GWN September Newsletter
Dear Writers
This time we have some exciting 'out-of-county' news, from Literature Works and WEA as well as Gloucestershire writing news including a new Cheltenham Poetry Society workshop series starting on 4 September.
Literature Works https://literatureworks.org.uk/ is an excellent organisation dedicated to supporting writers in the South West - they're offering an excellent course on how to get published.
The WEA https://www.wea.org.uk/ provides learning opportunities in all subject areas and workshop leader Cath Humphris is offering writing workshops in Gloucester.
An exciting new writing event is launched in Tetbury 'Writers at the Goods Shed' with Phil Kirby.
Literature Works
Dear Gloucestershire Writers' Network,
Literature Works are delighted to be working in partnership with Writers' & Artists' to bring 'How to Get Published' to Bristol for 2018 and we want to share this opportunity with your members.
‘How to Get Published’ brings you a day of getting to grips with the practicalities of writing. Including talks and workshops from an array of acclaimed authors, panel discussions with leading publishers, and insight from top literary agents, this is a day of discovery dedicated to how you can take your writing to the next level.
Any south west writers who wish to take part in this exciting opportunity can get 30% off the cost of the event by entering the code LITWORKS30 at the checkout. You can find out more about the schedule of events and book places here: https://literatureworks.org.uk/were-teaming-up-with-writers-artists-to-bring-how-to-get-published-to-bristol-for-2018/
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We are delighted to be working in partnership with Writers & Artists to bring 'How to Get Published' to Bristol for 2018.
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Cheltenham Creative Writers
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
WHERE: FROG AND FIDDLE CHELTENHAM
Free
CONTACT: MADDI LUMB mel8952@outlook.comYou are invited to come along and write with the CHELTENHAM CREATIVE WRITERS
This is a fortnightly Creative Writing Group (Previously the Cheltenham Waterstones Creative Writing Group)
They meet every two weeks in the Frog and fiddle on lower High street Cheltenham on a Monday evening.
We welcome everyone from experienced writers to people who want to try creative writing for the first time.
Each meeting we set a writing prompt for the following meeting, but people are more than welcome to share their own work with the group.
2018 Dates:10th Sep24th Sep8th Oct22nd Oct5th Nov19th Nov3rd Dec17th Dec -
Writers at the Goods Shed - Lauch Event
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 @ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PMWHERE:
Gumstool Hill
Tetbury
GL8 8DGCOST:
£7.50 - 12.50
At the inaugural ‘Writers at The Goods Shed’ event here in Tetbury, on Wed 12th September, 2018, I’m delighted to say that our guest will be none other than Simon Armitage!
Details are already on The Goods Shed website.
A massive thank you to The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop Bookshop for their help and involvement, too, especially since they’re also offering a discount on books to Society of Authors members on the evening!!
Subsequent dates proposed for ‘The Carriage Sessions’ are:
Wed 10th Oct – Eugene Lambert (YA fiction)
Wed 14th Nov – Angela France (poetry ‘multi-media show’)
Wed 12th Dec – Claire Dyer (fiction & poetry)
A new Cheltenham Poetry Society poetry workshop series starts in Cheltenham in September – in a new venue:
7pm-10pm Tuesday 4 September, upstairs at Moss Books, Henrietta St, GL50 4AA.
Led by Claire Thelwell, the workshops are open to everyone who wants to experiment with their writing in an encouraging environment.
The aims of the workshops are to:
- explore new techniques
- aid the imagination
- generate ideas
For this first in the series, Claire will be using material from the Answering Back anthology edited by Carole Ann Duffy. No need to buy or read the book beforehand! Everything you need will be provided. Just bring your usual writing materials/method ... and £4.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be included.
Any questions? Please ask!
Hope to you there!
Poetry Cafe Refreshed
- Kim Fleet - Novel Endings - Completing and Publishing Your Novel From our 2018 Poetry Judge -
WHEN:
September 22, 2018 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHERE:Isbourne Holistic Centre
Wolseley Terrace
CheltenhamCOST:£65.00
CONTACT:Kim Fleet
http://www.kimfleet.com/
Have you finished writing your novel? Are you wondering about your next steps and how to get it published? Are you confused by the different publishing options available?
This workshop will cover:
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Tips for giving your manuscript a final polish
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What does an agent do, do you need one, and how do you get one?
