Tendril Literary Magazine is open to submissions for its first issue ...

Tendril Literary Magazine is an online collection of poetry, short fiction, and other words published with the seasons.


Send your unusually compelling poetry, short fiction under 1,500 words, and/or cover art. They are especially interested in experimental, surrealist, and absurdist work. 

Deadline is June 1st 2013.

Tendril will be published online with the seasons and a yearly anthology of highlights from the online magazine is probable.  

For complete guidelines, visit www.tendrilmag.tumblr.com/guidelines.

Sue Hubbard Girl in White: A reading followed by talk and discussion

Thursday December 6th 2012 7.00-9.00pm

Address
336 Old St, 2nd Floor, London, EC1V 9DR

Contact
+44 (0)20 7739 4055
direct@charliesmithlondon.com
www.charliesmithlondon.com

In conjunction with:

Dominic Shepherd

Jerusalem

Exhibition Dates
Friday November 23rd – Saturday December 22nd 2012

Gallery Hours
Wednesday–Saturday 11am–6pm
or by appointment

***
The award-winning poet, art critic and novelist, Sue Hubbard, will be reading from and talking about the background to her acclaimed novel, Girl in White, based on the life of the early German Expressionist painter, Paula Modersohn-Becker (born in 1895) and her relationship with the celebrated poet Rainer Maria Rilke. This will be followed by a question and answer session led by the painter Dominic Shepherd, whose exhibition, Jerusalem will be showing in the gallery.

Fay Weldon has said of Girl in White that it is “a literary tour de force, you are the less for not reading it”.

John Berger has called it “a haunting novel.”

The work of Paula Modersohn-Becker is not much known in this country; though as a painter she was far ahead of her time and deserves a place alongside the likes of Gwen John and Frida Kahlo. Sue Hubbard has broadly followed the events of her life in order to give colour and texture to her singular existence, as well as place her against the background of her times in Germany where, after her death, her work was denounced as degenerate by the Nazis. Her intense relationship with the poet Rilke, whom she met in the artists’ colony of Worswede on the wild north German moors, her eventual marriage to the older academic painter Otto Modersohn, and her struggle to find a balance between being a painter, wife and mother are issues that many women can still relate to today. Paula died at the age of 31, from an embolism 6 weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Mathilde. It is through the eyes of a fictional Mathilde, a young violinist who finds herself pregnant by her Jewish musician lover and forced to flee Berlin in 1933, that we learn of Paula’s story.

Please contact gallery for further information (details above).
 

Sue Hubbard is an award-winning poet, novelist and freelance art critic. Twice winner of the London Writers competition and a Hawthornden Fellow she has published two collections of poetry: Everything Begins with the Skin, (Enitharmon) and Ghost Station, (Salt) and a limited edition of poems illustrated by Donald Teskey: The Idea of Islands (Occasional Press, Ireland). Her first novel, Depth of Field, was published by Dewi Lewis and her acclaimed short story collection, Rothko’s Red, by Salt. The Poetry Society’s only official Public Art poet, she was responsible for London’s largest public art poem at Waterloo. Awarded two prestigious residences to Yaddo, USA, she was also the recipient of a major Arts Council Literary Award for her novel, Girl in White, published by Cinnamon Press. Her poems have been broadcast on Radio 3 and 4.

Much More Than A Writing Competition: Escalator Literature

Are You A Writer Of Genre Fiction Based In The East Of England?

Enter Writers' Centre Norwich Escalator Literature Competition

What type of genre writing do you specialise in? Whether it's a nail-biting crime writing novel or a sublime twist of historical fiction, prepare to enter your best genre fiction writing to  Escalator Literature Competition to win a year’s worth of professional development, funding support, and intros to agents and publishers. 

Deadline: Wednesday 28th November 2012 by 5pm

About the Competition

This year's Escalator scheme is looking for writers of genre fiction or inventive mash-ups of genre. Open to writers from the East of England who want to get professional, enter now if you think you would benefit from: 

•    One-To-One Mentoring

A year’s worth of support from professional writers (Tobias Hill, Natasha Cooper, Cathi Unsworth, David Rain and Michelle Spring).

