Events
Writing Magazine columnist, Lorraine Mace and co-author of The Writer's ABC Checklist, Maureen Vincent-Northam, will be leading a weekend workshop at the beautiful Baskerville Hall Hotel near the book town of Hay on Wye in May 2012.
Arthur Conan Doyle was a regular visitor to Baskerville Hall and, although the final story was set in Devon, the idea for one of his best-loved works, The Hounds of the Baskervilles, was born after hearing of the local legend.
The two workshops, which cover non-fiction writing and flash fiction, will be held on Saturday 19 May 2012 with an overnight stay for attendees at the historic hotel. Topics covered include finding ideas, developing characters, plots, interviewing, the value of photographs and writing winning query letters.
Places on the course are limited and the cost is £135 per person, which includes both workshops, hotel accommodation and all meals.
Visit our WEBSITE for full details.
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"I've always wanted to write, but..." There's always something to stop you from writing: time, space, or simply not knowing where to start.
Do you want to 'get rid of the buts'? If so, this inspirational workshop is for you - whether you are a complete beginner, wish to take your existing writing further, or are an experienced writer in need of fresh enthusiasm. Learn how to release those blocks and start to plan your story.
In a small group setting, novelist and journalist Jessica Duchen helps you explore ways into writing through discussions, exercises and practical pointers. Her engaging sessions with their focus on positive group dynamic cover such subjects as 'Why we want to write'; 'Why we stop ourselves from writing'; 'Finding the best stimuli'; and 'The concept of flow'. By the end of your stay, you will go home with the tools you need to start creating YOUR novel.
The backdrop to this event is the beautiful rolling hills of Southern Burgundy. A tranquil landscape where you can take time to think, breathe and create. This is a great area for walking with wonderful views round every corner.
Jessica Duchen, novelist, music journalist and biographer, started trying to write novels at the age of 12, but thought for a while that she wanted to become a pianist. Since realising that she didn't, she's been concentrating on the music of words and words about music. She writes regularly for The Independent as well as BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM Magazine, and has published four novels to date, most recently 'Songs of Triumphant Love' (Hodder), which was praised by Joanna Lumley for its 'dazzling perceptiveness'. She has also written biographies of Faure and Korngold (both Phaidon Press), and her celebrated blog is now hosted by Standpoint magazine. When she's not writing she's either holding workshops to help others to 'Kickstart Your Writing' or rather creakily attending ballet classes. She lives in London with her violinist husband, who shares her enthusiasms for cooking and travel. www.jessicaduchen.co.uk
The event takes place in our beautifully renovated barn and accommodation is either at the house on site or at our neighbouring accommodation with all meals taken at the workshop venue. Food is home grown, home made or locally sourced and we offer a local wine tasting on your first evening.
As our house guests we would like you to get the most from your stay. The atmosphere is friendly and informal and the number of writers is kept to 10 to ensure you receive the individual attention you desire.
As places are restricted to 10 writers, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Price
|
Room type |
6 Days* |
| Shared room with ensuite shower or bath; | £410 |
| Private room for single occupancy with ensuite shower or bath; | £440 |
| Private room for single occupancy with shared shower or bath; | £400 |
| Couple sharing a double room with shared shower or bath; | £380 |
All costs are per person. Non-writing partners are welcomed. If you wish to bring a partner who is not attending the event please email us for costs. We are happy to arrange transfers from Lyon or Geneva airports and from Macon Loche TGV station
- Tuition
- Accommodation
- Continental breakfasts
- Buffet lunches
- Suppers including a choice of wine or beer or soft drinks
- Refreshments throughout the day
- Wine tasting event (where you can stock up on additional wine of your own choosing)
For more information or to reserve a place please contact Janice Barnett
By email info@thereallybigdreamcompany.com
By post Les Cerisiers, Lieu dit Nurux, 71520 Montmelard, France
By phone 00 33 (0) 345 47 95 02
Guest Speakers:
George Mann - author of the Newbury and Hobbes novels & Ghosts of Manhattan
Sarah Pinborough - horror, thriller and young adult novelist, author of A Matter of Blood and The Language of Dying
Venue: Diamond House, South Leverton (near Retford), DN22 0BX
Located close to both Lincoln and Sheffield, Diamond House is a Grade II listed country house in the heart of the Nottinghamshire countryside.
www.diamondhouse.org.uk
The Winter Writing Weekend costs just £180, including two nights' accommodation, all meals and soft drinks, plus a full programme of writing activities throughout Saturday and Sunday featuring two guest authors.
