KITCHEN TABLE MENTORING and Notepad Programme for Writers

                           KITCHEN TABLE WRITERS 

Mentoring 

and

 manuscript appraisal

 From  NINA MILTON MA (Creative Writing)

Experienced, qualified, published writer

…Embark on Nina Milton…and you won’t stop reading… 

(Naomi Lewis, Sunday Observer)

MY GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT WILL HELP YOU ENHANCE

 YOUR WRITING SKILLS AND BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE

I like to encourage students to experiment with a personal voice that will make their writing unique to them, while offering strong technical advice that will support their development.

I have been writing fiction since my reception teacher, Mrs Marsden, put paper and pencil in front of me and asked us all to write a story. Suddenly I grasped that real live people were responsible for all those lovely books.

I am most well known for my crime fiction, the Shaman Mysteries Series (Midnight Ink Books, Llewellyn Worldwide), a crime fiction series featuring a therapeutic shaman called Sabbie Dare. There are four books in the series so far: In the Moor, On the Gallows (Unraveled Vision in the US edition), Beneath the Tor and Thought the Floodgate. I  also write for children between 9 and 13 years, including Sweet & Sour, (HarperCollins)  and Just My Luck, (Thornberry Publishing).

Like a lot of writers, I began by being published in magazines, and have continued to write short stories. My stories regularly appear in British anthologies and include award-winners in The Crossroads Competition, Kent Festival Prize and the Wells Literary Short Story Prize. 

In 2004 I gained an MA in Creative Writing with Bath Spa University and since then I’ve tutored with the OCA and enjoyed running creative writing workshops. I also write course materials for the OCA.

Although I was born, educated and raised my two children in the city of Bristol, I now live in west Wales with my husband James, where we grow our own veg and walk our dog, Luci.

I’m always writing, in production now is my latest novel; The Wrong That I Did is my first book for a 14+ age range, set in the world of County Lines.

My mentoring programme is flexible and reasonable. Students are encouraged to send work when it is ready for appraisal. I’ll look at any prose writing; short stories, nonfiction, novels and novellas.

If you have trouble getting going, especially if you have a busy life, my KITCHEN TABLE NOTEPAD PROGRAMME will  enable you to work though exercises and produce writing that you might not have thought yourself capable. 

Fees are the same for both systems. 

PRICING STRUCTURE

Mentoring

For ongoing support

The student chooses when to send work.

Work of up to 5,000 words:  £50 or pro-rata.

Turn around in 28 days.

KITCHEN TABLE NOTEPAD PROGRAMME

Receive each programme, and create work from it; 

Up to 5000 words:  £50 or pro-rata.  Turn around in 28 days.

Manuscript Appraisal

For completed novels

Up to 70,000 words. £500

Up to 100,000 words/312 pages: £615.00

Up to 150,000 words/468 pages: £750.00
Up to 200,000 words/625 pages: £950.00
10% off for existing clients.

For full details on each service, contact; 

kitchentablewriters@live.com

 Contract for Kitchen Table Writers

KITCHEN TABLE WRITERS

NINA MILTON MA

Mentoring & manuscript appraisal

Our Agreement…

You send me your work.

By post – please keep a copy as I cannot be responsible for its arrival or its return via the postal system.GB writers should enclose an SAE. Overseas writers should include the cost of P&P in their payment (not relevant for Notepad Programmes)

By email attachment, Word Document, to kitchentablewriters@live.com

Please pay by PayPal payable to Nina Milton or bank credit

I will spend as long as I need appraising the manuscript, but no longer than 28 days.

The Fees cover…

• Reading the manuscript twice. 
• Annotating the manuscript with any relevant comments. 
• Reading any ongoing ‘Plot Outline’ or synopsis.
• A full, thorough report which documents my comments on the ms.
• Editing of the manuscript – I can’t guarantee that my editing will be equal to a complete proofread, but should help correct general errors.
• One video chat or telephone conversation, if you should wish it per submission, to discuss anything I’ve suggested.
• You can also email me as much as you like.
• I will always offer full support and advice on writing around these submissions. 

