Live Well Writers

For the best part of a year, I’ve had the pleasure of running weekly writing sessions in the Live Well Hub, where members of our community come together to write, share ideas and enjoy a coffee or two. It’s been my pleasure to host these sessions and hear the stories of people impacted by cancer, whether fiction or non-fiction.

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Meet the Live Well Writers

In a recent session, I asked the group to write six 100-word pieces about different topics, including one about themselves as a Live Well Writer.

With no further ado, let’s find out a little more about our regulars…

Barbara

I am one of the Live Well Writers and I have learned a lot since joining the group. It has given me a different view on writing. Because we do timed exercises in the group we just have to ‘get on with it’. Not knowing what the subject is in advance, means having to quickly think what to write. We can also do more considered work for our homework. I find the group discussions very helpful, and everyone has something to contribute. Sharing our different experiences is always interesting and educational.

Chika

Live Well Writers is a place where I feel safe to express my feelings. It seems other people feel the same way too and they really love to come here to join in the sessions. My family member has cancer, but I don’t want to worry anyone, so I don’t always tell my feelings. I’ve experienced difficult times when telling people what I have been through. In this place, everyone knows in their own way how it feels. Also to write it all down helps me reflect on myself. Although writing can often be challenging for me, the facilitator is flexible and never pushes anyone to do anything we are not comfortable with.

Gillian

When I was at school, I enjoyed English. I was good at it and wrote stories and poetry with great enthusiasm, if not much talent. I have always enjoyed reading, and throughout my life had many favourite authors. This eventually stopped – I didn’t have the time for stuff like that as I was a very busy wife, mother and career woman. I slowed down when I retired, but I was still busy and had lots I had to do. It all stopped when I developed cancer.  My life changed completely, and I began to think of the things I had once enjoyed. I found out about the Live Well Writers and, with a lot of misgivings, I joined. I am having such a good time now. I love to write and express myself on paper in a way that I never had before. I can write poetry, and stories, I can even write limericks. My confidence is increasing in leaps and bounds. I am not the person that I was. I am more.

John

I’ve done a few creative writing classes, some have been absolutely terrible and others have been brilliant. My experience and enjoyment of Live Well Writers have boosted my confidence both internally (with regards to writing how I feel) and externally (when I’m required to read out my written pieces). My confidence has grown beyond what I expected and I’m a more open person because of the feelings, situations and subjects I’ve written about.  In the past, the writing groups have given me loads of time to construct my pieces, but at Live Well, we’re often given around ten minutes to write a given number of words. It’s helped me understand and cope with working under pressure, even though the time limits can be extended when we need it.

Shona

I’ve wanted to write to write a book since I was about 10 years old, but I always felt I was never good enough. Though, I’ve always been a ‘dear diary’ type of girl, keeping each diary, to go through one day! I’ve attended many writing groups, hoping to kickstart my writing career, and I’m focused and enthusiastic for a while and then self-doubt causes me to stop going and lose interest. I can’t remember why or who encouraged me to join Live Well Writers, but I loved the idea of my cancer story being in an anthology funded by Catherine Cookson! An author I’d read as a young adult. I already trusted the Live Well team, so much so that Tuesdays are my time to reflect, write and build friendships.

Meet the Facilitator

Another exercise was to write 100 words about me as a facilitator – under the pretence of getting testimonials, but really because I wanted my ego massaged. The result was some very touching words and the first poem that has ever been written about me, courtesy of John.  

Gillian

I joined this group with not many expectations. I had not written anything since I was at school (many years ago) and felt stupid and old fashioned. Ben very quickly changed my mind. His enthusiasm and quick-fire way of teaching have inspired me to write in ways I had not dreamed that I could. He brings a friendly, chatty, and gleeful humour to our group that sets our imagination alight, and his belief in us has pushed us to excel in and surpass our wildest expectations. In addition to that, his coffee is to die for.

Chika

In Live Well Writers, Ben’s facilitation is open and encouraging. He shares his own opinion and tells us what he thinks in a relaxed way, but he doesn’t criticise or judge anything. He’s there, always in a good mood. It seems like Ben keeps the joy of imagining and the pleasure of spinning stories that we all used to have. For me, it’s a place and time where I feel truly relaxed and secure thanks to his positive attitude. It’s educational, yet above all enjoyable, with everyone’s laughter and smiles.

Shona

Ben is hard to explain, at least for me, and that’s a good thing I assure you. Every time we meet, I learn something else about him. Something he has seen, been, heard or done. An absolute big kid at heart, full of joy and dreams, this is the trait I’m in awe of the most, he has not lost his magical childhood joy of questioning and wonder. He has a passion not only to encourage and improve himself, but also those close to and around him. He’s caring, intuitive, kind and a cheeky bugger to boot! I never fail to smile when I work with him.