•    Supported Applications For Grants

You will be coached through an application for an Arts Council England.

•    Professional Development Workshops

A tailored range of workshops designed to give you the information you need to get ahead in the world of genre writing.

•    Introductions To Agents and Publishers

Your work will be introduced to agents, publishers and other industry professionals and you will take part in a special London reception at the end of the year promoting you and your work.

•    Peer Support

Across 2013, ten winning genre fiction writers will be supported through Escalator Literature. Many of the Escalator graduates are still in touch with their group and find it of invaluable benefit to go through the year talking to each other.

When?

The Escalator Literature Genre Fiction Competition is open now. Submissions must reach us by 5pm on Wednesday 28th November. See eligibility guidelines below.

It Works

Escalator Literature is an Arts Council funded initiative and has been running for seven years. Many Escalator Literature prize winners have gone on to find agents and get published: Guy Saville, Helen Ivory, Susan Sellers and Nicola Upson are all graduates of the scheme.

Who Can Apply?

We welcome applications from writers of ambitious, high quality genre fiction, which include Crime, Thriller, Horror, Ghost, Mystery, Historical, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Romance, Humour, Espionage and inventive mash-ups of genre (think Haruki Murakami).

Escalator Literature is open to writers currently resident in the East of England, who think that a period of structured support would enable them to develop artistically. Successful applicants will demonstrate considerable creative talent and potential for development and will commit to the Escalator Literature scheme and the work they undertake as part of it.

Eligibility Guidelines:

Applicants must

• Be over the age of 18 years old

• Be resident in the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk)

• Application must be in written in English

• Submit single authored works only

• Demonstrate creative talent and potential for development

• Be available to attend a mentoring session on Saturday 26 January 2013

• Be writers of genre fiction: Crime, Thriller, Horror, Ghost, Mystery, Historical, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Romance, Humour, Espionage and inventive mash-ups of genre

Applicants must not

• Be studying for a full time academic qualification in creative writing at the time of applying for the GFTA (January 2013)

• Applicants must not have previously published or self published a full length work of fiction

• Applicants must not have received an Arts Council Grants for the Arts award in the previous three years

• Applicants must not be employees of Writers’ Centre Norwich

Want to Apply? Here's How:

Apply and Pay Online

Please pay online here, filling in the questionnaire and then printing out your e-receipt. You will need to pay a processing fee of £5 online, and we accept credit and debit cards.

Applicants may not apply more than once.

If you have not already registered with Writers’ Centre Norwich you will be asked to register.

If you are unable to pay online please contact 01603 877177.

Then Send Writers' Centre Norwich Your Application

Once you have paid online please submit the following by post:

•    A Sample Of Your Work (3 x copies)*

Up to 3000 words typed (hand-written submissions will not be accepted), single-spaced 12pt on A4. Note – this sample of work should be a sample of work that demonstrates the quality of your writing and should be an extract from a piece of longer writing.

•    An Application Letter (3 x copies)*

Please send a type-written covering letter no longer than one side of A4 paper including:

•    The context and scope of your writing submission

•    A short biography of your writing history 

•    An explanation of where you are in your writing life and how you would benefit from Escalator Literature

•    The Receipt From Your Online Payment

*Please include your online booking reference number on all copies of your documentation. You can include your name on your application letter, but please do not include it on your writing submission.

Please send the receipt for your online payment along with three copies of your writing sample and three copies of your covering letter to:

Escalator 2012/13

Writers’ Centre Norwich

14 Princes Street

Norwich

NR3 1AE

DEADLINE: Wednesday 28th November 2012 by 5pm

Your application must reach their office by this date.

If you need further information about the Escalator Genre Fiction Competition then Writers' Centre Norwich are very happy to talk to you informally and answer any questions:

Please contact: Anna Selby on 01603 877177. 

Email: anna.selby@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk

What Happens Next?

The ten Escalator winners and commended applicants will be notified by Wednesday 23rd January 2013. Good luck!

