request coming in November, because every year in November I think about offering a month-long course* on making an heirloom of family stories. A family project of that kind seems like a good thing for people to do in the run-up to Chanukah / Xmas / Wotever. So I replied to the person who sent me the email - the daughter of the man who wrote the letters in West Africa during WW2. I asked her on WhatsApp if she would be happy for me to share some ideas with her semi-publicly, using my podcast. Why? Because I’m sure it could be useful to others who want to work up a story in some way - and not just a family story. ​Find out what happened. (Link to podcast.) - *Course. AKA entertainment, project, or extravaganza - doesn’t matter what you call it. But whatever you call it, it would be based on The Family Project, a book I co-wrote with my wife a few years ago, published jointly by The Guardian and Faber & Faber. ​
​ Special Projects MembersThat request (above) about working up the bag of letters was submitted to me by a long-time supporter of my Special Projects, in response to this offer by me: https://flintoff.org/1person1thing1hour​ COMING UP for Special Projects members:
Want to join Special Projects? Please send me an email and I’ll tell you how.​
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đź“– 7 Books in 16 languages đź“š including: How To Change The World A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech.
Today’s date: 17 Dec 2024 Hello Reader This is the December newsletter for Special Projects members. Thank you for being one. THIS WEEK(!) Writers Support Group Brought forward, this month only, to avoid Christmas. Thursday at the usual times: 12.30pm and 6pm. Zoom LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7115311619?pwd=wta0p6xSe094BJRc6SITM66aN8rglx.1 Meeting ID: 711 531 1619 Passcode: 349566 Behind the scenes: WRITING I went to a book launch last week - a book of photos by Don McCullin. I can’t say...
Yesterday I told you that my late father in law, Jack, could distinguish between 50 to 60 industrial grades of paper. That got me thinking. Recently, on LinkedIn, I mentioned that printed newspapers still seem wonderful to me - even accounting for stories and opinions within them that I don’t like so much. One of the people who commented on my LinkedIn post made an interesting distinction between digital media and putting something on paper. Print demonstrates a commitment, he said. There’s a...
Hello Reader Yesterday I sent out a newsletter confirming that the next Writers Support Group takes place on 28 November (at 12.30 and 6pm UK). Someone gently pointed out that I have previously suggested, somewhere or other, that it would take place on 21 Nov. Aaargh. . [ Flintoff takes a breath. ] . Sorry for the muddle. . Where possible (not December, what with Christmas) I'd like to stick to the Fourth Thursday each month. So please join me on 28th November. BUT as it happens I was already...