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Writing West Midlands’ news, events, activities

Writing West Midlands in September 2011: this month sees preparations for the Birmingham Book Festival in full swing. Keen students of literary programming will note that this year’s Festival is even more carefully nurtured than usual, with many events being unique to the Festival and a far greater use of inspiring Birmingham venues: we think of it as market gardening rather than factory farming, if that doesn’t stretch the metaphor too far. September also sees the launch of a new flotilla of Write On! Writing Squads. These writing groups for children and young people are about giving young writers the support they need to set sail. And also for young writers our Write On! Writers in Schools programme will begin work with eight schools this term, bringing professional writers into classrooms around the region. Finally, finishing touches are being made to The Writers’ Toolkit, our annual writers networking day, which takes place this year on Saturday 19th November 2011.

The Birmingham Book Festival 6th – 16th October 2011

This year’s Birmingham Book Festival is an eclectic mixture of events and activities. As well as events with well known writers including Will Self, Stuart Maconie, Jenn Ashworth, Alan Hollinghurst and Imtiaz Dharker, there are many events especially curated for the Festival. Here are a few examples:

Festival Launch, new Poet Laureate and Literary Quiz: The Yumm Cafe at Zellig (The Custard Factory) is our venue for launching the Festival and announcing the new Birmingham Poet Laureate. Radio Four poet Matt Harvey will host and chair our Literary Quiz (back by popular demand – enter a team in advance via joanne@birminghambookfestival.org).

All Night at The Museum – A Writing Workshop: Based at the Birmingham Collections Centre and run by the novelist Judith Allnatt, this is a unique (and we use the word accurately in this instance) opportunity to write all night inspired by artefacts from across the centuries. Also see our other writing workshops.

States of Independence (West Midlands): Independent publishers from the West Midlands and across the country converge on the Eastside Projects Gallery for a day showing off their wares! Performances, discussions, readings and gorgeous books to browse and buy. Readers, writers, agents (secret or otherwise) all welcome to drop-in!

Developing Writers at the BBC: Paul Ashton, Development Producer at BBC’s Writersroom, is responsible for finding and nurturing drama, comedy and children’s programmes. Presented with the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (the trade union representing writers in TV, radio, theatre, books, poetry, film, online and video games).

W G Sebald: Presetation: In a presentation entitled Beyond Literature, Jo Catling and Uwe Schütte will examine aspects of the life and works of the German writer W G Sebald, ten years after his untimely death. W G Sebald is considered to be one of Europe’s finest writers.

Dice Slam; an Apples & Snakes Hit the Ode special: Top international performance poets (from at least eight nations) and an absurd set of rules bring you a thrilling competitive evening of entertaining poetry! And a hand-picked jury of quick-witted experts… yeah, right.

The Writers’ Walk: What a lovely idea… on the last day of the Festival anyone who wishes to combine their daily constitutional with conversation about books, reading and writing can meet up at the MAC Cafe and saunter for an hour or so along the autumnal rides of Cannon Hill Park. All are welcome; just turn up. If wet… then we get wet!

The Closing Party and Open Mic: Fabulous Dutch performance poets Ellen Deckwitz and Daan Doesborgh (‘the bosses of spoken word’) bring the Festival to a joyful close, and there’s an Open Mic with you, honoured poets of the Midlands and beyond! (book by 1st October via joanne@birminghambookfestival.org)

And finally, some of our favourite things… don’t forget to drop in to our Festival Shop (foyer of the Central Library) to buy books and tickets and our Festival Cafe (the lovely Cafe Blend on Navigation Street) to drink our special ‘Festival Blends’. And if you are from out of town or would like to make the most of a night out check into our Festival Hotel (the very chic Bloc Hotel in the Jewellery Quarter). And of course, do read our Festival Book, Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth. Bodies in the Library is also worth experiencing and our Short Story Competition is worth entering. Enough!

