AWARDS DEADLINES APPROACHING
First off, we want to remind everyone that the deadline for entries for both the Northern Rock Foundation Writer’s Award and the Northern Writers’ Awards is 12 noon on Monday 30 January. Entries must be sent by post (not by email or in person), and please ensure you use the correct postage – if you don’t, your envelope will languish at the Blaydon Royal Mail depot for evermore.
Complete submission criteria can be found on our website, but if you have a burning question that isn’t answered by that, please send your enquiries to me by email.
POETIC POSTCARDS COMPETITION
While I’m in reminding mode, there’s still time for you to enter the Poetic Postcards that we’re running in conjunction with the Fivearts cities initiative. All you need to do is to write a short poem about NewcastleGateshead and send it to us on the back of a postcard, making sure to include your name and contact details. There are two categories – one for 11-18s and one for adults.
Each winner will receive a ‘Cultural Passport’ prize worth £250, which will gain them free access to various cultural venues and activities in the region. They will also be invited to read their work at a special celebratory event at Seven Stories, on 16 March. The closing date for entries is 24 February.
FREE POETRY READINGS & WORKSHOPS: 22 & 29 JANUARY
Also in conjunction with the Fivearts cities project, New Writing North is holding two poetry events later this month at the Tyneside Cinema Coffee Rooms.
Come along on 22 January and hear some of the region’s best up-and-coming poets read from their work. Angela Readman, Paul Batchelor, Kate Fox and Elliott Kerrigan will all be imparting their thoughts on life in the North East. The following week, you can listen to work by Ellen Phethean, Paul Summers, WH Herbert and Keith Armstrong, some of the most established poets living and working in our area.
Each set of readings will be followed by a free poetry workshop run by Subhadassi. No experience necessary, and you should emerge from the workshop with your own poetic postcard about NewcastleGateshead, which you can enter for the above competition! No need to book – just turn up on the day. Everything kicks off at 2pm on both days.
FREE POETRY WORKSHOP FOR TEENAGERS
Another reminder to teenage writers – and people who know them – that New Writing North is running a free workshop on Saturday 21 January at Newcastle City Library. Subhadassi will help you to hone your Bard-like skills and compose a poem about life in NewcastleGateshead. The workshop is 1-4pm and places are now very limited. If you fancy taking part, send me an email and I’ll book you a place.
MAGNETIC NORTH AND EATING THE ELEPHANT
If you would like to purchase a copy of Eating the Elephant and Other Plays by Julia Darling, or the Magnetic North collection of writing by new writers, we’re still offering them at bargain prices. You can buy Eating the Elephant for £12.99 (plus £3 p&p) and Magnetic North for £5 (plus £1 p&p.) Because we’re still somewhat in the Dark Ages technologically, the only way we can take payment at the moment is by cheque. Please make them payable to ‘New Writing North’ and send them to our address at 2 School Lane, Whickham, Newcastle, NE16 4SL.
BUY POETRY AND PLANT TREES
We have limited copies for sale of Maureen Almond’s new pamphlet of poetry, Tongues in Trees. Maureen spent over a year as writer-in-residence at North Lodge Park in Darlington, and this collection of work celebrates the memory of the trees condemned during the park’s development. Tongues in Trees costs just £1 (plus 50p p&p), and all proceeds go towards the purchase of new trees for North Lodge. Details for payment are as above.
JOB OPPORTUNITY AT MSLEXIA
Mslexia, the magazine for women who write, is looking for two people to fill vacancies in their busy office. The editor, Debbie Taylor, writes:
Senior editorial position
We are looking for someone with excellent writing, commissioning and
copy-editing skills to join the editorial team. Confident use of Indesign or
Quark essential; experience in magazine publishing desirable. Please send
expressions of interest and CV, by email only in the first instance, to Debbie Taylor (debbie@mslexia.demon.co.uk). This is a full-time post.
Administrative assistant
We need someone methodical with a confident telephone manner to help in the office. The fee is £2,750 for an initial three-month full-time contract,
starting February 2006. We hope to extent this into a permanent post. Please
send your CV to Helen Christie (enclosing an SAE) to Mslexia, PO Box 656, Newcastle, NE99 1PZ or by email to helen@mslexia.demon.co.uk.
Work Experience placements
We are also looking for volunteers for our 2006 Work Experience scheme,
offering experience in a range of administrative, marketing and editorial
tasks. There will be four three-month part-time placements, commencing
middle of February, May, August, November. Please send your CV to Helen
Christie by post to the above address (enclosing an SAE) or by email to
helen@mslexia.demon.co.uk.
