News from New Writing North: 29 July 2022
Writing and Publishing Skills Hub
We’re excited to announce that NWN will launch a Writing and Publishing Skills Hub in autumn 2022. The £600,000 programme is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and other local funders. The hub will create a suite of educational and professional development opportunities for schools and teachers, students, young people and adult learners, and writers and literary SMEs in the region. Taking place across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland as well as supporting a substantial online offer, we're really excited about the range of courses, activities and events we will be able to offer across the North of Tyne region to open out and build skills and careers in the sector. Read more here.
We're recruiting!
We have exciting vacancies at all levels in our small, busy and creative Newcastle-based organisation. The vacancies are in our Skills & Engagement and Young People & Communities teams, including two Senior Manager roles, one Manager role, one Assistant role and one freelance Creative Producer. Visit our Vacancies page for all the positions and deadlines. We look forward to hearing from you!
Northern Writers' Awards winners 2022
We are delighted to have awarded 29 writers from the North of England more than £50,000 at the Northern Writers’ Awards 2022. The Northern Writers’ Awards were founded in 2000 and exist to recognise talent and support new work towards publication or broadcast. Now in their 23rd year, the awards are the largest writing development programme of their kind in England and have a reputation for identifying some of the country’s best unpublished writing.
Selected from a record-breaking 2035 entries in 2022, this year’s winners will join an impressive list of 360 writers who have been previously supported through the programme, many of whom have gone on to critical acclaim. Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, we can’t wait to see where the awards take you. Read about our 2022 winners here.
Young Writers Summer Sessions
Our popular Young Writers’ Summer Sessions are now underway, with our first group meeting this week in Sunderland. There is still time to book for our other sessions in Gateshead, Newcastle and South Shields, which are open to 12-19 year olds and are free to participate in. No experience is required, just come along and try something creative this summer. Book here.
New Writing North appoints Creative Associates
We are excited to have appointed two writers to the staff team at New Writing North, at a time of growth and development for the organisation.
Adam Sharp and Sharmin Islam responded to an open call for Creative Associates. Launched in March 2022, the call aimed to find writers that we could support to create new work, as well as bringing fresh perspectives and helping to inform the way New Writing North develops as it grows. Read more about Adam and Sharmin’s projects here.
Gordon Burn Prize Longlist 2022
At the end of June we announced the longlist for the Gordon Burn Prize 2022, as selected by chair of judges, author Denise Mina; sportswriter and columnist Jonathan Liew; broadcaster Stuart Maconie; artist Heather Phillipson; and writer Chitra Ramaswamy. We are so excited about this list, revealing the year’s boldest and most exciting fiction and non-fiction.
We look forward to seeing which titles will be shortlisted in August, and to presenting the winner at Durham Book Festival in October. Read more here.
Call-out for d/Deaf and hearing-impaired writers
We’re looking for d/Deaf and hearing-impaired writers who would be interested in working with young people as part of our ongoing Young Writers’ programme in schools from September 2022. If you are interested, please get in touch with us at youngwriters@newwritingnorth.com
Climate Letter Call-out
For her third and final collective project as climate writer-in-residence, poet Linda France invites you to write (and send) a letter about your take on the accelerating climate and ecological crisis. It’s up to you who you choose to write to, and you can send it in whatever format you like – via email, postcard or letter – whatever might help trigger a small change in how you feel about climate change and mass extinction.
Send your letter out into the world and to us so that Linda can gather a selection to form part of an installation at this year’s Durham Book Festival in October! Whatever your letter looks like, make sure it reaches us by 22 August. Read more about the project here.
People and publishers
Join Glenda Young for the launch of her Scarborough-set cosy crime Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel, published by Headline. The launch takes place on 6 August from 11am at Beeforth’s Hive, Scarborough. Find out more here.
In 2021, Nine Arches Press launched their nationwide Primers scheme in search of exciting new voices in poetry. Three poets emerged as clear choices: Kym Deyn, Estelle Price and Fathima Zahra. Primers Volume Six brings together a showcase from each of the three poets. An essential collection of new work from talented emerging voices. Find out more and order a copy here.
Still Lives is the latest novel from Reshma Ruia. Published by Renard Press last month, it is set in Manchester and is a multicultural family saga about love, betrayal and belonging. Find out more and order a copy here.
Simon Van der Velde’s literary crime thriller The Silent Brother was recently published by Northodox Press. Set in Walker and Byker, it follows Tommy whose little brother is stolen. Trapped in a world of shame and degradation he grows up with just two options; poverty or crime. Tommy’s life is headed for disaster until, in a place he least expects, he sees a familiar face. Find out more and order a copy here.
