Another busy series of events has helped Forth Valley College celebrate Book Week Scotland 2024.
On Monday 18 November Dr Tom Christie and Julie Christie from Extremis Publishing, an award winning independent publishing house, delivered a workshop to the HND Travel and Tourism students in the Stirling Campus.
The students had an exciting opportunity to explore how writing can be a valuable skill in the travel and tourism industry. The workshop provided insights into how writing can be applied in various scenarios, including writing travel blogs, developing content for vlogs, and identifying future career opportunities.
Wendy Gormley, FVC Learning Skills and Resource Assistant, said: “Julie and Tom explained how creating blogs and vlogs not only hones writing skills, but also builds confidence and communication skills. Students gained an insight into how their writing abilities could be used for personal development and potential career opportunities.”
Isabella Young, FVC Creative, Leisure and Digital Skills, Lecturer, said: “This was a workshop filled with detailed information, advice and personal experience from the speakers, who shared their wealth of knowledge with our students. It was indeed a welcome and thought-provoking event as part of the College’s celebrations for Book Week Scotland.”
Professional writer Katie White – a former Communication Support Worker and Evening Course Lecturer at Forth Valley College – returned to the College with a workshop full of ‘Hope’ on Wednesday 20 November.
Now an exciting emerging talent in television screenwriting and also an author, Katie accepted the invitation from the organisers of the College’s Book Week Scotland events programme, to present a workshop at the Steeple Suite in the Falkirk Campus entitled ‘Without stories there is no hope and without hope, we cannot tell our story’.
Former colleagues and their students were queuing up to come along to what was an informative, entertaining and inspirational event, with classes from the ACE, Lifestart, Workstart and various HNC courses, attending.
FVC Learning Skills and Resource Assistant, Nuala Scott, one of the main organisers of the Falkirk Campus Book Week Scotland events, said: "Comments from some of those who attended Katie's workshop included - ‘The event had a personal touch and I liked that!’; ‘It was an excellent and inspiring workshop.’; ‘After the workshop, the rest of my day felt lighter and happier.’; and ‘That was great, thank you!’"
Also on Wednesday 20 November Stirling Makar Laura Fyfe was welcomed to the Stirling Campus. Laura is a Performance Poet, Podcast Maker, Poet, Writer, Zine Maker as well as the Stirling Makar. Laura’s workshop for Graphic Design students was very well received and helped them enormously to put words to their designs.
On the afternoon of Thursday 21 November John Fardell visited the Alloa Campus. John is a Comics Writer, Comics Artist, Illustrator and Writer. He delivered an ‘interactive and fun workshop with an emphasis on the imaginative scribbly processes behind creating books, with lots of joining in, drawing and story inventing activities.’ John worked with the Alloa Pathfinders and Workstart students, helping them to unleash their creativity!
Lisa MacLaren, FVC Learning Services Manager, said: “We are delighted how well sessions have gone this week. We have been very luck to once again have gained funding from the Scottish Book Trust to support our Book Week Scotland events, giving our students the opportunity to attend talks and workshops with such talented authors gaining new skills and experiences. Feedback has been fantastic from both staff and students who attended all sessions and as a team we love being able organise Book Week Scotland events and see the engagement and enthusiasm from everyone in attendance.”