Welcome to fictionfest.co.uk the personal website of writer, John Holding.

Hi  there!

I'm John Holding and I live in Ellon, Aberdeenshire in North-East Scotland. I took up writing a number of years ago having become lost to it somewhere during secondary education; I'm glad we found each other again! My writing interests lie firmly in fiction - short story and novel and with my first novel completed I'm now at the point where I'm deciding on my next project. I have three (yes 3) lively Irish Red and White Setters - you'll find a picture of them elsewhere in the photo section. They deserve a little recognition - as exercising them gives me plenty of thinking time for writing ideas.

  Writing background & affiliations

• I have a Creative Writing Certificate from Lancaster University and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, with Pedagogic Studies from Manchester Metropolitan University.
• I've had short stories published in Lancaster University's 25th Anniversary Anthology, MMU's Muse  yearbook 2006 together with magazine publication and minor competition success. 
• Member of NAWE: National Association of Writers in Education.
• Member of ACWE: Association for Creative Writing & English
• Network UK Member of the Scottish Storytelling Forum.

So what can you find in fictionfest?

Inside you'll be able to find news and updates on my writing, read a monthly short story or dip into the Creative Writing Classes I run from time to time and see what we've been up to.

Links...

You'll find links to other writer's sites as well as ocassional stories from guest writers. Once you've read all the new work herein please check-out these great sites.

Out Soon

See news of the launch of Stephen May's first novel in the Guest Writer's section!

Drop me a line and let me know what you think of fictionfest.co.uk, tell me if you have any suggestions for future inclusion or just shoot the breeze - I'll be sure to get back to you!

Enjoy the site!

All the best,

                   John