How to stop staring at a blank page and become a writer!

Stop the press

 

I have decided to change the name of our next Word of Mouth event to: How to stop staring at a blank page and become a writer.

Why? Because this is a more accurate description of what we are going to be talking about and much more positive. Writer, Lisa Cherry, is going to be speaking to us about battling adversity but ultimately, as with all the Word of Mouth events we like to celebrate where someone is now.

The previous title was too gloomy: My journey through adversity, and only really scratched the surface of what Lisa Cherry is about. It is no lie that Lisa has had to face a lot in her life, being in care, alcoholism and cancer but as Fe-line Women’s mission is to celebrate the awesome things that women are doing, this shouldn’t be our focal point.

I can’t think of anyone better to come and talk to us about writing; Lisa is about to release her second book, The Brightness of Stars: Stories of adults who came through the British care system and she already runs her own writers workshops.

So if you are sitting at home and thinking, I wish I could be a writer then come along to How to stop staring at a blank page and become a writer on 26th March at 7:30pm. We meet at The Port Mahon, on St Clements Street, Oxford and tickets are only £5. Visit the event page for more details and to book your ticket.

Can’t wait to see you there,

Word of Mouth is a women’s group with a difference. Come along and pick up tips, get inspiration and meet like minded people. Many of us don’t live in the same places as our mothers, sister, aunties and cousins any more, but we all have skills we can share and support that we can give each other. But there is no hard sell, there are no subscriptions fees, come when you want, for a topic that interests you. Find out more.

 

What International Women’s Day means to me

Happy International Women’s Day Fe-liners.

I have spent many years fascinated with the question of gender. I studied gender history at university and I later worked for a women’s charity and more recently started Fe-line Women.

For International Women’s Day this year a lot of people asked me to organise events for various different reasons and causes and I have decided to decline. Not because I don’t care but because I didn’t want to just do something for the sake of it and I needed to work out what International Women’s Day means to me and the cat.

So what does International Women’s Day mean to me, well I think that it creates a wonderful chance to celebrate all of the amazing things that women are doing around the world. And there are some many great events going on at this time of year. But the whole reason for Fe-line Women is I think that everyday should be International Women’s Day.

Fe-line Women is all about shouting about the amazing things that women are doing all year round. Today there are plenty of positive female friendly spaces all across Oxford and all across the rest of the world. What I want to do is fill the lull between now and the next 8th March with articles, interviews and talks from amazing women to continue the great work that is started today, so we don’t forget.

Every month I organise a Word of Mouth event in Oxford, where we hear stories from inspirational women. Rather than organise something special for today I wanted to look forward to our next event at the end of the month, My journey through adversity with the fantastic Lisa Cherry. If you have been inspired by International Women’s Day then why don’t you join me and continue celebrating the wonderful things that women are doing by coming to Word of Mouth and reading the Fe-line Women blog.

This does not mean that me and the cat are staying in and putting our feet up tonight. We are looking forward to heading out and celebrating International Women’s Day with the women of Oxford. I will be attending the Oxford Reclaim the Night march and the main Oxford International Women’s Festival event. Reclaim the Night is a women-only march against sexual violence and for gender equality. If anyone wants to join the Fe-line contingent, we are meeting in The Rusty Bicycle on Magdalen Road between 5:30-6:20pm to embark on the march at 6:30pm from the corner of Cowley Road and Magdalen Road. Find out more and share the event on Facebook.

Until tonight my lovely Fe-liners,