Mentoring is payable on your receipt of submission (i.e.when you get the work back)

KITCHEN TABLE WRITERS IS A FLEXIBLE SERVICE: DO PHONE TO DISCUSS YOUR PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS

                        NINA MILTON'S

          KITCHEN TABLE NOTEPADS:

     A MENTORING  PROGRAMME FOR 

                  CREATIVE WRITERS 

                   WHO WANT TO GET 

                             PUBLISHED

…Embark on Nina Milton…and you won’t stop reading… (Naomi Lewis, Sunday Observer)

The Kitchen Table Notepad is a unique approach which allows new writers to gain confidence skills and strategies to get them on the road to good creative writing.

I hold an  MA in Creative Writing and am a Fellow of the The Higher Education Authority. I've been working with students of writing for over ten years, and also write coursework for all degree levels. 

The Notepad comes in seven parts, sent as email attachment or by post. Each Part is designed to set the new writer on the road to creating good prose writing of any length and any genre for adults.

When you sign up to the Programme, you will receive, one by one as you progress, the seven Notepads which are packed with good advice, technical, creative and practical, exercises, project work and a unit-by-unit building of the subtle understandings of writing fiction. Each part functions as a text book, research document and exercise book in one by combining three elements:

• A modular approach. Skills and techniques are constructed and re-constructed until they feel ‘natural’. Each Notepad has flexible and inventive exercises (writing, reading, reflecting and researching) that can be used to further a project already started or to spark new ideas and inspire writing.

• An emphasis on using intuitive, imaginative and other psychologically enticing techniques to enhance confidence and eradicate the ‘blank page’ syndrome.

• Almost all aspects of creative writing; style, structure, plot, inventing characters etc can be improved by right and left brain perceptions, which are clarified then utilized throughout Notepad Programme.

• The Kitchen Table Notepads:

1 Developing and monitoring your progress

2 Developing your characters

3 Developing landscape and location

4 Developing your plot

5 Developing scenes and dialogue

6 Developing your narrative

7 Learning to Fly

The style is personal and directed
 at the reader as a potential writer.

Your mentor for this programme is me, Nina Milton. I researched and wrote  the Notepads and I will appraise the work you do after each of the 7 notepads myself. The theme is primarily the creation of fictional works, both full-length and short, but there are also sections on poetry, autobiography, screenwriting, blogging and non-fiction. Each Notepad, around 8,000+ words of advice, offers a similar layout and structure, making it easy to use and return to:

                                            

• Space for the writer to work with their own writing  
•   Mentoring: I read and comment on 7 submissions                                           

• Exercises

• Techniques and Guidelines

• Research and other evidence-based work

• Reading guide

• Advice and Instruction: writing skills and comprehension build during the Programme's modules

• A broad examination of the parts of writing, including forms, genres, histories and styles

• Exploration of right and left brain techniques, motivation and confidence building.    

Writers have been sending me their work and coming to my workshops and talks for half a decade now.

 Below are just some of the many positive comments I've received...

...I was delighted with your comments and ticks, as well as feeling very willing to take your fiurther suggestions on board... You seem to be on my wavelength to have appreciated this work so well, or given your experience of writing and tutoring, very capable of getting on different wavelengths...Your comments were not only enjoyable to read but they helped me enjoy the story as well as opening new doors...(Roger, OCA Student)

At last I'm almost ready to make my Notepad 2 submission. I've been working on another story and am completely re-writing the opening to improve it, so I'll include this with a future Notepad submission. Your Notepads and blogsite is so inspirational! (Kate, overseas Notepad student)

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for yesterday - 'Discover your Creative Self'. I got a lot out of it and I think you have a real talent for engaging and inspiring students. When I think of the cash I've blown at prestige workshops...you knocked them all into a cocked hat...(Sally, Workshopper)