Barbara

Ben leads our Live Well Writers group. He is always encouraging, with a positive attitude. In discussions about our work, he might suggest how we can expand on a theme or point out where we can take something in a different direction. The subjects he gives us can be challenging, but in a good way, making us think about things that we might not otherwise have written about. He also makes a very nice cup of coffee.

John

A talkative man with a story filled mind,

who lets us all speak, no-one’s left behind.

A writer and author, a teacher of sorts,

Newcastle United play his favourite sport.

A big kid at heart, he enjoys inventation,

enjoys a good chuckle during our education.

Our writing’s assessed, he brings out our best,

and enjoys his scenarios that hold our interest.

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Surprise me!

The final exercise was simple… write 100 words about whatever you like. The results were as varied as they were wonderful, highlighting the breadth of talents and interests in our group. For a bit of fun, see if you can tell who wrote each piece.

The noise in the wardrobe

Ben was woken up by a noise that came from his wardrobe, a snuffling, breathing sound that seemed to threaten his existence. Alert and ready for action, he sat up in his bed, staring fixedly at the source of the noise.

Things got worse as the breathing was joined with slow but deliberate scratching noises, tearing splinters from the inside of the wardrobe, screeching down the wood as sharp claws sought a way out.

He was getting a little anxious now. Ben didn’t believe in bogey men, monsters or ghosts and goblins. They were for Dungeons and Dragons folks, weren’t they?

With an ominous creak the wardrobe door was slowly pushed open, revealing only a dark rectangle. The breathing noises were much clearer now, a smell of some sort of hairy thing issuing strongly from the black rectangle.

As he watched in fright, a huge, hairy figure slowly exited the wardrobe. Thanks to a full moon, every tiny detail of this nightmare became real. All eight feet of the beast was visible, lank, shaggy hair, wide, slavering jaws with razor sharp teeth and fire bright burning eyes, searing through the darkness and fixing Ben with its malicious stare.

Sunday

We are stopping in on Sunday.

We will be bored, I fear.

Why on earth is this the case?

The petrol’s far too dear.

We’re stopping in on Monday.

We’ve not got much to do.

It’s not as bad as Covid

or coming down with flu.

We’re stopping in on Friday.

I’m really getting sick.

We’re bored to death, we’re feeling low

it’s getting on my wick.

We’re stopping in on Sunday.

It’s getting bad, I hear.

What is this old world coming to?

And the petrol’s still too dear!

Know your normal

No one tells you to be prepared for this letter. That letter that says welcome to the NHS breast screening programme. Ladies age 50 and over an invited and encouraged to attend for mammogram early detection prevention blah blah blah. Yeah, well only six years too late.  I wasn’t old enough for a bloody screening programme, which by the way I personally think should start at 45 not 50. Something I’ve always thought.

1:2 people FFS get cancer.  1:2 people.

So, ladies and gentlemen, yes, you guys too, no matter your age.  

Check your 👻🐝 – know your normal, so you will know your abnormal.

Snowdrops

The first Spring bulbs are snowdrops, flowering in the coldest of late winter days. In France they are called perce-neige or snow piercer. They are such a welcome sign of hope that Spring is on its way.

Just after flowering is the best time to divide and increase your own stock or buy them “In-the-Green”. The next to flower are the species crocus, which are like their larger cousins but flower earlier. There are many exquisite varieties and they all flower at slightly different times.

Planting a mixed bag of corms can be entertaining as each variety will flower in its turn. They are also excellent value as they will reliably come back every year.

Janet and Tom

Janet and Tom, the owners of a cat called Harriet, had their first baby.

The baby boy cried very loudly, with a high, sharp sound. Even when Harriet meowed, Janet and Tom couldn’t hear her at all.

They were both so busy trying to understand what the baby needed that Harriet could only watch them from her favourite cardboard box.

Harriet got hungry and went to the cupboard where her food was kept. She meowed and meowed, but Janet and Tom didn’t notice.

She jumped onto Janet’s lap and tried to get her attention, but Janet went off to feed the baby.

Then Harriet went to Tom’s feet, lightly gnawed on the leg of the chair he was sitting on. But Tom went to change the baby’s nappy.

When both of them left the room, Harriet went over to the baby. The baby’s bed was soft and warm, so Harriet curled up beside him.

For some reason, the baby gave a little smile.

Harriet gently touched by her face the baby’s soft, round feet, which felt like marshmallows. The baby made a happy little giggling sound.

Later, Janet and Tom came back and found Harriet and the baby lying together, looking cosy and peaceful.

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Live Well with Stories

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini anthology from the Live Well Writers!

In the coming weeks, we’re excited to share Live Well with Stories, an anthology funded by Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust to capture real stories of people impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

If you’re interested in writing, our group meets every Tuesday from 11-2pm at the Live Well Hub. We’d love to see you at a session in the future.

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund, Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust and The Barbour Foundation for supporting Live Well Writers.