PHANTOMS OF THE PHIL BOOK & CD
If you enjoy the ghostly goings-on at the Lit & Phil last year, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can now take a piece of it home with you. A book and CD set, with an introductory essay by Ramsey Campbell, is now available for you to buy. Authors include Chaz Brenchley, Sean O’Brien and Gail-Nina Anderson, and every one of the hardback copies is signed by all three writers. And the price of this limited-edition gem? Just £10 for the CD and book set. To secure your copy, send an email to sales@chazbrenchley.co.uk – and prepare to be spooked!
A PLEA FOR A HOME…
Craig Wilson (of Bridge and Tunnel Productions) is looking to put a roof over his head. We know Craig and can vouch for his good character. He writes:
“I'm currently looking for somewhere to live in Newcastle / Gateshead and the surrounds. I'm well behaved, like cleaning, spend a lot of time out of the house, and I'm relatively quiet. I don't smoke and only listen to loud music on my iPod. I read the Guardian, vote Green, eat veggie, like animals. I'm looking for a room for six months or so, and am prepared to pay around £50-70 per week depending on the size of the room and the distance from work (Newcastle University) If anyone has a room, or knows of anyone else who does, please let me know a.s.a.p. I'd like to find somewhere in January if that's possible.�
If you think Craig would enjoy cleaning in your house (or the house of someone you know), you can call him on 07890038336 or email craigwilson62@gmail.com
NORTHERN FRINGE SHOWCASE
The Northern Fringe is seeking new monologues and duologues for their latest showcase event. The theme is ‘Childhood’, and each piece of work should be 7-12 minutes long. The chosen work will be performed by actors at Seven Stories in Newcastle, and the writers will each receive a commission fee of £30. Questions and submissions should be directed to Anton Hecht at info@thenorthernfringe.org
BRUNTWOOD PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
This newly launched competition is one of the world’s largest awards for playwriting, and will be judged by a panel that includes Nicholas Hytner, Kwame Kwei Armah, Brenda Blethyn and Braham Murray. The first prize is £15,000, followed by prizes of £10,000 and £5,000 for second and third respectively. There is also a prize for writers under 26, and the opportunity to win a year’s residency at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. The winning play will be staged at the Royal Exchange in summer 2007. The closing date is 30 April 2006, and you can find more information at www.royalexchange.co.uk (or by ringing 0161 615 6765)
The Crossing The Tees poetry readings at Sam's Place, Middlesbrough, have also returned for a new season. The first event features Yorkshire writer Glyn Hughes. Perhaps best known as a novelist, Glyn was awarded the Guardian Fiction Prize as well as the David Higham Prize for his first novel, Where I Used To Play On The Green, and was short-listed for The Whitbread Novel of the Year for The Antique Collector. However, he was first published as a poet, with his collection Neighbours, which was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. He comes to Teesside to read from Dancing Out of the Dark Side, his first book of poems for 25 years.
Following the success of last year's `Witness in Survival' event commemorating Holocaust Day, Newcastle University writers this year present an evening of poetry and prose on the theme of 'One Person Can Make a Difference'. Writers taking part at the event at the Lit & Phil will include WN Herbert, Linda France, Gillian Allnutt and Margaret Wilkinson.
Newcastle University Writers: Holocaust Memorial Day Lit & Phil: 19:30 Mon 23 Jan 2006
Glyn Hughes Sam’s Place, Middlesbrough: 19:30, Wed 25 Jan 2006
New Writing North is funded by Arts Council England and some of our project work is supported by the CSDI programme which uses funds from the European Union, ERDF and ESF programmes to support the development of work opportunities and training for writers.
New Writing North
2 School Lane
Whickham
Tyne & Wear
NE16 4SL
New Writing North's bulletin
New Writing North is one of our Cultural Partners.
Here's the index to their January bulletin:
Awards deadline reminder
Poetic Postcards competition
Poetry readings/workshops at Tyneside Coffee Rooms
Free poetry workshop for young writers
Get Eating the Elephant and Magnetic North at bargain price!
Maureen Almond poetry pamphlet for sale
Job opportunities at Mslexia
Culture Café returns at World Headquarters
Phantoms at the Phil book/CD available
Do you have a flat or room to rent?
Northern Fringe call for submissions
Bruntwood Playwriting Competition
General Events Info
For the full story on each, read on...
AWARDS DEADLINES APPROACHING
First off, we want to remind everyone that the deadline for entries for both the Northern Rock Foundation Writer’s Award and the Northern Writers’ Awards is 12 noon on Monday 30 January. Entries must be sent by post (not by email or in person), and please ensure you use the correct postage – if you don’t, your envelope will languish at the Blaydon Royal Mail depot for evermore.
