News from New Writing North: 28 February

Newsletter: 28 February 2020

Gordon Burn Prize 2020 opens for entry

The writer Anthony Anaxagorou, artist Rachel Howard, journalist and broadcaster Sali Hughes and author Richard T. Kelly will judge the Gordon Burn Prize 2020. The prize is now open for entry until Friday 20 March 2020.

Now in its eighth year, the prize has a reputation for recognising literature that is fearless in its ambition and execution, often pushing boundaries, crossing genres or challenging readers’ expectations. Read more.

Inkubator: paid professional development training to work with young people

Inkubator is our exciting new paid professional development course for writers across all disciplines who want to develop their skills in participatory arts practice with young people.

Our award-winning Young Writers programme introduces young people to creative writing through school and community groups in the North East. From our Saturday morning writing groups to our long-term relationships with secondary schools, we offer young people the opportunity to experiment and create, using forms of writing from songwriting and rapping to prose and poetry.

Our programme could not run without our facilitators: dynamic, diverse and talented freelance writers with a passion for working with young people.

We’re looking for 6 emerging practitioners to take part in a four-month course, which will run April-July 2020 and will equip them with the skills to work with young people. Each participant will receive a bursary of £500 to undertake the training and we hope to be able to offer them freelance work on completion of the course. Find out more and apply by Wednesday 18 March.

Faber & Faber ‘Introduction to Publishing’ Day

New Writing North has once again teamed up with Faber & Faber to offer a group of young people from the North East the opportunity to see behind the scenes at one of the UK’s most prestigious publishing houses on Monday 30 March 2020. This opportunity is open to young people aged 16–25 who are interested in finding out more about the world of publishing. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are under-represented in writing and publishing.

Find out more and apply by Friday 13 March.

Read Regional 2020 begins!

Read Regional 2020 begins next week! Have a look at our events page to find out when you can meet some of the most exciting authors in the North at your local library between March and June 2020. You'll also be able to find all 10 of our titles stocked in libraries across the North and an exclusive introduction to each book written by its author and book group questions on our website.

Crime Story takes on contemporary crime

The innovative Crime Story programme returns with a series of events at Alphabetti Theatre looking into contemporary issues in crime fiction and real-life crime.

Our first event this Saturday (29 February) features Bradford crime writer AA Dhand, whose creation DCI Harry Virdee remains the only British Asian detective in an established crime fiction series. Dhand will be in conversation with criminologist Mike Rowe and DS Mick Paterson, where they will consider fictional and real-life crime, to look at the role of a detective in an investigation and the culture within which they operate. Book now.

Find our full Crime Story programme here.

Moveable Type: Jo Clement Pamphlet Launch

7-8pm, 18 Mar 2020, Waterstones Newcastle

Join us for the launch of Moveable Type, poet Jo Clement’s debut pamphlet, which draws on the rich heritage of her working-class Gypsy upbringing and marks an exciting new voice in contemporary poetry. Read more.

Rebecca Solnit in Conversation

6.30pm, 31 Mar 2020, Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne

Join us for a special in conversation event with acclaimed author Rebecca Solnit, who will discuss her new book Recollections of My Nonexistence.

A thrilling portrait of the emergence of an artist, Recollections of My Nonexistence describes Solnit’s formation as a writer and as a feminist in 1980s San Francisco. A time of gender violence and the exclusion of women from the centres of cultural power, Solnit describes her experience of being poor, hopeful, and adrift in a city that would become her great teacher. Read more.

An Evening with David Peace

6.30pm, 28 May 2020, Tyneside Cinema

A special event with bestselling author, David Peace, who will introduce his much-anticipated new novel Tokyo Redux. David Peace is the author of ten novels including the Red Riding Quartet, The Damned Utd, Red or Dead and most recently Patient X. He lives in Tokyo. Read more.

Stitched: A Hip-hopera

Take a look at the incredibly talented young people we get to work with!

Back in September, our Young Writers' City programme at Excelsior Academy Newcastle produces Stitched: A Hip-hopera, which the young people performed at Sage Gateshead.

