Writer Training
Writing West Midlands’ Writer Training Programme
We are developing a programme of writer training activities for emerging and professional writers (in the region and further afield). The next to take place is as follows:
Earning Your Living as a Writer in Education and Community Settings
Monday 13 February 2012, 10.00am–1.00pm
in partnership with National Association of Writers in Education and with the support of the Warwick Writing Programme for Schools at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands.
Do you want to combine running workshops with people and a writing career? Are you on a Creative Writing MA or have you recently graduated? This workshop aims to explore the various ways of earning a living through working in educational or community settings and will cover the basics of what you need to develop your skills.
Guest speakers will discuss their own career paths in these fields. The workshop will be practical, participatory and give you a chance to network with other writers in the same situation as yourself in an informal and friendly setting.
Facilitators: Anne Caldwell, Jonathan Davidson and guest writers.
Fee: £35; £20 NAWE members. Lunch is not provided but there is a café on site.
To book: Email a.caldwell[at]nawe.co.uk Tel: 07818 052108
Room 204
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 20th February 2012
Room 204 is for emerging writers living or working in the West Midlands who are looking for career development. It will support 15 -20 writers per year. We will offer each writer at least a year of support, including meetings and planning sessions in the first year, with follow up contact in subsequent years. This programme would be particularly suited to those who have previously had some work published, have demonstrated a commitment to developing their work over a period of time, or those who have graduated from creative writing HE courses. The programme is free and requires only a time commitment of approximately 3 days/6 half days per year. .
For more information, visit the Room 204 page here or email Joanne Penn, Administrative Assistant, Writing West Midlands joanne[at]writingwestmidlands.org for an application form.
Other Writer Training Opportunities
Formal Writer Training
In the West Midlands, there are several routes. The University of Birmingham run an MPhil in Playwriting, plus a new BA in Creative Writing. Birmingham City University runs an MA in Writing which is run in association with the National Academy of Writing. The Universities of Warwick, Northampton and Wolverhampton all have similar creative writing courses.
Non-Formal Writer Training
If you have never written before, you might want to consider creative writing workshops, taster courses or similar activities. These can often be found at literary festivals, libraries and many points inbetween.
If you are an aspiring, or student, writer, you may find more advanced workshops or courses like those run by the Arvon Foundation useful. A programme of poetry workshops is run by Jacqui Rowe and Merideth Andrea: details at www.makingpoetry.co.uk.