 

For further info please visit Writers' Centre Norwich.

Young Writers Wanted for Journal Opportunity

Are you a young writer, 15-19, would you like to see your work in print in The Journal newspaper? If so, you might be interested in this fantastic opportunity from New Writing North and Juice Festival.

To tie in with one of the themes in this year's Juice Festival, the organisers are looking for a story on the theme of DRAGONS. So whether you’re inspired by knights of the round table and damsels in distress, or would like to take a rather more metaphorical angle on the theme, they can’t wait to read your work. Your story must be between 1,750-2,000 words long and have a 'dragon' theme. Stories should be sent as an attachment to laura@newwritingnorth.com, accompanied by a 50-word biography. The deadline for entries is Friday 12th October 2012.

Good Luck!

Article on Music and Creative Writing by James Carter in Teach Primary Magazine

Teach Primary magazine is full of articles, ideas, lesson plans and news for primary schools. They also have 2 sister publications, Teach Secondary and Teach Nursery. Recently, James Carter's article on how to motivate pupils' creativity with music and it was published in Teach Primary magazine. Many thanks to Joe Carter, Editor, who has allowed us to share the feature with you.

For more information on Teach Primary visit www.teachprimary.com and for more info on James Carter visit www.bookapoet.co.uk/James Carter or email us at info@bookapoet.co.uk.

© Copyright 2012 Teach Primary. Do not use without publisher’s permission.

© Copyright 2012 Teach Primary. Do not use without publisher’s permission.

Costa’s New Short Story Prize

The new Award is for a single, previously unpublished short story of up to 4,000 words by an author aged 18 years or over and written in English. The author’s primary residence must have been the UK or Ireland for the past three years.

Entry opens on Monday 16^th July 2012 and closes at 4pm on Friday 7^th September 2012.  Entries must be submitted online via a dedicated page at www.costabookawards.com.  Entrants need not have been previously published but publishers and agents may submit entries on behalf of authors.

All entries will be judged anonymously – in other words, without the identity of the author being available to the judges.

A panel of five judges will select a shortlist of six entries which will be revealed in November. The public will then be invited to vote online for their favourite story from the six finalists. 

The winner will be announced at the Costa Book Awards ceremony on 29^th January 2013 and will receive £3,500; two runners-up will each receive £750.

The judges for the 2012 Costa Short Story Award are:

Richard Beard: Director of the National Academy of Writing

Fanny Blake: Novelist and Journalist; Books Editor of Woman & Home

Gary Kemp: Songwriter and guitarist for Spandau Ballet; Actor and Writer

Victoria Hislop: Writer

Simon Trewin: Agent, William Morris Endeavor

Enter online via a dedicated page at www.costabookawards.com.

The Wicked Young Writers’ Award, established by the long-running West End musical Wicked, today presents its free Wicked Young Writers Assembly featuring Michael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate and award-winning author of War Horse. 

The unique creative writing resource for schools is designed to motivate and inspire original ideas for writing within the classroom. The videos show Michael Morpurgo discussing his creative process, an exclusive talk with Wicked cast members Rachel Tucker and Chloe Taylor, plus an exclusive reading of Outlaw: The Story of Robin Hood (Harper Collins Children’s Books) by Michael Morpurgo.

Teachers can download or stream the Assembly online at:

WickedYoungWriters.com/Assembly

Michael Morpurgo says of the Wicked Young Writers’ Award: “With the encouragement of their teachers and families I hope the excitement of the Wicked Young Writers’ Award will see original and creative writing coming through and hopefully instill in them a passion to become the authors, script writers, poets and dramatists of the future."

The webcasts are accompanied by a bespoke curriculum-linked creative writing resource developed in association with the National Literacy Trust. The downloadable frameworks explore the writing process and suggest possible themes and approaches support teachers in bringing together a variety of work on narrative with the view of entering pupils’ pieces of writing for the award.