Since then they’ve been busy filming and recording music videos to accompany three of the main songs of the production, Squares Of Light, Tell Me a Story and Welcome to the West-End, which we are delighted to share with you! We are so proud of everyone who has been involved. Let us know what you think @NewWritingNorth.

People

Congratulations to Sunderland writer, Pauline Waters, who recently launched her first children’s book, Stanley The Seagull, published by Sixth Element Publishing and illustrated by Graeme Wilkinson.

North-East author Glenda Young will be publishing the third novel in her gritty saga Pearl of Pit Lane on 5 March 2020 (Headline). There will also be a book launch at Sunderland Waterstones on Saturday 7 March 11am–1pm and then the National Glass Centre, Sunderland 2–3pm.

Trevor Wood’s debut novel, The Man on the Street, a crime thriller set amongst Newcastle’s homeless community, is published on 19 March. Trevor will be appearing at several events to talk about the book, including Forum Books, Hexham, on Thursday, 19 March (with Blood Orange author Harriet Tyce) and Waterstones Durham on Saturday 21 March. He will also be signing books at Waterstones in Morpeth on Saturday 28 March.

Congratulations to Bonnie Meekums, whose debut novel, A Kind Of Family, was published on 7 January by Between the Lines Publishing. The book, which has 5* reviews, is available to buy here on Amazon.

Congratulations to Northern writer Amanda Huggins, whose debut poetry collection, The Collective Nouns for Birds, will be published on 28 February by Maytree Press. Amanda will be doing a reading at The Red Shed, Wakefield at 7PM on 5 March, and a further talk at Later at the Library, Denby Dale on 27 March.

Last chance to enter the Comedy Women in Print Prize, which showcases the best of funny female fiction. CWIP looks for a brilliant, as yet undiscovered, unpublished manuscript to win a publishing deal with Harper Collins. Submissions close on Monday 2 March. Apply here.

St John’s College, University of Cambridge, have opened applications for the Harper-Wood Creative Writing & Travel Award for English Poetry & Literature. They are accepting submissions from unpublished writers in the early stages of their career. Deadline 6 May. Apply here.

We're proud to be a partner of the 2020 SI Leeds Literary Prize, which is now live for entries. This is the national award for unpublished fiction which celebrates work by Black and Asian women. Deadline 30 April. Follow this link to find out more.

Outside Edge Theatre Company has announced The Phil Fox Award for Playwriting which invites playwrights with any level of experience from across the UK to submit full-length scripts about issues related to addiction.The winner will receive a £6,000 commission from OETC and mentoring from multi-award winning playwright Enda Walsh, who chairs the judging panel. Submissions accepted from 16th March – 16th June. For full eligibility criteria see this link.

Entries are open for the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award which calls for poetry and short fiction from both UK and international writers. Prizes include £1000, awarded to both the Poetry and Short Fiction winners, and publication within the inspiring Aesthetica Creative Writing Anthology, which is awarded to 60 writers, shortlisted by the prestigious judging panel. Deadline 31 August 2020. Apply here.

David Higham Literary Agency are hosting an Open Day for Under-Represented Writers on Wednesday 10 June at Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne, which offers ten writers the opportunity to meet with industry experts and receive tailored feedback on their work from top literary agents. It will focus on fiction-writing for adults and there will be sessions throughout the day to answer questions about all aspects of the industry, from the role of an agent to the publishing process, as well as one-to-one sessions to provide tailored feedback on current writing projects. They have extended the deadline for applying to 9 March. Follow this link to find out more.

The Ruppin Agency Writers’ Studio is a network of author-mentors based across the UK, who offer a range of mentorship packages along with a developmental edit option from their partnership with The Book Edit. The writers working with them include Yvonne Battle-Felton, Sarah Butler, Wyl Menmuir, Kirstin Innes, Irenosen Okojie, Martyn Bedford and Sara Sheridan. The deadline for the next round of Full Mentoring & Editing Programme is Monday 9 March. Find out more.

The Writing Squad is a group of motivated writers, which exists to help develop young people’s writing. They are now recruiting for their next two-year programme which will run from April 2020. To be eligible you must be 16-21 and live, work or study in the North of England. The Squad is free and works around your life so you can study, work or travel at the same time. Closing date is midnight Sunday 29 March. Apply here.

