News from New Writing North: 24 February 2012
New Writing North news
NWN launches new podcast home page
If you've not done so already, head over to our new audio hub at http://newwritingnorth.podomatic.com. We've already posted a few highlights from last year's Durham Book Festival as well as the Get Your Work Published conference we hosted in November 2011 and will be updating the site with many more hours of recorded programming over the coming weeks. We’ll also be adding selected events to the site as they happen, so you can get a taste of what you're missing if you’re not able to come to an event.
Women in the Arts: Vamps, Vixens and Feminists
Have you ever wondered how a woman can rise to the top of an arts institution? Are you concerned about the portrayal of women in the media? Sphinx Theatre is bringing the bustling debate about women in the arts to the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 2 March. Speakers include journalist Bea Campbell, critic and writer Bidisha, TV writer Sally Wainwright, Times literary editor Erica Wagner and New Writing North director Claire Malcolm. The day-long conference will include debate, workshops and networking opportunities for everyone working in/interested in women’s roles in the performing arts. The day will run from 10.30am-5pm and tickets cost £15 (£10 concessions). For more information, see www.sphinxtheatre.co.uk.
South Shields Cuckoo group gets the go-ahead
The talent on show at the mini-workshop day we ran on 11 February has convinced us that South Shields need a permanent Cuckoo young writers’ group to go alongside the existing groups in Newcastle, Durham and Hexham. The group is for budding writers aged 11-18 years, and the meetings are completely free to attend. The meetings, led by poet and micro-fiction writer Amy Mackelden, will take place fortnightly but you don’t have to attend every meeting to be part of the group. The dates for the first two sessions are 3 & 24 March at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, 11am-1pm. Get in touch with laura@newwritingnorth.com for more details and to book a place.
If you've not done so already, head over to our new audio hub at http://newwritingnorth.podomatic.com. We've already posted a few highlights from last year's Durham Book Festival as well as the Get Your Work Published conference we hosted in November 2011 and will be updating the site with many more hours of recorded programming over the coming weeks. We’ll also be adding selected events to the site as they happen, so you can get a taste of what you're missing if you’re not able to come to an event.
Women in the Arts: Vamps, Vixens and Feminists
Have you ever wondered how a woman can rise to the top of an arts institution? Are you concerned about the portrayal of women in the media? Sphinx Theatre is bringing the bustling debate about women in the arts to the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 2 March. Speakers include journalist Bea Campbell, critic and writer Bidisha, TV writer Sally Wainwright, Times literary editor Erica Wagner and New Writing North director Claire Malcolm. The day-long conference will include debate, workshops and networking opportunities for everyone working in/interested in women’s roles in the performing arts. The day will run from 10.30am-5pm and tickets cost £15 (£10 concessions). For more information, see www.sphinxtheatre.co.uk.
South Shields Cuckoo group gets the go-ahead
The talent on show at the mini-workshop day we ran on 11 February has convinced us that South Shields need a permanent Cuckoo young writers’ group to go alongside the existing groups in Newcastle, Durham and Hexham. The group is for budding writers aged 11-18 years, and the meetings are completely free to attend. The meetings, led by poet and micro-fiction writer Amy Mackelden, will take place fortnightly but you don’t have to attend every meeting to be part of the group. The dates for the first two sessions are 3 & 24 March at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, 11am-1pm. Get in touch with laura@newwritingnorth.com for more details and to book a place.
People
Hazel Osmond on rom-com award shortlist
Congratulations to Northumberland writer Hazel Osmond, whose debut novel, Who’s Afraid of Mr Wolfe?, has been shortlisted for Romantic Comedy Novel of the year. The awards are funded by the Romantic Novelists Association and you can find further details at www.rna-awards.com. The winners are announced on 5 March and we wish Hazel the best of luck.
Short film competition for Carolyn Jess-Cooke’s next novel
Gateshead writer Carolyn Jess-Cooke’s new novel, The Boy Who Could See Demons, is out this summer and her publisher, Piatkus, is holding a competition inviting filmmakers to send submissions of their idea of a trailer for the book. You can see all the information at www.piatkusbooks.net/calling-all-aspiring-film-makers.
