A creative writing walkshop for novice or experienced writers who want to learn more about ‘flash fiction’ an exciting short form of story telling which is growing in popularity.  Led by Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone, an accomplished writer and acclaimed writing tutor, you will be invited to draw inspiration from the space race to walk on the moon, that was achieved by the American crew of Apollo 11 on the 20th July, 1969.  The walkshop has been devised by Rebekah and the Museum of Walking’s founder Andrew Stuck, and follows a route, created by overlaying Kensington, London with a scaled map of Apollo moon landings. 

You will learn: how to take inspiration from other works – and apply them to the world around you in your creative writing; how to use observation to inspire and hone fictional techniques; the benefits of movement to creative thinking and practice; what constitutes flash fiction and how to go about creating it; how to approach editing and preparing your work for submission or publication.

Learning will take place through: formal instruction from Rebekah; writing prompts; pair work; group discussion and workshopping, which requires participants to share their work and give constructive and mindful feedback.

Where we will walk and write: We begin at the cafe beneath / within the Pavillion beside the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, and criss cross the gardens and the adjacent streets to the south, following the pattern of moon landing locations of the series of Apollo missions.  We will pause to refuel with refreshments and to give you an opportunity to write, finishing at the Berlin Cafe of the Goethe Institute on Princes Gate, Kensington.

What you should bring: As well as weather-specific clothes and shoes, you will need to bring something to write with – either a couple of pens or your phone or tablet as preferred. We will provide a journal for taking notes. We will be making a couple of stops (for writing opportunities- where you will be able to purchase refreshments).

Please note we are meeting beside the pavillion at the Serpentine Galleries – this is not an official Serpentine Gallery event.

Simultaneously the Museum of Walking in conjunction with Sampson Low Publishers is running the One Small Step Flash Writing Competition for fact or fiction flashes of 50 words or under inspired by the first Moon walk, for which winners will see their work published in a limited edition illustrated chapbook anthology.

What took place

Participants criss crossed Kensington Gardens following the pattern of Apollo Moon landings, undertaking simple activities to trigger their creative writing.  These  included walk with limited movements if in a space suit, obstructed views in the lunar module, developing trust and walking in the dark, witnessing a launch, and experiencing the cramped conditions of the command module (a Zip car van).

A micro-flash story written on the walkshop and inspired by what was left on the moon by the astronauts:

We found a scrap from Life magazine amongst the pages of Neil’s pension book.  We thought it  must be the cover story of the Apollo 11 endeavour but it was an ad for life insurance. On further inspection, in an illegible hand, there appeared some sort of a list.  49 words

To purchase a copy of the chapbook anthology for €1 plus postage – please use the contact form below