Now in its third year, the “prestigious award” (The Times) recognises excellence in writing, encourages creativity, and helps develop writing talent in young people between 5-25 years old nationwide. The Award is spearheaded by Michael Morpurgo, receives patronage from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and works in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

This year's Wicked Young Writers’ Award is currently accepting entries and the closing date s Tuesday 31st July 2012. Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips on entering the Wicked Young Writers’ Award at www.WickedYoungWriters.com.

The Wicked Young Writers’ Award is separated into five age categories as follows: 5-7, 8-10, 11-14 and 15-17, and an individual Gregory Maguire Award for 18-25 year-olds.  Young people from across the UK and Northern Ireland are free to submit entries to enter a piece of writing on a theme or subject of their choice, written at home or at school.  Teachers are encouraged to enter writing on behalf of pupils through a schools’ entry form and online Teachers’ Resource featuring exclusive video tips for inspiring and encouraging writing in the classroom. 

Through its For Good programme, Wicked champions and supports a range of causes borne out of the themes of the musical: Teach The Difference, a partnership with St John Ambulance, draws on the values of lead character Elphaba to produce a uniquely engaging way of teaching first aid in the classroom; Wicked Day, an annual free afternoon of family fun, celebrates the show to raise environmental awareness in support of The Woodland Trust’s “More Trees, More Good” campaign; spearheaded by Michael Morpurgo with patronage from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, the yearly Wicked Young Writers’ Award encourages creativity to develop writing talent and literacy in young people nationwide. Wicked is also proud to be an official partner of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, and the charity Mousetrap Theatre Projects, with whom the show has worked over the past 5 years to enable thousands of under privileged and special needs children to experience the show.

For further information on this competition and the For Good programme, please visit  www.WickedYoungWriters.com.

Literature Wales at Hay Festival 31st May to 10th June 2012 - Events

The Gwyn Jones Lecture:
Between Caradoc and Rachel by Jon Gower

Thursday 7th June 2012, 1.00 pm
Digital Stage at Hay Festival
Tickets £5.25
[Event 319]

The Welsh Academy, the Society of Writers which forms part of Literature Wales, has organised the Gwyn Jones lecture series for over a decade. The organisers are delighted to bring you another important lecture in this series, this time by short story writer, historian, novelist and publisher Jon Gower, a Welsh Academy fellow who grew up in Llanelli. Jon will focus on what's been going on in the Welsh short story during his lecture at this year’s festival.

To book tickets call the Hay Festival box office: 01497 822 629
or visit the Hay Festival website: http://www.hayfestival.com.

Literature Wales’ Writing Squads
workshops at Hay Festival 2012

A day of activities for members of the Young People’s Writing Squads will also take place on Thursday 7th June at Hay Festival. Welsh Academy member, Elen Caldecott will lead two workshop sessions with the Powys and Merthyr Tydfil Writing Squads. Elen writes contemporary adventure stories for children and young people that see ordinary people do extraordinary things. Her new book, 'The Mystery of Wickworth Manor' will be available in bookshops from July 2012.

For more information on Young People’s Writing Squads contact Literature Wales:
029 2047 2266 / post@literaturewales.org

Hay Festival Wales
Imagine the world

Thursday 31st May – Sunday 10th June
Hay on Wye

For 25 years Hay Festival has brought together writers from around the world to debate and share stories at its festival in the staggering beauty of the Welsh Borders. Hay celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking. Hay now runs 13 festivals across five continents at which the re-imaginings of international writers gathered together, cross cultural and genre boundaries, and foster the exchange of understanding, mutual respect and ideas.

The Telegraph Hay Festival 2012 will host over 750 events, from literature to philosophy, music to science, history to humour and everything in between. Legendary conductor Simon Rattle will be in conversation with the BBC’s Tom Service; Tim Minchin talks to The Telegraph’s Sarah Crompton; Tom Watson and Martin Hickman discuss hacking with Helena Kennedy; and Maryam d'Abo and Hugh Hudson talk to Paul Broks about their film Rupture.

