A reason for spending £4.99 this Christmas

A Reason for Living, by Nick Waterworth: a small book with a powerful punch.

 £4.99 (with free p & p); all proceeds donated to the charity, Hospice Care at Home.

When Ali from Carrotsmash agreed to help Nick write his memoir, she had no idea of the emotional journey she would be setting out on herself: by the time she wrote the final words for Nick, Ali was just as desperate to make his voice heard.

When he was twenty-two years old, Nick was a passenger in a car that swerved from the road and ploughed into a tree. The driver walked away unhurt, but Nick suffered serious injuries, including injuries to his brain. Twenty-six years later, he is still struggling to come to terms with the way one night in 1991 changed his life forever. His memoir is Nick’s story of before and after: his recollections from his earlier life and his fight back from his near-death experience. Through his book, Nick articulates the pain and difficulty in dealing with life-changing injuries; his frustration at the way others now perceive him.

Ali says, ‘Nick is a sweet and gentle man who is desperate to tell his story and help others understand his frustration at what happened to him all those years ago. The narrative voice is his - through this book, he articulates clearly his still raw grief at the loss of his former self.’

  

If you’d like a copy, simply email ali@carrotsmash.co.uk with your details and we’ll arrange it for you and let you know how you can pay. If you’d like to leave a comment on the Carrotsmash website, please feel free to do so.

A Reason for Living, by Nick Waterworth

At last - after all those meetings, all the work and all the waiting - Nick's book is published!

It began when Nick appeared in my writing workshop in York. He desperately wanted to tell his story of the car crash that had changed his life forever, but didn't know how to start... so he and I began work on his memoir. From the start it was a challenge - Nick has memory loss and brain injuries, so many of his earlier memories have been wiped. His mother, Pat came to the rescue by contributing to the project. And Nick didn't give up trying to articulate what had happened to him.

Nick's memoir is a small book - but it is authentic, and powerful. The narrative voices are his, and his mother's - together they express their pain and the struggle that life has now, at times, become. Above all, it is an honest story that reaches out to us all. Nick, you are a star. See you at the book launch - watch this space!

If you'd like a copy of Nick's book it costs £3.99 plus 50p postage. Simply email ali@carrotsmash.co.uk and we'll organise a copy for you.

Just received the sad news that my publisher, David Wheeler from Red Axe Books, has died. As a publisher, he was so supportive - told me that he believed in my writing - and I had a lot of respect for his written work. He will be missed.

Ali x

A Reason for Living, by Nick Waterworth

Well! Here's a moment - I've just returned the final proofbound copy of Nick Waterworth's memoir to the publishers. It's a lovely little book, I think - I've worked on it with him since early spring and for me it's power lies in its honesty.

A taster - the backblurb:

A story of pain… and love. 

When he was twenty-two years old, Nick was a passenger in a car that swerved from the road and ploughed into a tree. The driver walked away unhurt, but Nick suffered serious injuries, including injuries to his brain. Twenty-six years later, Nick is still struggling to come to terms with the way one night in 1991 changed his life forever. 

This memoir is Nick’s story of before and after: his recollections from his earlier life and his fight back from his near-death experience. Nick’s mother, Pat, has contributed to his memoir, filling in some of his fragmented or lost memories. Pat’s own story has become, in part, her gift to her much-loved son. 

Through his book, Nick articulates the pain and difficulty in dealing with life-changing injuries; his frustration at the way others perceive him. It is also an expression of his love for his mother and his appreciation of her constant support and encouragement. 

Need say no more - you can be sure when its published (a couple weeks away) I'll be putting it out there!

Ali x

At Aspergers but...

Now caught up with Chris Packham's @ChrisGPackham documentary Aspergers and Me and I love his positive message: we should be celebrating difference and intelligence. Our education system labels as failing. But Aspergers and Autistic children I have worked in schools have amazing qualities: incredible, detailed memory and acute, focused intelligence.

Not Autistic Spectrum but Individual Intelligence Spectrum!

Pocklington Arts Centre workshop

Pocklington Arts Centre @PocklingtonArts was our venue on Saturday for a writers workshop - we spent some time exploring story structure before delving a bit deeper into those writing skills such as sensory detail, synaesthesia and lifting and expanding sentences.


Some feedback from delegates:

'As one new to writing I found it informative, relaxed, encouraging.'

'Did not know what to expect... I very much enjoyed the session; feel inspired to write... I must avoid cliches! Lots of helpful tips.'

'Loved the workshop, very relaxed and collaborative, supportive atmosphere. Will definitely attend more.'

Well you'll be really welcome - thanks, all, for making it such a great morning.
Look out for more workshops and courses on www.carrotsmash.co.uk -

Check us out at Pocklington Arts Centre http://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk/events/exhibitions%20and%20workshops

or find details of York Carrotsmash courses at yorklearning.org.uk

Room

Last weekend's workshop @YorkExplore was great fun - we took the idea of a room from our past as a starting point, then played with descriptive writing, working with colour and mood. Some beautiful pieces written in response. A few feedback comments:

'I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing'.
'The teacher was very approachable and extremely encouraging. I didn't feel under pressure at all. Very pleased'.
'The thing I liked most: tools and strategies to use when writing - actual writing and feedback. Encouragement! Knowledge from Ali the tutor'.
'Ali is good'.

Thanks to delegates for their positive comments - we aim to please!

Checkout www.carrotsmash.co.uk for up and coming workshops and courses.