Writing Industries Conference 2010
Saturday 6th March 2010, Loughborough University. A Literature Network, Writing East Midlands and Loughborough University project. http://writingindustries.com. Twitter #wic2010.
The second Writing Industries Conference will be held on Saturday 6th March at Loughborough University. The conference will bring together writers from across the East Midlands with professionals from the writing industries to share knowledge, develop skills and forge new contacts. 200 writers from the region will have the opportunity to hear from and meet with professionals from the writing industries in a variety of settings:
Agents and editors in one-to-one sessions with selected writers, giving advice and support in their area of expertise. Panel discussions exploring specific areas of writing, from breaking into commercial publishing to working in the community. Writing industries fair featuring stalls from local publishers, funders and other organisations involved with the writing industries. And of course there will be plenty of opportunity to meet and talk with other writers over a coffee.
The full programme including details of how to apply for agent one-to-ones will be announced soon.
EARLY BIRD TICKET OFFER
The first Writing Industries Conference sold out soon after tickets went on sale. This year we are have increased the number of tickets available and are offering an early bird price of £34 (Full price £42) – availability limited.
Buy tickets online here: https://rkh.wufoo.com/forms/the-writing-industries-conference-2010/#public.
If you have any questions regarding WIC 2010 or would like further information please contact: Catherine Rogers, catherine@writingeastmidlands.co.uk.
Freelance Project Coordinator & Programmer wanted
The Lyric Lounge project (www.lyriclounge.co.uk) is the creation of temporary, transformed venues for spoken word and poetry events. It delivers programmes of activity including performance and workshops, open-mike and poetry slam. The project creates a platform for local and emerging talent and established performers. It engages a diverse range of young people, including Black and Minority Ethnic groups, and involves intergenerational activities.
The Leicester Lyric Lounge was hosted at the Y Theatre as part of the cultural programme for the Special Olympics in July 2009. The second stage involves extending the concept across the East Midlands in 2010 starting with venues in Nottingham, Derby and Leicestershire.
To deliver the project Writing East Midlands, on behalf of MLA East Midlands, Renaissance, Arts Council England and Igniting Ambition, seeks the following:
Project Coordinator & Programmer: The Project Coordinator & Programmer will work with Writing East Midlands on a freelance basis to deliver the Lyric Lounge between January and October 2010. The Project Coordinator & Programmer will offer excellent organisational skills, experience of live literature or arts programming in the East Midlands, and an ability to work with young people from diverse backgrounds. A fee of £7,500 is available for the contract. There will be approximately 50 days work.
January 2010 – October 2010. Fee – £7,500. The Lyric Lounge – part of the Igniting Ambition programme.
Contact Antonia Bell at antonia@writingeastmidlands.co.uk for a project brief and application pack. To discuss the position contact Henderson Mullin on 0115 9597929. Closing date 30 November 2009. Interviews w/c 14 December 2009.
Northampton Literature Group Annual Open Poetry Competition
There are two categories: Rhyming Poems and Free Verse each with prizes of £150/£50/£25 with three prizes of £10 each for highly commended poems. Poems can be on any subject.
Entry fees are £3 per poem or 4 for £10, or £3.50 and £10.60 if paid on-line (to cover PayPal fees) Please make cheques payable to N.L.G. Deadline is Saturday 15 May 2010. An Awards Ceremony will take place at the Northampton Guildhall on Thursday 17th June 2010, at 7.00 pm, and the winning poems will be posted on the NLG website
For full details and rules, see : www.northamptonliteraturegroup.org.uk or email Pat Archer: tricia.archer@tiscali.co.uk. If you are unable to complete an entry form please send your name/contact number/address and title of poems on a separate sheet with your cheque (payable to NLG) to Pat Archer 7, Cattle Hill Great Billing NN3 9DU.
ARTS AWARD
Are you looking for exciting initiatives to support and enable positive outcomes for young people? Do you offer extended schools or enrichment learning opportunities, for young people, through the arts? Would you like to be able to accredit the young people’s work and add value to their achievements? Would you like help them to develop as leaders with strong personal and social skills?