Liverpool-based author Jim Ottewill has recently published his first book with Velocity Press. Out of Space: How Cities Shaped Rave Culture plots a course through the different UK towns and cities club culture has found a home. This book maps where electronic music has thrived, and where it might be headed next. Find out more and order a copy here.
Wild Egg is Jennifer Flint’s debut novel following the story of one woman’s struggle to break the deadlock of ambivalence to decide whether becoming a biological mother is her wholehearted choice, or simply what she has been programmed to believe. Hollie goes on a journey and digs deep into her soul to become her most unapologetic and joyful self. Find out more and order a copy here.
Yvonne Vincent has recently published the second book in her Losers Club murder mystery series, The Laird’s Ladle. When Colin the curator is found bludgeoned to death in the museum, it’s down to the island weight-loss group to investigate. They find themselves hunting a lost Jacobite treasure and unravelling an international conspiracy. Find out more and order a copy here.
Crow’s Haunt is the debut novel from York-based author Rachel Wade, published by Fisher King Publishing. Set in the heart of the city in the 1800s, it explores themes of grief, regret, relationships, and community inspired by real events and people. Find out more and order a copy here.
If No One Speaks by Durham-based author Sam Szanto is a new collection of 26 stories centred on the themes of voicelessness and displacement. Find out more and order a copy here.
Competitions, awards, submission opportunities
The People’s Theatre is staging an evening of new writing and looking for scripts. They are looking for one act pieces or a piece from a longer play that can be performed stand alone. All submissions should last up to 20 minutes. Submit your scripts directly to bernibertola@yahoo.co.uk including your name, email, and telephone number.
London Lit Lab invite you to submit a 250-word flash fiction, memoir or poem that brings to life an LGBTQIA+ person or story from over 50 years ago. They are looking for queer words that preserve, explore and celebrate our rich history and will award one winner publication on their website and a half-price place on their ‘Queer Storytelling’ course. Apply by 30 July and find out more here.
HarperFiction and The Good Literary Agency invite writers to apply to (Re)Presenting Romance: a mentoring scheme for underrepresented writers. The scheme is open to writers underrepresented in mainstream publishing including writers of colour, disabled writers, LGBTQ+ writers and working-class writers. Send between 5000-8000 words by 1 August for the chance to receive a £1000 writing grant and a year of mentoring. Find out more here.
Exisle Academy are running a global short story competition. Write a story, fiction or fact, that would have helped you at a pivotal moment in your life. The winner will receive up to $1500 worth of training and coaching with Exisle Academy, including the opportunity to discuss developing a book with their editors. Enter by 28 August and find out more here.
The Michael Marks Awards are piloting their new award, the Michael Marks Environmental Poet of the Year prize, for 2022. The winner will receive publication of their portfolio as a pamphlet, a £1000 cash prize and an invitation to read at an event at Wordsworth Grasmere. Submit between 150 and 200 lines of poetry by 1 September. Find out more here.
New Voices First Novel Competition is designed to encourage and support writers who are just starting out. The submission with the most promising synopsis and first page will receive a start-up mentoring package worth up to £750. Apply by 14 September an find out more here.
Submissions for the Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction 2023 are now open. This year’s prize has the theme of ‘Music’ and is open to both published and unpublished writers. The winning writer will receive £500 and all 10 shortlisted authors will be featured in an eBook anthology which will be published by Comma Press. Apply by 22 September and find out more here.
Entries are open for The People’s Play Award. This new playwriting competition is open to Northern writers who are yet to have a full-length play performed professionally. The winning script will be chosen for a five-night production by the People’s Theatre and receive a cash prize of £1000. Apply by 30 September and find out more here.
Poem:99 Children’s Poetry Competition is celebrating its fifth birthday and invite young writers aged 5-16 to submit their poetry by 30 September. This year’s theme is ‘Pain’ and there are four age categories to enter. Winners will receive a £150 cash prize. Find out more here.
The Caledonia Novel Award 2023 is open for its ninth year. This international award is for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. Prizes include £1500 in cash and a free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre. Apply by 1 November and find out more here.
Opportunities and jobs
Freedom Studios are looking for a Lead Tutor for its flagship writer development programme Street Voices 9, for writers with some experience of playwriting. The writer must have a strong background in theatre and be able to plan and deliver engaging sessions in the fundamental aspects of writing for stage. Apply by 1 August and find out more here.
Mortal Fools are recruiting CONNECT Practitioners to join their casual pool of facilitators, who support the delivery of CONNECT: their training and professional development programme for organisations, teams, and individuals. Apply by 8 August and find out more here.