Complete submission criteria can be found on our website, but if you have a burning question that isn’t answered by that, please send your enquiries to me by email.
POETIC POSTCARDS COMPETITION
While I’m in reminding mode, there’s still time for you to enter the Poetic Postcards that we’re running in conjunction with the Fivearts cities initiative. All you need to do is to write a short poem about NewcastleGateshead and send it to us on the back of a postcard, making sure to include your name and contact details. There are two categories – one for 11-18s and one for adults.
Each winner will receive a ‘Cultural Passport’ prize worth £250, which will gain them free access to various cultural venues and activities in the region. They will also be invited to read their work at a special celebratory event at Seven Stories, on 16 March. The closing date for entries is 24 February.
FREE POETRY READINGS & WORKSHOPS: 22 & 29 JANUARY
Also in conjunction with the Fivearts cities project, New Writing North is holding two poetry events later this month at the Tyneside Cinema Coffee Rooms.
Come along on 22 January and hear some of the region’s best up-and-coming poets read from their work. Angela Readman, Paul Batchelor, Kate Fox and Elliott Kerrigan will all be imparting their thoughts on life in the North East. The following week, you can listen to work by Ellen Phethean, Paul Summers, WH Herbert and Keith Armstrong, some of the most established poets living and working in our area.
Each set of readings will be followed by a free poetry workshop run by Subhadassi. No experience necessary, and you should emerge from the workshop with your own poetic postcard about NewcastleGateshead, which you can enter for the above competition! No need to book – just turn up on the day. Everything kicks off at 2pm on both days.
FREE POETRY WORKSHOP FOR TEENAGERS
Another reminder to teenage writers – and people who know them – that New Writing North is running a free workshop on Saturday 21 January at Newcastle City Library. Subhadassi will help you to hone your Bard-like skills and compose a poem about life in NewcastleGateshead. The workshop is 1-4pm and places are now very limited. If you fancy taking part, send me an email and I’ll book you a place.
MAGNETIC NORTH AND EATING THE ELEPHANT
If you would like to purchase a copy of Eating the Elephant and Other Plays by Julia Darling, or the Magnetic North collection of writing by new writers, we’re still offering them at bargain prices. You can buy Eating the Elephant for £12.99 (plus £3 p&p) and Magnetic North for £5 (plus £1 p&p.) Because we’re still somewhat in the Dark Ages technologically, the only way we can take payment at the moment is by cheque. Please make them payable to ‘New Writing North’ and send them to our address at 2 School Lane, Whickham, Newcastle, NE16 4SL.
BUY POETRY AND PLANT TREES
We have limited copies for sale of Maureen Almond’s new pamphlet of poetry, Tongues in Trees. Maureen spent over a year as writer-in-residence at North Lodge Park in Darlington, and this collection of work celebrates the memory of the trees condemned during the park’s development. Tongues in Trees costs just £1 (plus 50p p&p), and all proceeds go towards the purchase of new trees for North Lodge. Details for payment are as above.
JOB OPPORTUNITY AT MSLEXIA
Mslexia, the magazine for women who write, is looking for two people to fill vacancies in their busy office. The editor, Debbie Taylor, writes:
Senior editorial position
We are looking for someone with excellent writing, commissioning and
copy-editing skills to join the editorial team. Confident use of Indesign or
Quark essential; experience in magazine publishing desirable. Please send
expressions of interest and CV, by email only in the first instance, to Debbie Taylor (debbie@mslexia.demon.co.uk). This is a full-time post.
Administrative assistant
We need someone methodical with a confident telephone manner to help in the office. The fee is £2,750 for an initial three-month full-time contract,
starting February 2006. We hope to extent this into a permanent post. Please
send your CV to Helen Christie (enclosing an SAE) to Mslexia, PO Box 656, Newcastle, NE99 1PZ or by email to helen@mslexia.demon.co.uk.
Work Experience placements
We are also looking for volunteers for our 2006 Work Experience scheme,
offering experience in a range of administrative, marketing and editorial
tasks. There will be four three-month part-time placements, commencing
middle of February, May, August, November. Please send your CV to Helen
Christie by post to the above address (enclosing an SAE) or by email to
helen@mslexia.demon.co.uk.