If you answer yes to any of the above the Arts Award could be for you. All young people undertaking the award must be supported by an adviser. Please see details below for the next Northants based Arts Award adviser training. For further info about the arts award or the adviser training dates please visit the website www.artsaward.org.uk.
Writing Competitions
Each has a £100 first and £50 second prize, and another ten stories will be published in an anthology along with the two prize winning stories. The competitions are themed:
“Someone Has To Die” – a competition for detective and murder, mystery stories. This has a closing date of 30th November 2009.
“Adventures in Time and Space” – a competition for Science Fiction stories. This has a closing date of 31st December 2009.
“Secrets and Spies” – a competition for stories of espionage and betrayal. This has a closing date of 31st January 2010.
The entry fee for each competition is £3 per story with a maximum word count of 2,500 words. Paper entries can be sent to PO Box 2179, Buckingham, MK18 9AU with a cheque payable to spikethecat limited. Electronic entries can be sent to submissions@spikethecat.co.uk with payment via PayPal. The full rules and more details are available on the web site www.spikethecat.co.uk.
Grace Dieu Writers’ Circle 2010 Writing Competition (Poetry and Prose)
Poetry Competition: 1st Prize: £350; 2nd Prize: £150; 3rd Prize: £75; 4th Prize: £50; 5th Prize: £25. Entry Fees: £3 for one poem or £10 for 4, £2 for each additional entry over four.
Short Story Competition: 1st Prize: £350; 2nd Prize: £150; 3rd Prize: £75; 4th Prize: £50; 5th Prize: £25.
Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories. Full details and entry forms can be found at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk. Alternatively to receive a competition leaflet, please send a SAE to: The Competition Organiser, 23 Henson Way, Sharnford, Leicestershire, LE10 3PN.
Call for Scriptwriters
Interested in writing for television, film and radio? We are a group of scriptwriters who meet fortnightly to discuss what’s new, what competitions and opportunities are available, and to read and assess each other’s work. New members are always welcome. For more info, email matthew.ward47@ntlworld.com.
The Secret Lyric Hub
Come and meet like-minded word smiths! Within a relaxed, supportive environment. Bring your original, short stories, poems or songs and come and share with your local writing community. It also presents a great opportunity to share ideas, network, receive feedback and collaborate. The hub is held monthly on Saturdays in Northampton. If you are interested and want to find out more please get in contact on secret_hub@hotmail.co.uk or 07531 567247.
Member vacancies at Kettering Writers’ Group
Kettering Writers’ Group have a few spaces available for new members. The group meet on the first Tuesday of each month and are an informal group for anyone who likes to express themselves in words, whether for publication or other reasons. For more information, contact Sally Angell on sallyangell@virgin.net or 01536 524050.
Facebook Poetry Group
Do you write? Have you thought about writing? Would you like to share it with others? Or do you just want to read great poetry from around the world? Now you can! Send your poem(s) that you want to share with the group to borntobeapoet@hotmail.co.uk and get involved today. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47808802560&ref=share.
New members wanted for Museum Writers’ Group
The Museum Writers’ Group are looking for new members. We are based at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in Guildhall Road, Northampton and are open to applications from committed, enthusiastic local writers over the age of 18 years. The supportive atmosphere of the group and museum provides a unique, challenging and privileged opportunity to develop and write poetry and prose inspired by the museum’s collections and exhibitions with the aim of producing creative writing of a high calibre relating directly to themed projects selected by the group. These are accompanied by occasional talks and workshops and completed work is displayed within the museum. We meet fortnightly on Mondays, 10.00am -12.30pm, with breaks for school and bank holidays.
If you wish to know more, and for an application form please contact either Judith Morris or Yvonne Miitton, Museum Writers’ Group C/o Debra Cox on 01604 838544 or at MWG Application, Debra Cox, Senior Museum Education Officer, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP.
Working Writers and Literature Professionals Database
The Literature Development Officer is putting together a database of writers and other literature professionals working, or wanting to work, within Northamptonshire. This might include authors, poets, performance artists/speakers, tutors, scriptwriters and others. The database will be available on request from the Literature Development Officer and will give potential employers information on literature professionals available for work in the county. For further details and to download the form, please go to http://litnorthants.wordpress.com/info/.
