Dear students and friends of WSL

Do take a look at our lively revamped website on www.writingschoolleicester.co.uk

We have put together a strong programme for autumn 2010 and spring 2011 with Secret Scribblers modules that are ideal for new writers through to advanced industry-facing courses that offer chance to get a story or poem into our first ever Writing School Anthology, or to showcase a short play at a professional Rehearsed Reading.

We are excited that WSL is taking part in October in 2 local ‘Weeks’. You’ll find updates on how you can get involved with us in the city-wide Everybody’s Reading Festival on our website Events page.

We are also in the early stages of planning a debate for Local Democracy Week, 11th – 15th October. We are inviting suggestions from you for a really lively topic on any theme to attract a big audience. Mel Read, a Writing School Leicester board member and former Member of the European Parliament, has kindly agreed to chair this event. If you have an idea for debate or would be interested in becoming a panellist, do get in touch with me.

Keep checking our website for updates on courses and events. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks.

Val Moore
val.moore@writingschoolleicester.co.uk

Exploring Fiction for Women’s Magazines – new for 2010, a two-day residential course in the heart of the Midlands.

Fancy two days of creating, plotting, structuring and above all writing short stories for the women’s magazine market in relaxed, friendly and very well-catered surroundings? Then this could be the course for you.

Working under the lead of widely-published short story and serial writer Joanna Barnden, ‘Exploring Fiction for Women’s Magazines’ will give you the positive atmosphere, focused feedback and constructive time necessary to hone your writing skills for this lucrative market.

The course will be held Friday June 25th – Sat June 26th and will look to explore everything you need to know to capture an editor’s attention, whilst also giving you time to put this information into practice in your own writing, and providing individual feedback on your work.

The course will be held in the attractive ‘Hillview House’ in Sutton Bonington with overnight accomodation in the luxurious new facilities at the Nottingham University campus across the road. With the cost at only £195 all-inclusive, this is a chance for a stimulating break that could really advance your writing career.

For more information contact Joanna on joannabarnden@tiscali.co.uk or 01332 824405 or visit her website: www.joannabarnden.co.uk

Monday 15th February, 2-5pm, Nottingham Central Library, Cecil Roberts Room.

Develop your comedy writing skills with acclaimed comic and performance poet Rob Gee. 

About Rob Gee:  Performance poet, comic, workshop leader and reformed psychiatric nurse, Rob combines elements of theatre, comedy and literature in his live act. From diabolical chat up lines to the end of the world, he insists the human tragedy is a gleeful comedy. Fast, furious and very funny, Rob uses inventive wordplay, whiplash couplets and motored rhythm to tap into the world of chaos and adventure that lurks behind the veneer of everyday life.

This FREE workshop will give writers of all levels the chance to explore comedy writing. Participants will be guided through the process of developing their on comedy ideas and will learn tips for developing plot lines and  characters.

This is a FREE workshop but places are limited and must be booked at Nottingham Central Library ground floor helpdesk or call 0115 915 2824. 

For further information contact Kate Wilkinson on kate.wilkinson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call 0115 9151170 (Wednesdays and Thursdays). 

Part of Nottinghamshire Loves Learning’s Big Learning Weekend.

In association with the Nottingham Comedy Festival. 

Tutor: Damien G. Walter
Leicester Adult Education Centre, Wellington Street
Tuesday 19.00-21.00, 5 sessions from 12th January
Science fiction, fantasy and horror are among the most popular genres of contemporary fiction, producing best selling novels and influencing films and computer games. But many of the most successful writers learned their craft and broke into the industry by writing short stories. Students will learn how to plan, write and edit a sci-fi short story and gain valuable insight into the process of publication.

Book here

Develop your comedy writing skills with acclaimed comic and performance poet Rob Gee.  Monday, 30th November 2009 Nottingham Central Library, 10am – 4pm.

This FREE workshop will give writers of all levels the chance to explore comedy writing in depth. Participants will be guided through the process of developing their own comedy ideas, learn tips for developing plot lines and characters, and receive feedback on any work currently in progress.

Rob Gee is a performance poet, comic, workshop leader and reformed psychiatric nurse., combining comedy and literature in his live act. Fast, furious and very funny, Rob uses inventive wordplay, whiplash couplets and motored rhythm to tap into the world of chaos and adventure that lurks behind the veneer of everyday life!

Book early to avoid disappointment! This is a FREE event and places are limited. To book your place visit the Ground Floor Helpdesk of Nottingham Central Library or call 0115 915 2824. For further information contact Kate Wilkinson on 0115 915 1170 or email kate.wilkinson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk (Wed and Thurs).

The Study, Nottingham Contemporary
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Three Thursdays, December
Nottingham Contemporary presents a poetry workshop to accompany the exhibition of the work of David Hockney and Frances Stark. Over three 1.5-hour meetings, writers will create new poems; explore readings of texts by writers whose work influences Hockney and Stark; read work by Frances Stark and other writers who blur genres and boundaries in their writing; and discuss such topics as ekphrasis, collage, hybridity, fragmentation, form, line, and pastiche. We will spend time in the galleries talking about the Hockney and Stark exhibitions and responding to the work of each artist.

Each workshop will begin with a writing exercise, include a short lecture, and incorporate peer critique, revision strategies, and discussion of the texts (visual and literary).

Instructor: Éireann Lorsung. Enrolment is capped at 8. Three 1.5-hour workshops, £25/£15 concessions.