Write On! Writing Squads – Writing Groups for Children and Young People: For the last year we have been running our Write On! Writing Squads for young people in Birmingham (two groups) and Hereford. Now we are launching groups in Coventry, Hereford (a second group), Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, Stratford upon Avon and Walsall. Further groups are planned for Redditch and Staffordshire. For details e-mail joanne@writingwestmidlands.org.

Write On! Writers in Schools Programme 2011 - 2012: Our popular writers in schools programme is gearing up for the new academic year. If you are interested in knowing more about our work with schools across the West Midlands please e-mail jonathan@writingwestmidlands.org.

Getting Started as a Writer in Education: In partnership with National Association of Writers in Education. Friday 16th September 2011, 10.00am – 1.00pm. This workshop day aims to provide a toolkit for writers wishing to work in a range of educational fields. It is ideal for writers wanting to explore how they might look for work, who to contact, what to offer and discuss what schools and other educational settings might be looking for.  There will be an introduction to current curriculum areas that are relevant to writers as well as lots of practical tips and opportunities for discussion. Facilitators: Anne Caldwell and Jonathan Davidson. Fees £20 NAWE members, £35 non members. Tea and Coffee provided. The Mac Arts Centre, Edgbaston Road, Birmingham, B12 9QH. How to Book: Email a.caldwell@nawe.co.uk or tel. 07818 052108.

The Writers’ Toolkit – Saturday 19th November 2011: Our annual writer networking day. Last year’s sold out so drop us a note to get on the advance booking list. Please e-mail jonathan@writingwestmidlands.org.

Other news, events, activities

Rhymes: 21st September 2011, The Station Pub, Kings Heath, Birmingham. 8pm, £5. This month’s poets are: JAMES BUNTING, JAMES BARNETT, NAOMI PAUL, DAVID CALCUTT plus Special Guests THE DECADENT POETRY DIVA’S! 
 
 Poets for Change, UK Birmingham: On the 24th September 2011 Poets in 360 cities representing 80 countries will collectively host one of the largest poetry readings in history with over 450 individual events scheduled to take place to promote environmental,social, and political change.  We are pleased to say that UK, central Birmingham is now one of the areas taking action. Our theme is change. Would you like to be one of our Poets for Change? If so, great. Let us know about it here.

Ian McMillan in Shifnal: IAN MCMILLAN & TONY HUSBAND present at the Shifnal Festival on September 21^st at the Village Hall…. A Cartoon History of Here. Tickets £12.50.

The Story Book – David Baboulene: Story Principles – An Intense one day seminar for writers, 1^st October 2011 at Birmingham City University. Presented by David Baboulene, Author and Award winning scriptwriter. David Baboulene is a published author of five books. He has had three film production deals; one here in the UK, two in Hollywood. In October 2011 David will be bringing his Story Seminars to The Midlands, beginning at Birmingham City University. The Story Book (available on Amazon) answers the right questions writers should ask: What is a story? Why do stories exist? How do they work? What gives one story power and another one not? What can I do to make the very best of my story ideas? What tools are available to me to make stories that grip and intrigue? To book your ticket to this exciting and informative event log on to www.baboulene.com. Tickets £49.00.
  
National Poetry Competition: Now in its 34th year, the Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious poetry competitions. The judges this year are Colette Bryce, John Glenday and Jackie Kay. Winners include both established and emerging poets and for many the prize has proved an important milestone in their professional careers. Add your name to a roll-call of winners that includes Carol Ann Duffy, Ian Duhig, Philip Gross, Jo Shapcott and Tony Harrison – and have your work published in the Poetry Society’s leading international journal, Poetry Review. The prizes are: £5,000 for the overall winner, £2,000 for the second, £1,000 for the third and seven commendations of £100. The deadline is 31^st October. Enter online or download an entry form at www.poetrysociety.org.uk
 
Proofreading Service: Diana Holt is a freelance proofreader based in Birmingham, keen to find work with local writers and publishers. She offers a very personalised service of checking documents, at whatever stage of completion, for errors in spelling, grammar, word-order, layout and so forth – those details you may be either too busy to check yourself, or need a second eye to confirm, prior to the next stage of publication. As this is a new service her rates are negotiable, starting at £10.00 per hour. Contact on 07799 644338 or di_holt@hotmail.com.
   
