Birmingham Writers’ Group

52 Ways to Write a Poem (Jo Bell)

Date: Saturday 17th September, 10am – 1pm

Venue: The Clarendon Arms, Kenilworth

Ticket link: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/369848

‘Are you sitting comfortably? Never mind. Let’s begin anyway.’

Jo Bell’s 52 Project began as a blog-based poetry workshop offering, in her words, ‘a weekly kick in the arse for your Muse.’ Writers were given a new prompt every week throughout 2014; the whole thing is now collected into a new book along with fresh prompts from Helen Mort, Philip Gross and others, as well as inspirational poems from writers including John Donne and Sharon Olds.

In this workshop the former director of National Poetry Day reveals some of the techniques that made the project such a success, exploring the notion of a mental discourse between poets living and dead, as well as opening up her workbook and sharing some tips. If your Muse needs a kick in the nether regions, this is the place to be.

TWO events:

Thursday 22 September 2016, 6-8pm
Café Mezzanine, Library of Birmingham

If you think it’s fine to judge a book by its cover – and typeface, paper and page layout! – this is the event for you. Come for an evening of discussion, demonstration and investigation into all that goes into make books as objects with other keen readers, practitioners and local small press publishers.

Tickets are £3

http://www.birmingham-box.co.uk/event/reading-and-being-read-making-books/

Event arranged by The Contemporary Small Press and the Library of Birmingham.

Friday 23 September 2016, 6-8pm
Café Mezzanine, Library of Birmingham

The last few years has seen an explosion of new small presses and independent publishers around the country, publishing new and exciting fiction and poetry. If you are a keen reader and want to know more about the difference being a small press makes to how they work and what they publish, come along to hear from two local small presses, The Emma Press and Ayebia Press. They will each be presenting one of their writers, who will read from recently published work.

Event arranged by The Contemporary Small Press The Contemporary Small Press and the Library of Birmingham.

http://www.birmingham-box.co.uk/event/reading-and-being-read-readers-writers-publishers/

In an initiative called Write Now, Penguin Random House are looking for writers from under-represented communities.

This might mean you’re from BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) or LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) communities, or have a disability.

They are hosting a series of insight days (one of which is in Birmingham).

Find out more at the website

You’re invited to Books & Beer at The Gunmakers Arms, Birmingham city centre 7-9pm on Monday 12th September. There will be fantastic live fiction and Two Towers’ brilliant craft beers, and tickets are free. Book them at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/books-and-beer-at-the-gunmakers-arms-tickets-27035872021 and be sure to bring your friends!

The evening is loosely themed around Birmingham’s heritage and its history of gun-making.

The pub is the Two Towers’ brewery tap. Its beers are wonderful and very reasonably priced.? Free snacks will be provided and you can order pub grub too.

If you’d like to perform a short piece of fiction, please contact Helen at aaabbottstories@gmail.com.

Links & Shifts
Sunday 21st of August, 2:30-5:30
Birmingham Open Media, FREE

Links & Shifts brings together three practitioners to discuss the similarities and differences in their working processes.

Nikki Pugh (artist), Kat Jungnickel (sociologist) and Emily Chappell (writer) have all taken the experience of cycling as the  starting point for their work. Through a combination of presentations and panel discussion, they will explore how they go about understanding things through doing and making. They’ll also talk about the methods they use to move between the practical stage and the final outcome.

Come and join us if you have an interest in practice as research, embodied modes of knowing, storytelling, or just enjoy a good bike ride. There’ll be tea, cake, book signing and a chance to wear Kat’s research whilst pedalling a suitably aged bicycle.

Tickets are free, but strictly limited. Reserve your place at https://linksandshifts.eventbrite.co.uk

Emily had her first book published in January and is well known in cycling circles for her blogging; winning Travel Blogger of the Year at the 2012 British Travel Press Awards. She also writes for the Guardian. She’ll be ‘fresh’ back from taking part in an endurance cycle race across Europe and will be talking about (or rather doing) the bit between living the experience and turning the memories into stories and the written word.