A series of twelve free comedy workshops to be facilitated by renowned comedian Rob Gee with the support of Tim Sayers.

The workshops will prepare our participants to take part in a ‘Comedy Cabaret’ show to take place at The Guildhall, Leicester as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival 2010.

WORKSHOPS TO COMMENCE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20TH 2009 THEN EACH FRIDAY COMMENCING AT
1.00 PM AND CLOSING AT 3.00 PM.

The show to take place on the evening of Saturday 20th February 2010 commencing at 7.00 pm till 9.30 pm.

VENUE FOR WORKSHOPS:
27A, ACCESS ARTSPACE,
(The Old Chrysler Garage.)
Northgate Street,
Leicester. LE3 5BY
Tel: 07523 205 337.

The workshops will involve;

- Exploring a variety of different comedy styles.
- Support with preparation of acts for the show.
- Support with development of performance skills.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
TIM SAYERS ON: 0779 547 5806.

Everyone has a story. What’s yours?

My Story is a new BBC project to gather the Nation’s true stories and publish them online. The BBC wants to hear from everyone. Next year, 15 of the best stories will be made into TV programmes for BBC One.

True stories have inspired some of the most successful books and films of all time; by offering the chance to follow in their footsteps, My Story hopes to inspire the whole Nation with reading and writing.

To help you write your story, we are holding Story Hubs across the East Midlands inviting you to submit a true story. Come and get help with creative writing and story telling, improve literacy and writing skills and find inspiration to turn your real life experience into a story to be published on the BBC My story website. Don’t worry if you are not confident with a computer, we can help you! You can write yiur story on the day or come and get some help and resources and submit your story in your own time up until December.

The My Story website will gather and show stories from members of the public and feature celebrities own real-life stories, along with inspiring famous true stories. The site will feature videos and interactive tools to help people plan and structure their stories as well as tips on writing styles and skills.

Events near you:
Monday 19th October – BBC Leicester Open Centre, 10.00 – 16.00
Wednesday 21st October – The Arts Organisation, Nottingham 10.00 – 16.00
Friday 23rd October – Quad, Derby, 10.00 – 16.00

Enquiries: Please call 0116 251 6688

NOTTINGHAM POETRY SERIES
SUMMER INTENSIVE WORKSHOP 2009

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

Where is poetry? And what is poetry? Who are we to make these judgments, whatever they may be, on a personal or social level? As we study together for two weeks, these questions will be among the most important that we will encounter and use.

This is an intensive, two-week-long poetry workshop, to be held for two hours in the afternoon three times a week. The workshop is designed for beginning and intermediate writers of poetry. Participants will be expected to work at an accelerated pace and an advanced level.

The workshop will incorporate readings (provided; to be retrieved before the first meeting), craft talks, writing exercises, discussion, memorization of poems, and peer critique sessions. It will be a place for deep investigation of texts—others’ and the workshop-goers’ own—in order to figure out what poetry does and what it can be. The success of the workshop in this form relies on the sincere participation of its members. It is imperative that each participant give the readings and his/her own writing ample time, as well as attend each of the six sessions.

The workshop will run in two identical sessions. Session I will take place June 8-19; Session II will take place June 29-July 10. Meetings will be from 2-4 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, on the University of Nottingham campus.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Éireann Lorsung holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota, where she also taught poetry and writing. Her first book, Music for Landing Planes By (Milkweed Editions), was published in 2007. A second, Projet linguistique, is forthcoming in 2010, also from Milkweed Editions. Other work can be seen in journals such as Prairie Schooner, Diode, and Barrelhouse. She lives in Nottingham, where she is pursuing a PhD in Cultural Studies.

FEES

Participation in the workshop is £60. A limited number of bursaries are available. If you are applying for a bursary, you must include a separate statement of no more than 200 words explaining your circumstances.

HOW TO APPLY

The Nottingham Poetry Series Summer Intensive Workshop application includes a statement of interest and a writing sample. Your sample should be recent work (please note if published). Please include your name and contact information (including email) on all copies. Documents must be typed on regular paper; no emails will be accepted.

Writing Sample: 6 poems.

Statement: No more than 300 words expressing your experience with poetry, and your interest in participating in the workshops in terms of your general, academic, and personal interest, as well as your goals for the two weeks.

DEADLINES:
For Session I: May 18 (notification week of May 25)
For Session II: June 1 (notification week of June

For postal delivery of materials:

Nottingham Poetry Series
Summer Intensive Workshop (specify I or II)
Trent Building Room B4b
School of Modern Languages and Cultures
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD

Offers you the time and space to write without distractions, in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District. Superb, peaceful retreat near to Windermere. Next retreat takes place 17th-23rd July 2009 from only £200 per person, homecooked meals included. Optional excursions include trip to Dove Cottage, Mirehouse, and The Home of Beatrix Potter. Writing facilitator available for feedback. Group discounts may be available. Email shaikhf@hotmail.com for further details.

25 Mar 2009 – 29 Apr 2009 – London
Matt Roberts Arts is a not for profit organisation that works with early and mid- career artists to aid their personal development plans and provide them with structured but informal educational opportunities. read more…

24 Mar 2009 – 25 Mar 2009 – London
An exciting new format course for writers designed to strengthen your screenwriting skills and supported by MovieScope magazine. read more…

Emerging technology and the possibilities for CPD. This will be a fantastic opportunity to get up to speed with the latest developments in Web 2.0 for professional development in the arts and crafts and make valuable connections with other members working in this area. read more…