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Introduction In 2005 two very different people signed up to a short introduction to writing course run by the Open University in the United Kingdom. Andrea (Annie) Smith has a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature, loves horses and has a surrogate dog called Toby. She is a young mother of four and is a lifelong storyteller and writer who had never had the courage to take her interest further. Duncan Spencer has a Doctorate in Mathematics and a Master's Degree in Business and is married with two children. He is an accountant with special interests in environmental work who had stories to tell but no experience in telling them. During their course they became fascinated by their wholly different approaches to writing, each respecting the other's style, and wanting to learn from it. Becoming firm friends through the distance-learning medium they both agreed to continue on to take the more challenging Open University Creative Writing course. Despite, or perhaps because of, the differences in their writing skills and experiences, and with a good deal of mutual support, they were both awarded Distinctions in the course. Over the following year they continued to correspond. Both took part in the National Novel Writing Month and completed respectable first novels in November 2006. Annie gave up her job to write professionally and Duncan continued to write short stories and novels in his spare time. This site is an exploration of their different approaches to writing and, they hope, has something for everyone. Once a fortnight Annie and Duncan agree on a new topic and then both write a short story with the theme in mind. They are constantly surprised by what they come up with. This website is the copyright of Andrea Smith and Duncan Spencer. The stories are copyright of the authors.
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Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind - Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957 Contact bothsidesofthestory@hotmail.co.uk Topics: Coming soon ... Annie and Duncan still need to decide their next theme while they both work towards completing their current novels. Hopefully that won't stop us writing more short stories soon ... ... if you would like to see what Annie and Duncan make of your ideas then e-mail us and suggest a theme! DEVIL Duncan: Be afraid. Twenty years ago four children went into the woods ... Annie: Some one has done a deal with the devil. But who? JUMP Duncan: Duncan has written a sweet, children's story in a rather old-fashioned vein for this theme. Annie: Annie has really pushed the boundaries this time with a thought-provoking science fiction story. CAKE Duncan: Note: Adult content warning. This story contains some scenes that are unsuitable for children. Annie: Note: Adult content warning. This story contains some scenes that are unsuitable for children. Junk Duncan: Annie:
Junk Yard Jenny GREEN Duncan: Annie:
The Field You Started Out In
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Posted 24 August 2008