The Women Artists of the North East Library are seeking to commission an artist or writer to develop a new work that responds to the library collection, histories of women artists in the North East and archive practice. The text may be informed by any artistic practice, but will be written for publication and an event in December. Apply by 11 August and find out more here.
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is seeking to appoint a producer with expertise and knowledge in sustainability and the environment to produce a climate symposium in Bradford for the cultural sector. Apply by 14 August and find out more here.
The HarperCollins Author and Design Academy trains and supports writers and designers from underrepresented ethnic background with the aim of helping them to become successful in the publishing environment. The six-week programme will equip students with tools to succeed and is free to attend. Apply by 15 August and find out more here.
East Durham Creates are looking for a Creative Community Activist to join their team. They successful candidate will work with the delivery team to implement strategies aimed at engaging people in arts and culture. It is a front facing role, nurturing community connections into their programme. Apply by 22 August and find out more here.
SI Leeds Literary Prize are looking for new volunteer readers to judge this year’s SI Readers’ Choice award, which is awarded to unpublished fiction written by UK-based Black and Asian women. Judging will begin in late August and run until October and all reading is done electronically. To apply, email audience@sileedsliteraryprize.com by 24 August. Find out more here.
East Durham Creates is looking for a part-time, creative Digital and Marketing Co-ordinator. This role will make a vital contribution to the digital and marketing functions of their programme at a crucial stage in its development and need a new member to ensure everyone hears about their work. Apply by 7 September and find out more here.
Networking, workshops and events
Chemistry is a brand-new poetry and spoken word event at the Chemic Tavern in Leeds, featuring headline sets from established and emerging poets, plus open mic. Events are held on the last Friday of July, September and November. The first edition is on 29 July with guest poets Clare Shaw and Rachel Bower. Find out more here.
Leeds Poetry Festival is back for 2022 from 1 to 7 August. Join them at Left Bank, Hyde Park Book Club and online for a series of workshops, live performances and collaborative art shows. Find the full programme and get your festival pass here.
Comma Press are running a Science Fiction writing course led by Justina Robson. This three-month short story course will run from 10 August to 19 October and over six sessions you’ll become familiar with Science Fiction narrative structures and be able to apply them to your own work. The course costs £150 or has a discounted price of £75. Find out more here.
Join Collected Books for their Talking Translation event with translator Tina Kover and inaugural Translator in Residence at Durham University and New Writing North Ruth Clarke on 24 August. There is some amazing literature to be celebrated so dive into the world of translated fiction as part of Women in Translation month 2022. Tickets are £5, find out more here.
London Lit Lab are running a new course on Queer Storytelling with writer Andrew Kauffmann between 7 September and 18 October. The online course provides a platform for LGBTQ+ writers to write some of their boldest words. There will be a peer forum, reading material, coaching tips, detailed written feedback, and a live Q&A to discuss publishing new work. The course is £185, find out more here.
The next event in The Portico’s Rewriting the North series hosts writers Catherine Simpson and Adam Farrer in conversation with Will Mackie about life writing, memoir and the line (or not) between (auto)biography and fiction. The event takes place at 6pm on 15 September at The Portico Library, Manchester. Tickets are £3, find out more here.
Write Like A Grrrl: Ignite is a six-week writing course for women and non-binary writers or all experiences and abilities. Ignite will help you reduce fear of the blank page and lead you through essential writing techniques. Join Sara Sherwood on Thursdays 15 September to 27 October at Heart Headingly, Leeds. The course is £99.99, find out more here.
Join Out On The Page for a day of connecting with other LGBTQ+ writers based in the North of England on 17 September. Find out more about the Northern Writers’ Awards and how you might apply. Plus guest writer Jane Claire Bradley. Early bird tickets are available until 31 July and cost £20. Book a place and find out more here.
Join writer Jo Manby at The Whitaker on 24 September for a creative workshop exploring the themes of for she is always creeping, a multi-media exhibition by Aideen Barry. The workshop will help you gather inspiration for creative possibilities in writing and drawing, ending up with a collage of Surrealist/Dadaist slogans to take home. Tickets are £20, find out more here.
The Fire Station invite you to their brand new auditorium in Sunderland to an exciting line up of children’s theatre. Join them for Room on the Broom on 21 and 22 September, The Tiger Who Came to Tea on 4 and 5 October, or The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show on 16 and 17 November. Find out more here.
If you’ve considered writing a short story based on an aspect of your life, join Comma Press who are hosting a 3-month online writing course with bestselling author Emily Morris from 13 October. Discover what inspiration you can draw from your own life to inspire a story to be published in a Comma Press E-Book anthology. The course costs £150 or has a discounted price of £75. Find out more here.
If you have news that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter please contact lauralewis@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 19 August 2022.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge.