You became all I could have wished for, knowledgeable, friendly, supportive, perceptive, encouraging and very professional... I have a great respect for you opinion on my work ... (Tasmin, OCA Student)

Your outside, fresh perspective has sent me in the right direction more than once. I feel my writing is more organized and deliberate since I started this course. (Peter, OCA Student)

Thank you for another instructive - and inspiring - workshop and for creating an environment where people could share ideas - and their writing - in a productive and positive way. Still not quite sure what direction the next book will take but am writing snippets as they come to me and waiting to see what develops. I think the main thing I got out of the workshop, and talking to people who are just starting their books, is that its important to just enjoy the writing and not get too hung up on the outcome. Something its easy to forget. Take care and lots of love Lin (workshopper)

Just a note to thank you for your feedback. Insightful as ever. I would’ve smacked my forehead had I not been in the bath – of course you are right about moving things about. It's going to read much better when I've done that. (Nicki, Notepad student)

Contact Nina for the full details, including the contract, at kitchentablewriters@live.com

See my CV below for my full writing history.

2016
Midnight Ink (Llewellyn Worldwide) THE SHAMAN MYSTERY SERIES No 3 Beneath the Tor

2014
Midnight Ink (Llewellyn Worldwide) THE SHAMAN MYSTERY SERIES No 2 Unravelled Visions

(On the Gallows in the UK)

2013
Midnight Ink  (Llewellyn Worldwide) THE SHAMAN MYSTERY SERIES No 1; In the Moors

Tangent Press UNCHAINED anthology 2 short stories

THE OPEN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS collaboration on course work module Stages 1, 2 & 3

2012
Chuffed Buff Books YOU ME & A BIT OF WE:  short story

2011 Thornberry Press  Tough Luck  9+ children’s novel

SCRIPTOR (Edition 9) 2 short stories

2010:
Earlyworks Press Anthology SEA GOD short story due out 2011
SCRIPTOR  (Edition 8) SCENES IN A BEDROOM short story
Scribble - Summer edition THE ENGLISH NATIONAL COSTUME short story
Leaf Writing Magazine issue one THE MAGIC PEN – Article
Avalon Magazine Spring 2010 Summer Solstice on Windmill Hill - Article


FACT&FICTION magazine - article
Poems X2

2000 to 2008:
BELLA magazine short stories ( 12 stories published over five years)
WOMAN’S REALM short stories
QWF 1 story ACUMEN 1 story
FACT&FICTION article
WATERMARK Short Story Anthology
PRIZE WINNER: First Prize Wells Literary Festival Short Story Competition
QUALIFICATION: M.A. in Creative Writing Bath Spa University
TUTORING: Open College of the Arts. Bristol Folk House.

1995 to 1999:

HarperCollins Sweet’n’Sour 9+ children’s novel
BELLA short stories
JUST SEVENTEEN short stories CANDIS short stories
VARIOUS SMALL PRESS MAGAZINES short stories.
BEST NEW FICTION short story anthology
BRISTOL EVENING POST regular column
PRIZEWINNER: First Prize CROSSROADS Literary Nonfiction Essay
2nd Prize Kent Literary Festival Short Story Competition
3rd Prize Sutton Writers Competition
QUALIFICATION: ‘Artists and Writers in Schools’ UWE Cert
TUTORING: Various Schools ‘writing workshops’ (marketing my fiction)
OTHER: Southern Exam Board, Sweet’n’Sour used in GCSE exam paper

PRIOR TO 1995:
 Gazelle Intergalactic Holiday 7+ children’s novel
Unicorn Productions 3 11+ Children’s Novels, with Audio Tapes
Believing in Miracles
Buried Gold
Swimming the bay
BELLA short stories ANNABEL, short stories
WOMAN AND COUNTRY articles EVERYWOMAN articles
PRIZE WINNER: Short Listed – Kathleen Fidler Award, novel for children 8+
2nd Prize Tees Valley Writer Literary Competition
3rd Prize Kent Literary Festival Short Story Competition
Runner Up Various Short Story Competitions