Staff Newsletter issue 3.1
The Little Interview: Matt Charlton - The Fiction Stroker Matt Charlton by day, The Fiction Stroker by night. Matt has joined the Manchester blogging community with his reviews of books, comics, TV, radio and live events. Where did the name ‘The Fiction Stroker’ come from: The name was randomly generated as I’m lousy at coming up with usernames, but as a unique selling point to differentiate myself from the other blogs out there, I realised I could dish out ‘strokes’ instead of stars. This has subsequently got me noticed throughout Manchester What made you start blogging? Someone said to me that other than talking about my interests, I couldn’t actually prove that I have an unhealthy interest in all things cult. I was almost challenged to blog about things I was interested in as a response, and it’s ballooned John Draycott and Joan from there. Kempson as Stan and Hilda Initially Ogden from ‘Coronation I’d done a Street 1977’ few blog posts but nothing overly interesting, but then I went to see a staging of Coronation Street scripts written by Jack Rosenthal (Maureen Lipman’s husband and creator of London’s Burning) at The Lass O’Gowrie in Manchester and realised no-one was writing about this rich seam of entertainment that has been flying completely under the radar. Since then I’ve seen stage adaptations of Porridge, Withnail and I and Blade Runner to name a few as well as a wealth of local homegrown talent in several original shows. This is also in addition to blogging about books, TV and other stuff I’m into. How successful have you been? I’ve received over 10,000 visitors in the last twelve months and am inundated
with requests to review books, film and stage plays. Manchester has a thriving theatre scene that goes beyond the Opera House and Royal Exchange and instead intimately instills itself in rooms above pubs through Manchester and Salford. Additionally, I’ve got to meet and interview renowned authors, actors and producers and currently also cover events for the Cornerhouse as one of their intake of Digital Reporters. I’ve also Daniel Thackeray as V been published on from Alan Moore’s ‘V the Library Theatre for Vendetta’ (Photo: website, leading Laura Moore) retail store Forbidden Planet’s blog and several leading comic blogs. It has given me the portfolio to go out and pitch articles for magazines such as The Big issue, Doctor Who Magazine, SFX, Empire and Total Film (although nothing’s been commissioned – yet!) The blogging community in Manchester is thriving with the introduction of the Blog North awards (www.blognorthawards.com) that celebrates the best of online writing in the North and regular meet ups amongst the diverse community of bloggers (which can feed back into the Axion day job). It’s a enjoyable pastime that has quickly grown and taken over a large amount of my time. However, for the friends you make and things you see, it’s been totally worth it.
Neil Bell in ‘The Bubbler’
You can read Matt’s blog at: http://thefictionstroker.wordpress.com
with requests to review books, film and stage plays. Manchester has a thriving theatre scene that goes beyond the Opera House and Royal Exchange and instead intimately instills itself in rooms above pubs through Manchester and Salford. Additionally, I’ve got to meet and interview renowned authors, actors and producers and currently also cover events for the Cornerhouse as one of their intake of Digital Reporters. I’ve also Daniel Thackeray as V been published on from Alan Moore’s ‘V the Library Theatre for Vendetta’ (Photo: website, leading Laura Moore) retail store Forbidden Planet’s blog and several leading comic blogs. It has given me the portfolio to go out and pitch articles for magazines such as The Big issue, Doctor Who Magazine, SFX, Empire and Total Film (although nothing’s been commissioned – yet!) The blogging community in Manchester is thriving with the introduction of the Blog North awards (www.blognorthawards.com) that celebrates the best of online writing in the North and regular meet ups amongst the diverse community of bloggers (which can feed back into the Axion day job). It’s a enjoyable pastime that has quickly grown and taken over a large amount of my time. However, for the friends you make and things you see, it’s been totally worth it.
Neil Bell in ‘The Bubbler’
You can read Matt’s blog at: http://thefictionstroker.wordpress.com