For further information, visit http://altfiction.co.uk/the-programme
To book your place, or for any enquiries, email alt.fiction@writingeastmidlands.co.uk
or call Alex on 07896 228367
Alt.Fiction Writing Weekends
Alt.Fiction is proud to present its first residential writing weekends - an ideal opportunity for writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror to get away from it all, meet and work with like-minded people and enjoy workshops and talks with established authors in the field. Offering workshops, feedback sessions and expert advice, these weekends are sure to both inform and inspire.
Winter Writing Weekend - Friday 25 - Sunday 27 February. Diamond House, South Leverton (near Retford), DN22 0BX. Guest Speakers: George Mann and Sarah Pinbrough
Spring Winter Weekend - Friday 20 - Sunday 22 May. Legacy Chesterfield Hotel, Malkin Street, Chesterfield, S41 7UA. Guest Speakers: Simon Clark and Tony Ballantyne
To book your place, or for any enquiries, email alt.fiction@writingeastmidlands.co.uk or call Alex on 07896 228367. Cost £180 per weekend, including accommodation, meals and programme of activities
http://altfiction.co.uk/
Flash 500 is a quarterly open-themed competition with closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. The results will be announced within six weeks of each closing date and the three winning entries each quarter will be published on the competition website. The judge changes each quarter, details on the judge's page at: www.flash500.com
Entry fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories
Optional critiques: £10 per story
Prizes are awarded as follows:
First: £250 plus publication in Words with JAM
Second: £100
Third: £50
Highly commended: A copy of The Writer's ABC Checklist
Competition website: www.flash500.com
2, 1...
It's almost time...
Don't forget, tomorrow's the launch of the Stockton DigitalCity Satellite.
It's your chance to find out about DigitalCity, the Stockton satellite, and all the ways we can help you develop your business as fast and successfully as possible. It's your chance to find out the warts and all about Stockton's digital and creative sectors and what the opportunities are. And it's your chance to network, and become one of the first players in the satellite game...
DigitalCity and Stockton: 10.00am - 12noon: ARC, Stockton Arts Centre
Stockton's digital and creative sector mapping exercise: 2.00 - 4.00pm: Green Dragon Studies, The Gallery
Network event and show and tells: 5.30pm: ARC, Stockton Arts Centre
Come to one of the first two events and there'll be a one-off chance to get all the benefits that come with joining DigitalCity Business absolutely free of charge. You'll need to be at the evening event to be a winner, so...
Blast off ...
See you there.
Who's the event for? All professionals and businesses in the digital media, digital technology and creative sectors; so too all partners and funders, planners and politicians; so too everyone who's not in digital but would like to know more, and maybe how they could take advantage of the benefits the digital revolution offers them.
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DigitalCity Business | Creating the UK's most vibrant
digital hub
T: 01642 248 692
W: www.dcbusiness.eu
Write Now! The Bury St Edmunds writers' group
Short Story Competition
Theme: Smoke & Mirrors
Closing date: 31st January 2011
Entry fee: £5 per story
Word limit: 2000 words
Prizes: 1st: £150, 2nd: £75, 3rd: £50 + three runners-up prizes
Full details on the group's website:
Unbound Press Flash Fiction Competition
Closes 31 October 2010
Short story: 400 words max
Fee: £3
Prizes: £30; £15
Details: for info see www.unboundpress.co.uk. Email entries only to upsubmissions@googlemail.com All Winners and Runners-up will be published in the Unbound Press Journal and will each receive a free copy of the journal.
Unbound Press Poetry Competition
Closes 31 October 2010
Poem: 40 lines max
Fee: £3
Prizes: £30; £15
Details: for info see www.unboundpress.co.uk. Email entries only to upsubmissions@googlemail.com All Winners and Runners-up will be published in the Unbound Press Journal and will each receive a free copy of the journal.
We are looking for short story entries of no more than 1000 words and imaginative illustrations on the given titles below:
* Sport\\\'s Day Fiasco
* Ruddy, Sam and Ondine
* The Intergalactic War
* Rage
* The Magic Pot.
The stories must be original and previously unpublished. The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 31 October 2010. All the winning stories and drawings will be published in the Children\\\'s Story Book in 2011.
The entry fee is £5 per story or illustration and you can enter as many times as you like along with the correct entry fee. Submissions and payment are accepted online as well as by post. School, colleges and youth clubs can submit up to 20 stories for just £60.
The prizes are £150 for the winners in each of the four age categories, £75 and £50 plus £200 worth of books goes to the school that submits the best overall entries.
The competitions are open to children from the ages of 7 to 18 years old. For more information please check out the rules on our website. If you have any questions then please do get in touch.
www.chapteronepromotions.com