 Poetry Workshop with Jacqui Rowe: Read, write, share and enjoy poetry – each session offers the opportunity to read and discuss poets’ response to a theme, including senses, objects, voices, surprises and journeys, through poetry from a wide range of origins. Inspiring and stimulating activities encourage and support you in exploring the theme in your own poetry before sharing it with others in the group. Beginners and more established readers and writers of poetry are all welcome. Start date: Monday 10th Oct 2011. Session times: Mondays, fortnightly, 7-9pm. Cost: Full cost £57, 60+ £45, Concs £34. Venue: Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX.

Celebrate Wha: Celebrate the launch of an important new anthology of reginal poetry on Thursday 22nd September at the Drum.

Write Now One Act Play Festival, Liverpool: From Friday 30 March to Saturday 07 April 2012, Write Now, the THIRD annual Liverpool One-Act Play Festival, will present a repertoire of new one-act theatre productions in The Actor’s Studio, Seel Street, Liverpool. Submission deadline 23rd September 2011.
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Sanjeev Sahota in Burton on Trent: An audience with local author Sunjeev Sahota at Burton Library
Thursday 15th September, 7pm – 8:30pm. Tickets available from Burton Library on 01283 239556,
priced £3.50 (£3 library members, half price concessions). Refreshments included.

Literature Events at MAC, Birmingham: Friday 23rd September – BBC Radio 3: The Verb; Thursday 29th September – Battle of the Wordsmiths; Friday 18th November – Pen-ultimate: A Night on the Tiles.

Variety Night, The Imperial, Bilston: Featuring STEVE BEST, ISZI LAWRENCE, THE ANTIPOET, JO BELL. Saturday 17^th September 2011. Door open 7.30pm, entertainment starts 8.00pm. TICKETS: £10 INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY INDIAN MEAL. TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR OR CONTACT BIG DEAL MUSIC:  01902 423567 OR CAFÉ METRO: 01902 498888 or emmaasif@hotmail.com. 41 LICHFIELD STREET, BILSTON WV14 0AJ  TEL 01902 405423.

New Novel from Tom Bryson: Tom Bryson’s latest Birmingham-based crime novel is Too Smart to Die. Great reviews and how to buy it on www.tombyrsonwriter.co.uk.

A Writing Workshop with David Calcutt: Other Voices is a series of writing workshops led by novelist, playwright and poet David Calcutt, in which writers explore different environments and give a voice to what they discover there. The second workshop will be a journey around Lichfield Cathedral. Saturday 24th^thSeptember, 11am – 2pm. Meeting outside the cathedral entrance, and gathering later at the nearby Minster Coffee Shop for writing, sharing and lunch (not included in cost). Cost: £8. To book a place please email: davidcalcutt@hotmail.com

Arts Master Classes, Tamworth Assembly Rooms: Writing Workshop, 7^thNovember, 2pm – 4pm. A session covering all the essentials for aspiring authors, such as dealing with publishers and agents, submitting to anthologies and competitions, self-publishing and how to develop as a writer. Also workshops on Stanislavski, Fashion and Singing Workshop between September and December 2011. Fee £8 per workshop. Box Office: 01827 709 618. www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk

Next Newsletter… October 2011

Please send copy for our next newsletter by 25th September 2011. Copy should be send to jonathan@writingwestmidlands.org. A title, website link and short paragraph (in the third person) in a word format is appreciated. Please don’t send images, pdfs, jpegs, logos, monographs, essays or festschrifts!

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Writing West Midlands

Unit 116, The Custard Factory

Gibb Street

Birmingham, West Midlands B9 4AA
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