Play publication for Sean Burn
Sean Burn’s new play, Next Swan Down The River Might Be Black, has just been published by Aurora Metro. The play, which was shortlisted for the BBC’s 2011 Alfred Bradley Bursary Award, is at Newcastle Theatre Royal Studio from 28-29 March. You can get more information at www.swanblack.info.
Jackie Kay longlisted for Sunday Times Short Story Award
Jackie Kay’s short story These Are Not My Clothes has been longlisted for The Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2012. This year’s shortlist will be announced on 4 March and the winner revealed at the Oxford Literary Festival on 30 March. For more information, see www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/5.
Congratulations to Northumberland writer Hazel Osmond, whose debut novel, Who’s Afraid of Mr Wolfe?, has been shortlisted for Romantic Comedy Novel of the year. The awards are funded by the Romantic Novelists Association and you can find further details at www.rna-awards.com. The winners are announced on 5 March and we wish Hazel the best of luck.
Short film competition for Carolyn Jess-Cooke’s next novel
Gateshead writer Carolyn Jess-Cooke’s new novel, The Boy Who Could See Demons, is out this summer and her publisher, Piatkus, is holding a competition inviting filmmakers to send submissions of their idea of a trailer for the book. You can see all the information at www.piatkusbooks.net/calling-all-aspiring-film-makers.
Play publication for Sean Burn
Sean Burn’s new play, Next Swan Down The River Might Be Black, has just been published by Aurora Metro. The play, which was shortlisted for the BBC’s 2011 Alfred Bradley Bursary Award, is at Newcastle Theatre Royal Studio from 28-29 March. You can get more information at www.swanblack.info.
Jackie Kay longlisted for Sunday Times Short Story Award
Jackie Kay’s short story These Are Not My Clothes has been longlisted for The Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2012. This year’s shortlist will be announced on 4 March and the winner revealed at the Oxford Literary Festival on 30 March. For more information, see www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/5.
In the North East
New independent publisher for the North East
McNidder & Grace is a new independent publishing company based in Newcastle upon Tyne publishing high-quality non-fiction and fiction titles. With a particular emphasis on popular culture, it aims to be the home of vibrant books on photography, art, biography, music, country pursuits and crime fiction. For more information, see www.mcnidderandgrace.co.uk.
McNidder & Grace is a new independent publishing company based in Newcastle upon Tyne publishing high-quality non-fiction and fiction titles. With a particular emphasis on popular culture, it aims to be the home of vibrant books on photography, art, biography, music, country pursuits and crime fiction. For more information, see www.mcnidderandgrace.co.uk.
National opportunities
Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition
The Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition is for previously unpublished stories of up to 2,200 words by women writers and is judged this year by Tessa Hadley. First prize is £2,000 plus a week’s writing retreat at Chawton House Library and a day with a Virago editor; second prize is £500; and third prize is £250. Three other finalists win £100 each. All winning stories will be published in issue 54 of Mslexia, published in June 2012. Entry fee is £10 per story. Deadline for submissions: 19 March 2012. For more information, see www.mslexia.co.uk. There are also lots of useful resources on the Mslexia website, including a short story workshop with Sarah Salway and a critiquing service at £45 per story.
David Almond Fellowship for Research in Children’s Literature
The new fellowships aim to promote high-quality research in the Seven Stories collections that will call attention to their breadth and scholarly potential. The two awards of £300 each are to facilitate a research visit to the Seven Stories collections in Newcastle of at least three days by a bona fide researcher working on a relevant project. The fellowships are funded by Newcastle University and Seven Stories. For more details and to apply, see http://sevenstories.org.uk.
BBC Writersroom looking for new comedy writers
BBC Writersroom wants writers who can tell original stories, invent characters and catchphrases that make people laugh out loud and tease the audience to come back for more. The challenge is to write an original comedy studio script with series potential. Open for entries from 1-21 March. For full details, see www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laugh_track_2012.shtml.
The Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition is for previously unpublished stories of up to 2,200 words by women writers and is judged this year by Tessa Hadley. First prize is £2,000 plus a week’s writing retreat at Chawton House Library and a day with a Virago editor; second prize is £500; and third prize is £250. Three other finalists win £100 each. All winning stories will be published in issue 54 of Mslexia, published in June 2012. Entry fee is £10 per story. Deadline for submissions: 19 March 2012. For more information, see www.mslexia.co.uk. There are also lots of useful resources on the Mslexia website, including a short story workshop with Sarah Salway and a critiquing service at £45 per story.
David Almond Fellowship for Research in Children’s Literature
The new fellowships aim to promote high-quality research in the Seven Stories collections that will call attention to their breadth and scholarly potential. The two awards of £300 each are to facilitate a research visit to the Seven Stories collections in Newcastle of at least three days by a bona fide researcher working on a relevant project. The fellowships are funded by Newcastle University and Seven Stories. For more details and to apply, see http://sevenstories.org.uk.
BBC Writersroom looking for new comedy writers
BBC Writersroom wants writers who can tell original stories, invent characters and catchphrases that make people laugh out loud and tease the audience to come back for more. The challenge is to write an original comedy studio script with series potential. Open for entries from 1-21 March. For full details, see www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laugh_track_2012.shtml.
Jobs
Writer needed at North Tyneside school
Marden High School, North Tyneside, is celebrating its 50th year and is looking for a writer to work with classes throughout the school to create a commemorative book. The writer would initially lead a selection of young people from different year groups in school in an activity to capture the ideas on what Marden means to them, and to inspire them to produce creative writing (in any form: prose, poetry, song etc). Practitioners should submit their interest with a brief description of what they would deliver (in no more than 100 words), one reference from a school that they have worked with and the number of days that they anticipate this will take, and their total fee, no later than Wednesday 29 February at 5pm via email to cultural development officer Fiona Kelly at fiona@customshouse.co.uk.
Marden High School, North Tyneside, is celebrating its 50th year and is looking for a writer to work with classes throughout the school to create a commemorative book. The writer would initially lead a selection of young people from different year groups in school in an activity to capture the ideas on what Marden means to them, and to inspire them to produce creative writing (in any form: prose, poetry, song etc). Practitioners should submit their interest with a brief description of what they would deliver (in no more than 100 words), one reference from a school that they have worked with and the number of days that they anticipate this will take, and their total fee, no later than Wednesday 29 February at 5pm via email to cultural development officer Fiona Kelly at fiona@customshouse.co.uk.
Workshops and writing groups
Helen Limon: Write Around the Toon workshop
Newcastle City Library: Thursday 8 March, 10am-12pm & 1pm-4pm
To help celebrate International Women’s Day and Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures, local author Helen Limon is available as the library’s writer in residence to discuss your creative writing. She will be running two drop-in sessions on the day. Please bring along an example of prose of no more than 1,000 words. Free event, no booking required.
Poetry masterclass with Ellen Phethean
Darlington Arts Centre: 10 March, 10am-1pm
It has been said that if you want to write about a wall, the subject is too big, but if you carefully describe one brick, then you end up saying something about the wall after all. In this workshop, organised by Vane Women Press, you will be paying ‘close attention’ in a series of practical exercises, then bringing that knowledge and experience to your writing. Cost: £16. For more information and to book, call 01325 486 555.
The Space Between Us: NALD Conference 2012
The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, London: 27-28 March
A two-day conference programmed by the National Association for Literature Development (NALD) which brings together literature development professionals to explore the influence of changing economic factors, hybrid art forms, emerging platforms and social technology. Delegate rates from £50. For more information, go to www.literaturedevelopment.co.uk/conference.
Newcastle City Library: Thursday 8 March, 10am-12pm & 1pm-4pm
To help celebrate International Women’s Day and Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures, local author Helen Limon is available as the library’s writer in residence to discuss your creative writing. She will be running two drop-in sessions on the day. Please bring along an example of prose of no more than 1,000 words. Free event, no booking required.
