Preston, UK. ISBN: 978-0-9566270-0-1 ... upon real events in sport. SSTO Publications, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Other research web host:.
The Sporting Image: What If?
Book title:
An anthology of creative writing based upon reallife events in sport Edited by: Book Co-Authors:
Clive Palmer Clive Palmer, Iain Adams, Ray Physick, Mitchell J. Larson, Anthony Maher, Joel Rookwood, James Kenyon, Chris Hughes, Paul Hall, John Metcalfe and 26 students
With a foreword by Philip Caveney Author and Chapter Publisher:
Foreword by Philip Caveney (pp. xiii-xiv). It’s always exciting when something unexpected happens. SSTO Publications (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors) University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
ISBN:
978-0-9566270-0-1
Date:
September, 2010
Notice: The contents of this book as presented are creative stories stemming from interpretations of real-life events. Whilst the accounts have some factual research to underpin them, the outcomes they propose are deliberately fictitious for the purposes of education achieved through developing writing skills and using of imagination to create a ‘good tale’. They are set out in good faith for the general guidance of student supported research and the promotion of pedagogical discussion in teaching and learning contexts. No liability can be accepted by the Editor or the Co-authors (first or second named) for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying upon particular circumstances or statements made in this book. To reference this chapter: Caveney, P. (2010) It’s always exciting when something unexpected happens. In, Palmer, C. (Ed.) The Sporting Image: What If? An anthology of creative writing based upon real events in sport. SSTO Publications, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Other research web host: https://www.academia.edu/3512859/Palmer_C._2010_The_Sporting_Image_What_If_An_Anthology_ of_Creative_Writing_Based_Upon_Real_Events_in_Sport
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sporting-Image-Anthology-Creative-Reallife/dp/0956627005/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283766937&sr=1-2
Foreword It‟s always exciting when something unexpected happens. When I was first approached to work on some fiction writing with a group of students, based in the Sports Department at UCLAN, I‟d be lying if I said I had great expectations for the outcome. After all, so far as I was aware, none of these students had ever tried writing fiction before. And... I‟m not being mean or anything, but... well, it‟s not just something you can have a go at. It takes years and years of dedicated practice. Doesn‟t it? But then I went in to do a workshop with the students, taking along what I thought of as a brilliant example of the short story – Mrs Packletide’s Tiger by Saki (H.H. Munro). I chose it because it so brilliantly packs an absolute wealth of information into its 1,300 words; and in the deliciously bitchy interplay of dialogue, reveals so much about the characters. The students listened politely enough to what I had to say, and then entered into the practical side of the workshop, where they broke themselves into duos and created fictional sporting characters, around which they wrote alternating lines of dialogue; sort of mini scripts. When it came time to read back what they had written, I had a surprise in store. Every one of the participants exhibited levels of humour and invention that made the workshop an absolute delight to run. I cheered up considerably. Maybe things weren‟t going to be quite so grim after all. A little time passed... and then I began to receive the short stories themselves. I started to read through them and quickly realised that it was time to put in my order for a large slice of humble pie. Here were stories to delight and intrigue the reader... stories that thrilled and amused in equal measure, stories that explored the imagination of the writers, but remained easily accessible to all.. In most cases, the students needed only the lightest of guiding hands to hone their work to a satisfying conclusion. And here too was a valuable lesson for yours truly; that writing is not exclusively the domain of the specialist. Given a little time and encouragement, talent can blossom in the unlikeliest of places. And now, here‟s the tangible proof of that success – an actual, honest-togoodness book featuring 30 short stories to delight and entertain you. The miracle of POD publishing means that the stories can be made available to xiii
anyone who‟s interested in reading them and I am only too happy to recommend them to anyone who enjoys a good read. It only remains for me to thank tutor, Clive Palmer, for getting me involved in the first place and the students themselves, many of whom, should they find themselves struggling to make headway in their chosen field of expertise, might seriously consider seeking careers in literature. All in all, it‟s been quite an education.
Philip Caveney Royal Literary Fellow University of Central Lancashire January 2010
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