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Self-publishing v ‘traditional’ publishing (i.e. with a mainstream publisher). Which is better for you and your novel?
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Making the most of copy editors, proofreaders, cover designers, and publicists
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How to improve your chances of publishing success
At the end of the workshop you will have completed your novel’s blurb and your author bio, and will have a plan of the major steps to take towards publication.
Further information and to book a ticket:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/novel-endings-completing-and-publishing-your-novel-tickets-48655795795
Stroud Short Stories
We Want Your Stories!
Stroud Short Stories is Now Open for Your Submissions for Our Next Event
We are now open for submissions for our 17th event - to be held on Sunday 11 November 2018. We close at the end of Sunday 14 October.
There is no theme this time, so any style, any subject, any genre or no genre. As long as it's a short work of fiction, of course!
As ever it's free to submit and we accept both published and unpublished stories from Gloucestershire and South Gloucs writers.
Ten authors will read their work to a capacity audience of 70 short story lovers at 8pm on Sunday 11 November at the SVA (Stroud Valleys Artspace) in John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA. This event is part of the Stroud Book Festival.
Even if you've submitted before, please check out our website where you will find the rules and how to submit
If you want an idea of what kind of stories we like (and we do like lots of different styles) listen to the authors reading their work at previous events here.
TIP! - Remember it's a live lit event. Complex multi-dimensional stories and stories with many voices and lots of dialogue are not best suited to a live reading.
I am delighted to have inveigled the brilliant author and publishing guru Debbie Young to judge with me for the third time. Check out more info about the judges here.
We guarantee that all stories are read by both judges. We love reading your stories.
Everything you need to know is on our website.
New Anthology Launch Friday 28 September
Our second anthology, this one covering the six events from November 2015 to May 2018 is being launched on 28 September at the Ale House in John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA (just up from the SVA). That's 57 stories by 45 authors. 254 pages of brilliant short stories. With a great cover design too. I have received the proof copy now and it looks superb!
Please come along on the evening - anytime from 7.00 to 10.00 - to buy your copies. The launch is free and unticketed. There will be a few words from me at 7.30, after which Mark Graham will read from the anthology his brilliantly funny story Wayland Smith: Warrior of the Milky Way - from our October 2016 event.
If you do not have a story in the anthology this time, please come along and buy a copy anyway. It's priced at £10, which, I think, is great value. Buy it for yourself, as a gift for your loved ones, or purchase a number of copies and make a small, but practical and reliable, bridge over the River Frome or Chelt. River Severn - you must be joking!
Do continue to let us know about your events for the newsletter and the website.
With best wishes
Penny and Kathryn
New Poetry Workshop starts 04.09.18
DOWNLOAD POSTER HERE: CPS Flyer
A new CPS poetry workshop series starts in Cheltenham in September – in a new venue:
7pm-10pm Tuesday 4 September, upstairs at Moss Books, Henrietta St, GL50 4AA.
Led by Claire Thelwell, the workshops are open to everyone who wants to experiment with their writing in an encouraging environment.
The aims of the workshops are to:
- explore new techniques
- aid the imagination
- generate ideas
For this first in the series, Claire will be using material from the Answering Back anthology edited by Carole Ann Duffy. No need to buy or read the book beforehand! Everything you need will be provided. Just bring your usual writing materials/method ... and £4.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be included.
SSS - Submissions please !
Stroud Short Stories is now open for submissions for its 17th event - to be held on Sunday 11 November 2018. It closes at the end of Sunday 14 October.
There is no theme this time, so any style, any subject, any genre or no genre. As long as it's a short work of fiction, of course!
As ever it's free to submit and SSS accepts both published and unpublished stories from Gloucestershire and South Gloucs writers.
Ten authors will read their work to a capacity audience of 70 short story lovers at 8pm on Sunday 11 November at the SVA in John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA. This event is part of the Stroud Book Festival.
If you want an idea of what kind of stories they like (and they do like lots of different styles) listen to the authors reading their work at previous SSS events here.
SSS Organiser John Holland is judging with the author and publishing guru Debbie Young. Check out more info about the judges here.
Stroud Short Stories guarantees that all stories are read by both judges.
