Books & Things – Feb 2010 – Great Literature for Everyone

Books & Things
News, events and opportunities for readers and writers
February 2010 – Great Literature for Everyone

http://literaturenetwork.org

Dear subscriber,

Welcome to the second Books & Things newsletter of 2010, for writers and readers in the East Midlands and beyond. I’m very happy to say that this month we gained our 1000th subscriber, an event so exciting I actually made a small whoop of joy! If you have news, events, opportunities or blog articles you would like our subscribers to know about please email the details to: editor@literaturenetwork.org

NEWS
Arts Council England recently announced Great Arts for Everyone, a national consultation into funding for the arts. The National Association for Literature Development are asking writers and readers to take part in the process, an important opportunity for anyone with an interest in literature to have a say in how it is funded. You can also take part in this debate at the upcoming Writing Industries Conference which announced its full programme last week, including a discussion of how public funding supports the development of writers. And the fabulous Bright Sparks arts in mental health group has published a booklet of service user poetry this month, available for free download.

EVENTS
The deadline for applications for 1-2-1 meetings with agents and editors at the Writing Industries Conference is Monday 8th February (put back from the 5th). Applications are welcomed in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and spoken word. The regions regular live literature and spoken word events are back in full swing after the xmas holidays with WORD, Short Fuse, Rhymes and Wine and the Flying Donkeys presenting a range of great events over the coming weeks. And the sci-fi minded among you might get excited about the chance to think about Science Fiction and Politics at Nottingham Contemporary, and even more excited about the Alt.Fiction festival, which is not until June but tickets are available now (the event is tremendously popular so get them while you can).

OPPORTUNITIES
If talking about funding for literature is not enough for you then why not take the chance to make the decisions yourself ? Arts Council England are advertising for a Relationship Manager, Literature for the East Midlands region. Competition is likely to be fierce but if you think you have what it takes to whip the regions poets and writers in to shape then get your application in before Monday 8th February. Theatre Writing Partnership are offering a range of opportunities for scriptwriters, including a new commission for audio drama. And further afield the Writers and Artists Yearbook Short Story Competition offers a 1st prize of £500. Deadline: 14th February.

BLOGGERS
Helen Jaeger shares her new years writing resolutions. How have you pledged to get writing in 2010, and have you stuck to your guns? Lydia Towsey completes her letter from Jamaica and asks what it is that gives every writer their unique voice. And scriptwriting, ghosts and the swedish language all feature in this months mini round-up of regional blog activity.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you all at one or other great literary event in the month of February.

Damien Walter
Literature Network Coordinator

http://literaturenetwork.org

(To unsubscribe from this newsletter please email ‘unsubscribe’ to editor@literaturenetwork.org)