In celebration of the festival’s silver jubilee, festival director Peter Florence will launch Hay 25, a playful questionnaire for the festival audience set to reveal the way we live now.  Twenty five questions – ranging from ‘what makes you laugh?’ to ‘what piece of writing has most changed your heart and mind?’ – have been set by a panel including Stephen Fry, Margaret Atwood, Jung Chang, Eric Hobsbawm, Laura Restrepo and Jeanette Winterson.

Hay Fever, the Hay Festival's programme for children and families, is back with a bang and ready to party in the spring sunshine. With over 200 events and activities, children of all ages can fuel their imaginations for the whole nine days of the summer half-term. For younger children, Justin Fletcher star of CBeebies brings jokes and songs for his live show and Hay Fever are celebrating Fireman Sam's 25th birthday as well as their own. There are events with Matt Haig, Lauren St John, Marcus Sedgwick, Cressida Cowell and Tony Robinson. Hay’s teen programme HF2 features music, master classes, Melvin Burgess, Russell Kane and Maggie Stiefvater.

On Thursday 7th June festival goers will also have the chance to hear Young People’s Laureate for Wales, Catherine Fisher, discuss her bestselling novel Incarceron with fellow authors Lindsey Barraclough and Michelle Harrison [Event HF114].

For more information on the Hay Festival and to book tickets, visit the festival website: http://www.hayfestival.com.

HowTheLightGetsIn

Thursday 31st May - Sunday 10th June
Hay On Wye

HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, is back in the glorious setting of Hay on Wye.

Produced by the Institute of Art and Ideas and held annually, HowTheLightGetsIn brings together philosophers, writers, musicians, politicians, artists and commentators for thought-provoking debate, incisive solo talks, film screenings, live performance, infectiously danceable music and lively parties.

The talks programme this year will explore the 2012 theme 'Uncharted Territories: Progress for a new era', and the music programme, Festival Live, now covers six stages with bands, singers and acoustic artists along with comedy, cabaret, film showings and even live art.

This year’s festival is set to be bigger than ever before, with no fewer than 410 events, 6 stages, 165 speakers and 150 bands. The spectacular line up includes: Michael Eavis, Nigel Lawson, Luce Irigaray, Brian Eno, Michael Nyman, Tim Crane, David Blunket, Emmy the Great, Anne Pigalle, Gabby Young, Dan Le Sac, Polly Higgins, Bjorn Lomborg, James Lovelock, Man Like Me, Shona Foster, Kites and many more.

Hay Poetry Jamboree

Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th June
Oriel Gallery of Contemporary Arts
Salem Chapel, Bell Bank, Hay on Wye
Entrance to 7.30 pm events £5.00 / £3.00 concessions
All other events £2.00 / £1.00 concessions

The Hay Poetry Jamboree returns in 2012 with another packed programme of events:

Thursday 7th June

6.30 - 7.30 pm: Festival Launch Reception
7.30 - 9.15 pm: Andrea Brady and John Powell Ward

Friday 8th June

11.00 am - 12.00 noon: Jeremy Hilton, Steven Hitchins and Waterloo Press present Simon Jenner & David Pollard
2.00 - 4.00 pm: Caroline Goodwin, Harry Gilonis, Laurie Duggan and Philip Terry
5.00 - 6.00 pm: Andrew Duncan Lecture - "Port of Souls; or, Landscape, Inheritance, Myth"
7.30 - 9.15 pm: Harriet Tarlo and Peter Larkin

Saturday 9th June

11.00 am - 12.00 noon: David Greenslade and Keith Hackwood
2.00 - 4.00 pm: Nerys Williams, Tim Atkins, Sophie Robinson and Jeff Hilson
7.30 - 9.15 pm: Ulli Freer and Tony Lopez

Plus: Art in the chapel, Nervous Energy in collaboration with Elysium Gallery presents From Womb to Tomb, From Paradise to Purgatory.

For more information and bookings contact:
goodbard@yahoo.co.uk or goby-goodby@ntlworld.com

Supported by Literature Wales, Waterloo Press,  Poetry Wales,
Swansea University College of Arts & Humanities and CREW