NEW Courses starting at WEA
WEA announce the launch of new courses for Creative Writing starting this Autumn
Creative Story Writing: drafting, feedback & redrafting skills. C3529635
and
Creative Writing C3529636
These will be held at: The Roots Coffee & Community Centre, Alvin Street, Gloucester. GL1 3EH
5 or 6 fortnightly sessions, starting : 24th September and 4th October
Please see our events pages for more details and how to sign up or visit their web site here:
GWN Competition Results
Hello Writers
We have great pleasure in announcing the winners of the 2018 GWN Writers' Network Poetry and Prose Competition.
They are as follows:
FOR PROSE - Judged by Dr Kim Fleet
WINNER
Emma Kernahan, Stroud - 'The Locals'
RUNNERS-UP
Lynda Fowke, Gloucester - 'The Shawl'
Iris Anne Lewis, Kempsford - 'Call me Shada, Mura, Nasima'
Marilyn Timms, Cheltenham - 'Bride Price'
COMMENDED
Ali Bacon, Emersons Green - 'In Loco Parentis'
Joanna Campbell, Bisley - 'Zugswang, 1963'
Kathy O'Grady, Stroud - 'Freewheeling'
FOR POETRY - Judged by Anna Saunders
WINNER
David Hale, Horsley - 'Cranes Flying'
RUNNERS-UP
Catherine Baker, Tewkesbury - 'Waiting for the Boat'
Derek Healy, Lower Swell - 'Love's Convergence'
Marilyn Timms, Cheltenham - 'Public School - Private Hell'
COMMENDED
Frances March, Stroud - 'Dancing on the Equator'
Sam Pearce, Newent - 'Checkmate'
Johnny Porter, Cheltenham - 'The Taste of Bear'
We offer sincere congratulations to all who've been placed and to all who entered and made it such a great contest. We thank our wonderful judges, who've worked extremely hard.
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You can hear our winners, runners-up and judges read at GWN's prizewinning event (L088) at The Times and The Sunday Times Literature Festival - 6.30pm - 7.45pm in The Nook on Sunday 7th October.
Last year we sold out three weeks in advance, so make sure that you book ahead here:
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https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/whats-on/grid/
You can read the winning entries and judges' comments in the 2018 Prizewinners' Anthology for sale at the event and online.
We thank our kind hosts and sponsors, The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Liggy Webb, Cheltenham Arts Council and The Suffolk Anthology Bookshop.
You can continue to keep abreast of writing events across Gloucestershire or let us advertise them for you via our website: www.gwngloswriters.
and follow us on Twitter @GWNgloswriters and on Facebook at GlosWriters@groups.facebook.
Well done all and Happy Writing!
GWN Team
Launch of Writers in the Goods Shed - Tetbury.
https://shed-arts.co.uk/eve…/
A massive thank you to The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop Bookshop for their help and involvement, too, especially since they're also offering a discount on books to Society of Authors members on the evening!!
We're expecting this to sell out pretty quickly, so if you're interested, get clicking...:)
We look forward to welcoming to this new and exciting venture
See also the GWN Events Calendar for more events throughout the year
Deadline for Buzzwords Open Poetry Competition
This is the last week to polish your entries and send them off to Buzzwords.
1st prize-£600. Runner-up- £300. 5 x commended-£50 each.
Sole Judge: Graham Burchell - who will read all entries
Closing date for entries. Midnight, 25th August 2018.
The Gloucestershire Prize- £200. (for Gloucestershire residents only).
Please see the Buzzwords Website HERE for more information and entry details
Good Luck to everyone
Congratulations to Christine Griffin
Gloucester Writer Christine Griffin is celebrating second place in the
FLASH 500 INTERNATIONAL FLASH FICTION COMPETITION
For her story 'Doing my Best'
We think the story title is quite fitting - well done Christine ;)
GWN - Early August Newsletter
Have you finished writing your novel? Are you wondering about your next steps and how to get it published? Are you confused by the different publishing options available?
This workshop will cover tips for giving your manuscript a final polish; agents - what they do, if you need one, and how to get one; self-publishing v ‘traditional’ publishing; and how to improve your chances of publishing success
Don't forget to let us have your writing news for the newsletter or if you would like news of events, writing successes, book launches etc to be posted on our website please
New Bohemian's Summer Party
Dear poetry lovers
