Last weekend, I went to the Flash Fiction Festival, and it was incredible.
It’s an annual writing event in Bristol, where we talk and celebrate all things flash, attend workshops, eat cake, and drink a lot of caffeine. I’ve been a couple of times before, but this year’s was the best.
It was super accessible, from start to finish. I began by booking Passenger Assistance, as I wasn’t sure of the new Elizabeth Lkne, which was brilliant. They were there when I arrived, and super helpful, and I even got to ride the assistance buggy at Paddington as my seat was a long way away. So I arrived to Bristol on time, and in a very good mood. It was a little rainy, but even that couldn’t spoil my fun.
When I arrived at the venue, I had friends help me to where I needed to be, to write on documents, play games, and was even provided with a large print programme. I’d booked the large print in advance, and it was wonderful, super helpful and what I needed. The assistance continued, with sighted guiding to help me find my accommodation, and into the rest of the weekend. And I had a fabulous time, knowing I was in this lovely supportive environment, with friends offering to help me find seats and food and even alcohol, able to relax and enjoy the weekend.
I attended lots of wonderful workshops, and scribbled many stories. I ate a lot of cake, caught up with old friends and new, visited a bookshop (which is rare for me with failing sight), listened to readings and more. On the Saturday night I got very drunk, and sang karaoke, singing my heart out with old friends and new, having a blast. Ive not sung like that in a long time. I guess I needed it. And I had sighted guiding, to get me home at 2am.
On the Sunday, I was asked to read. I’ve been working with a friend, Vanessa, who has published two of my stories in her latest book. I don’t get to read very often. I read with a lady called Lottie, who had Ushers syndrome and came with her guide dog. It was wonderful to read, and to represent partially sighted people in the writing community, and I really enjoyed it. The second piece, the shorter one, was my triumph. It told the story of some of my frustrations within bookshops as a partially sighted person, and it was great to read it aloud. I had lots of positive feedback about that story, and it really left a mark on the atmosphere, a feeling in the air, and was great to get some of it off my chest so I could breathe.
I had support over a writing game, on Sunday afternoon, and felt included in all the workshop, even with my laptop and phone amongst a sea of notebooks. I booked Passenger Assistance on the way home, and again it was super helpful.
All in all, I had an incredible time, and can’t wait for next year.
