The Patchword Podcast

Of coffee cups and copas

In this episode, again taken from her book “Capital Letters”, Gwyneth tells about a visit from British friends while she was living in Madrid and the problems encountered when ordering a simple coffee or a cup of tea.   Sprinkled with lighthearted linguistic insights, the pieces in “Capital Letters” touch on stories in the news and current affairs at the time of writing. They are written mainly in English, but with a scattering of Spanish that allows the reader to assimilate new vocabulary and phrases from context. The essays have been collected into a book, which is available to buy from Gwyneth’s website either alone https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life [https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life], or as part of the “Expat essays” bundle of books: https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x [https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x]

Sizing things up

In this episode, Gwyneth talks about how she started using her regular newspaper column “Capital Letters” to add some natural Spanish into the lives of the English readers based on the Spanish coast. She reads “Sizing things up”, which touches on such topics as word order – “dos años y medio” versus “two and a half years” – how Sam was wrong when he sang “a kiss is just a kiss”, and how Don Quixote may actually have been a big Don Quixo. Sprinkled with lighthearted linguistic insights, with a scattering of Spanish that allows the reader to assimilate new vocabulary and phrases from context, the “Capital Letters” essays have been collected into a book, which is available to buy from Gwyneth’s website either alone https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life [https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life], or as part of the “Expat essays” bundle of books: https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x [https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x]

Collectors and collectibles

In this episode, Gwyneth talks about how a good title and an intro to a friend of a friend were key to her getting a regular column in “The New Entertainer” newspaper. She reads “Collectors and collectibles”, the first piece she wrote for “Capital Letters”, which explores the concept of collecting things spontaneously to express our individuality as she did as a child or through strictly regimented fascículos, as the Spanish do, starting new curated collections each autumn.   Sprinkled with lighthearted linguistic insights, the pieces in “Capital Letters” touch on stories in the news and current affairs at the time of writing. They are written mainly in English, but with a scattering of Spanish that allows the reader to assimilate new vocabulary and phrases from context. The essays have been collected into a book, which is available to buy from Gwyneth’s website either alone https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life [https://gwynethbox.com/b/capital-letters-essays-of-expat-life], or as part of the “Expat essays” bundle of books: https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x [https://gwynethbox.com/b/a0M5x]

The downside to 'write what you know'

Do you want to write poetry that is both personal and universally relatable? In this video, I explore the balance between writing from your own experiences and crafting poems that resonate with a wider audience. You'll discover: • Why "write what you know" isn't always enough • How to avoid including irrelevant personal details • The importance of emotional distance when writing about sensitive topics • Why objective criticism helps improve your poetry Whether you're a novice or an experienced poet, these insights will help you refine your work and connect with readers on a deeper level. #PoetryWriting #WritingTips #WritersCraft #PoetryAdvice #WriteWhatYouKnow

Writing competition strategy: 10 ways to maximise your chances

Entering writing competitions is easy. Winning is trickier. Want to boost your chances of your writing coming out on top? Competitions are a key part of a writer’s journey—but if you’re tired of getting nowhere, it might be time to rethink your strategy. In this video, I share ten practical tips to help your entry make it to the finals. Whether you're submitting short stories, poetry, flash fiction, or essays, these strategies will give you the edge. From following the rules to polishing your prose, discover how to make your work competition-ready. In this video, I share ten practical tips to help your entry make it through to the finals. Whether you're submitting short stories, poetry, flash fiction or essays, these strategies will give you the edge. From following the rules to polishing your prose, discover how to make your work competition-ready. I’ve been entering writing competitions for years and my poems have been longlisted, shortlisted and published in anthologies and magazines, with a fair few first-place wins along the way. Now I also judge competitions, and have seen how easy it is even for a good piece of writing to fall at the first hurdle. If you don’t take it seriously, entering competitions is a waste of money. And none of us want that. I can’t guarantee a win, but whether you're a seasoned writer or submitting your first entry, these strategies will increase the odds.