Poetry Competitions now open:
Verve is Birmingham’s first Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word, launching in February 2017. In the run up to Verve, we’re launching a poetry competition for both adults and children. Entries are welcome from anywhere, both in the UK and abroad, as long as they relate to Birmingham, UK.

Dates for your diary:
Submissions open: 11th July
Submissions close (Adults): 11th September
Submissions close (Children): 30th September

See website for details

Saturday 16 July 2016, 9.30am – 4pm, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT

This July Writing West Midlands is launching its first ever National Writers’ Conference in Birmingham, featuring inspiring keynote speeches and specialist subject sessions for emerging and established writers.

In partnership with University of Birmingham, this intensive day of talks, discussions and presentations brings together the individuals and organisations to help creative writers in a range of genres get the best from their talents.

The conference succeeds the annual Writers’ Toolkit run by Writing West Midlands, the region’s literature development agency, and will take place at Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston. Previous events have drawn a wide audience from across the region and beyond.

The conference gives writers the pick of nine sessions with industry professionals including an exploration of the book trade, financial management, how to write for broadcast and podcast, and how to get booked onto festival programmes.

For the first time, the conference also offers one-to-one sessions with an agent, a bookseller and a literature festival programmer.

This year’s closing keynote speech is from award winning writer for children and young people, Bali Rai. Most of Rai’s stories are about modern Britain and his first novel (un)arranged marriage is a recommended read for KS3, whilst Rani & Sukh is now a set text for GCSE. He is a charismatic and inspiring speaker who has appeared on television and radio.

Jonathan Davidson, Chief Executive of Writing West Midlands, said:

“One of the many events, activities and projects run by Writing West Midlands, the National Writers’ Conference is an invaluable opportunity for writers to make new contacts, share ideas, and celebrate the world of writing.

“This event brings them into contact with industry professionals, including agents, editors and publishers as well as providing a rare opportunity for peer networking and support.”

The National Writers’ Conference is programmed and produced by Writing West Midlands, and supported by University of Birmingham.

Tickets cost just £50 / £45 (concs) and includes a buffet lunch. To book, and for the full programme, see http://www.writingwestmidlands.org/event/the-national-writers-conference/

Saturday 11th June, 1pm-2:30pm
QUAD, Market Place, Derby
Tickets £8/£6 conc.

From http://www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/whats-on/writers-day-meet-publishing-experts/ or from QUAD Box Office on 01332 290606

Ever wondered what an agent does for an author? Or how a publisher decides on the next big thing? Or what the publicity and marketing team do to get a book out there? Well here’s where you can get the answers!

Join us for a fascinating panel session giving an unparalleled insight into the world of publishing with author Antonia Hodgson, who is also a publisher of twenty years’ experience, Penguin Life publicist, Julia Murday (both from Derby!) and a literary agent, Ella Kahn.

25 June at 14:00–17:00
Simply Be YOGA
Quaker Hall, Kenelm Road (off Manor Hill), B73 6HD Sutton Coldfield

A dedicated workshop to introduce yoga to writers who spend a lot of time sitting and working at computers.

This practical workshop will work on the physical issues faced by writers but also we will use the breath to ease the mind and to help us concentrate.

Finally the workshop will introduce ways we can access out own creative energy by working on the energy centres that influence communication and creativity.

Facebook event

“IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL, THIS IS HOW TO TELL IT”

With more than twenty-five years experience writingfor radio, television and film in the UK and in Hollywood,screenwriters Adam and Barbara Fox share how to structure,write and craft a compelling story for the screen.

In this inspiring workshop, illustrated by Academy Awardwinning movie ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, you will discover the skills and techniques that make a good script great.

£45

RSC’S THE OTHER PLACE
SOUTHERN LANE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON CV37 6BB

Saturday 21st May from 2.30 to 6.30pm.
Tickets are £45 from the box office on 01789 403493.

Full details are available on our RSC web page at  https://www.rsc.org.uk/screenwriting-workshops