Poetry masterclass with Ellen Phethean
Darlington Arts Centre: 10 March, 10am-1pm
It has been said that if you want to write about a wall, the subject is too big, but if you carefully describe one brick, then you end up saying something about the wall after all. In this workshop, organised by Vane Women Press, you will be paying ‘close attention’ in a series of practical exercises, then bringing that knowledge and experience to your writing. Cost: £16. For more information and to book, call 01325 486 555.
The Space Between Us: NALD Conference 2012
The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, London: 27-28 March
A two-day conference programmed by the National Association for Literature Development (NALD) which brings together literature development professionals to explore the influence of changing economic factors, hybrid art forms, emerging platforms and social technology. Delegate rates from £50. For more information, go to www.literaturedevelopment.co.uk/conference.
Miscellany
A message from writer Amy Mackelden: new musician partner needed
Due to my last partner, genius musician Dan Walsh, running off to sunny Stafford after our successful The Copy Room collaboration saw us get commissioned by New Writing North and gig at the Sage, and receive Arts Council funding to be Simon Armitage’s support act at Durham Book Festival 2010, I’m looking for a new person to collaborate with on my words/music show, The 8 fatal mistakes of online dating (and how to avoid them).
If you’re interested, please send a demo/link to some of your music online, a letter of application stating why you would like to be involved and a short resume of your experience so far. I’ll meet up with shortlisted applicants for an informal chat and see if we think we’d want to work with each other. You can find my daily blog at www.july2061.com to get an idea of the poetry/microfiction I write, and you can hear the previous collaboration at www.copyroom.co.uk (I’d love to hear from musicians in any discipline as long as they have a keen interest in creating a music and spoken word show). Contact me on amymackelden@gmail.com.
Correction
In our last newsletter we told you about the Writers’ Café starting at the Settledown Café in Newcastle. We’re afraid we got some of the details wrong, so here is the accurate information:
The Writers’ Café is a new initiative for writers who are keen to find a place to work co-operatively. From 6 March, writers can gather at the Settledown Café to work together in the mornings. The project is being launched from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 29 February at the café. All are welcome.
Tracking the anachronisms on Downton Abbey
Just how historically accurate is the language used on Downton Abbey? Not terribly, apparently…
Due to my last partner, genius musician Dan Walsh, running off to sunny Stafford after our successful The Copy Room collaboration saw us get commissioned by New Writing North and gig at the Sage, and receive Arts Council funding to be Simon Armitage’s support act at Durham Book Festival 2010, I’m looking for a new person to collaborate with on my words/music show, The 8 fatal mistakes of online dating (and how to avoid them).
If you’re interested, please send a demo/link to some of your music online, a letter of application stating why you would like to be involved and a short resume of your experience so far. I’ll meet up with shortlisted applicants for an informal chat and see if we think we’d want to work with each other. You can find my daily blog at www.july2061.com to get an idea of the poetry/microfiction I write, and you can hear the previous collaboration at www.copyroom.co.uk (I’d love to hear from musicians in any discipline as long as they have a keen interest in creating a music and spoken word show). Contact me on amymackelden@gmail.com.
Correction
In our last newsletter we told you about the Writers’ Café starting at the Settledown Café in Newcastle. We’re afraid we got some of the details wrong, so here is the accurate information:
The Writers’ Café is a new initiative for writers who are keen to find a place to work co-operatively. From 6 March, writers can gather at the Settledown Café to work together in the mornings. The project is being launched from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 29 February at the café. All are welcome.
Tracking the anachronisms on Downton Abbey
Just how historically accurate is the language used on Downton Abbey? Not terribly, apparently…
Deadline for the next newsletter
If you have news that you would like to submit for inclusion in the newsletter please contact olivia@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 5 March. The edition of The Listening Post covering April’s literature events will go out in late March. If you have events that you would like to submit for inclusion, you will need to send information by 20 March to olivia@newwritingnorth.com.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge.