THE RETURN OF CAFÉ CULTURE
Building on the success of the ‘café culture’ week in September last year PEALS, in conjunction with Culture North East and the Newcastle Philosophy Society, have announced a programme of free events for 2006. Mixing science, philosophy and the arts, Café Culture is a series of discussions hosted by experts in their fields. Every event is at 7pm at World Headquarters (Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square, Newcastle), and they kick off with a Café Scientifique event entitled A New Year: A New You? For full programme details, see the official website – www.culturenortheast.org
PHANTOMS OF THE PHIL BOOK & CD
If you enjoy the ghostly goings-on at the Lit & Phil last year, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can now take a piece of it home with you. A book and CD set, with an introductory essay by Ramsey Campbell, is now available for you to buy. Authors include Chaz Brenchley, Sean O’Brien and Gail-Nina Anderson, and every one of the hardback copies is signed by all three writers. And the price of this limited-edition gem? Just £10 for the CD and book set. To secure your copy, send an email to sales@chazbrenchley.co.uk – and prepare to be spooked!
A PLEA FOR A HOME…
Craig Wilson (of Bridge and Tunnel Productions) is looking to put a roof over his head. We know Craig and can vouch for his good character. He writes:
“I'm currently looking for somewhere to live in Newcastle / Gateshead and the surrounds. I'm well behaved, like cleaning, spend a lot of time out of the house, and I'm relatively quiet. I don't smoke and only listen to loud music on my iPod. I read the Guardian, vote Green, eat veggie, like animals. I'm looking for a room for six months or so, and am prepared to pay around £50-70 per week depending on the size of the room and the distance from work (Newcastle University) If anyone has a room, or knows of anyone else who does, please let me know a.s.a.p. I'd like to find somewhere in January if that's possible.�
If you think Craig would enjoy cleaning in your house (or the house of someone you know), you can call him on 07890038336 or email craigwilson62@gmail.com
NORTHERN FRINGE SHOWCASE
The Northern Fringe is seeking new monologues and duologues for their latest showcase event. The theme is ‘Childhood’, and each piece of work should be 7-12 minutes long. The chosen work will be performed by actors at Seven Stories in Newcastle, and the writers will each receive a commission fee of £30. Questions and submissions should be directed to Anton Hecht at info@thenorthernfringe.org
BRUNTWOOD PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
This newly launched competition is one of the world’s largest awards for playwriting, and will be judged by a panel that includes Nicholas Hytner, Kwame Kwei Armah, Brenda Blethyn and Braham Murray. The first prize is £15,000, followed by prizes of £10,000 and £5,000 for second and third respectively. There is also a prize for writers under 26, and the opportunity to win a year’s residency at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. The winning play will be staged at the Royal Exchange in summer 2007. The closing date is 30 April 2006, and you can find more information at www.royalexchange.co.uk (or by ringing 0161 615 6765)
GENERAL EVENTS INFO – By John at Literature North East
As usual, January is an extremely quiet month for events, but The Writers' Café at The Arc, Stockton, is back in business after Christmas, with a spoken word performance from Mudfog author Geoff Strange and a headline set from comedian Catherine Scott.
The Crossing The Tees poetry readings at Sam's Place, Middlesbrough, have also returned for a new season. The first event features Yorkshire writer Glyn Hughes. Perhaps best known as a novelist, Glyn was awarded the Guardian Fiction Prize as well as the David Higham Prize for his first novel, Where I Used To Play On The Green, and was short-listed for The Whitbread Novel of the Year for The Antique Collector. However, he was first published as a poet, with his collection Neighbours, which was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. He comes to Teesside to read from Dancing Out of the Dark Side, his first book of poems for 25 years.
Following the success of last year's `Witness in Survival' event commemorating Holocaust Day, Newcastle University writers this year present an evening of poetry and prose on the theme of 'One Person Can Make a Difference'. Writers taking part at the event at the Lit & Phil will include WN Herbert, Linda France, Gillian Allnutt and Margaret Wilkinson.
Writers’ Café Arc, Stockton on Tees: 19:30 Wed 18 Jan 2006
Newcastle University Writers: Holocaust Memorial Day Lit & Phil: 19:30 Mon 23 Jan 2006
Glyn Hughes Sam’s Place, Middlesbrough: 19:30, Wed 25 Jan 2006
New Writing North is funded by Arts Council England and some of our project work is supported by the CSDI programme which uses funds from the European Union, ERDF and ESF programmes to support the development of work opportunities and training for writers.
New Writing North
2 School Lane
Whickham
Tyne & Wear
NE16 4SL
Tel: 0191 488 8580
Fax: 0191 488 8576
www.newwritingnorth.com
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown on January 19, 2006 4:05 PM
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