Arvon is running a course exclusively for teachers at their centre in West Yorkshire, Lumb Bank. This 5-day residential, held Monday 8 April to Saturday 11 April, offers the chance to reconnect with your creative practice and transform the way you teach in the classroom. Tutors Jane Feaver and Anthony Wilson and Guest Onjali Q. Raúf will guide you through an inspirational week of workshops and individual tutorials to help you discover your inner writer. Find out more here.

Writers’ Block North East is looking for twelve writers to take part in a year-long programme consisting of workshops, one-to-one mentoring and advice from industry professionals. The process will begin and end with events attended by three agents from prominent London-based literary agencies who will offer guidance and advice on your stories. If selected, you will attend seven day-long development workshops and have access to 14 hours of 1-1 mentoring from WBNE, with plenty more exciting benefits too. Apply here by 5pm on Monday 27 April.

ArtisOn is running a How To Write A Blog workshop in Masham on 20 March. Whether you have your own blog, want to start one, or want to contribute to someone else’s, there are a few things it’s a good idea to consider before you begin. The workshop will look at the basics of blogging – working out what it is you want to write about, who your audience is, and how to make sure your blog post does what you want it to do. More info here.

Award-winning theatre maker, musician and performer, Sophia Hatfield, along with Stute Theatre and Brontë Parsonage Museum, are currently working on a new show about the lives and works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. As part of their early development work they are running a series of creative writing workshops to explore these three remarkable female writers and what their work means to us today. You don’t need any knowledge of the Brontë sisters or creative writing to attend the workshop. Saturday 7 March, 1 – 3pm. Book now.

Writing for Wellbeing is hosting a Mindful Writing for Awareness workshop at York Yoga Studio on Sunday 15 March 1pm to 4pm. Writing for Wellbeing is a brilliant practice to help you become more self-aware, let go of limitations, and find your inner wisdom and calm. You’ll do some gentle writing activities to encourage mindfulness, spark your creativity, and let those words flow. All this in the beautifully peaceful atmosphere of York Yoga Studio – a perfect place for mindful writing. £30 to book.

Settle Stories are running a writing and mindfulness course, The Writer’s Way, which starts on 7 March and runs on the first Saturday of every month until July. The workshops will be based at The Joinery in Settle. Participants are welcome to come to individual sessions or book onto the whole course for maximum benefit. The whole course includes an individual Skype session with Pete Armstrong (author and facilitator) where participants receive individual feedback. It is £160 or £40 for individual sessions. There is also the opportunity to perform at their Festival in Summer. More info here.

The Northern Fiction Alliance Roadshow is coming to Hyde Park Book Club at Leeds Lit Fest on Sunday 8 March, 12pm. The NFA is a radical publishing collective devised to showcase the creativity, diversity and spirit of publishers in the North of England. It features leading independents from across the region, including Comma Press, Leeds’s Peepal Tree Press, Liverpool’s Dead Ink Books, Sheffield’s And Other Stories, Salford's Saraband, Hebden Bridge's Bluemoose Books, Newcastle's Mayfly, Pontefract's Route and Scarborough's Valley Press. Register for free here.

Ledbury Poetry Festival are holding a free Voice Coaching Workshop for poets, running from 5 – 8 May at Hellens Manor in Herefordshire. The workshop fills the gap between publishing and performance, where a poet has the writing skills, but not necessarily the performance skills to deliver their poetry how they wish it to be heard. The poet will have published at least their first collection and have had some foray into performing at festivals or events. The residential includes all accommodation, tutoring and is catered with delicious home-made food on the premises. Apply by 5pm Friday 3 April via this link.

Writer, meditation teacher and Spotlight Books author Tara Gould will be leading a Wild Writing and Meditation retreat in central Portugal in June. Set in a valley by the beautiful Zezere River this five-day immersive retreat will include (optional) daily yoga, meditation, mindful walking and wild writing workshops, healthy food, luxury accommodation plus time alone each day to write, reflect and relax. For full details, prices and dates, see this link.

Hexham Book Festival's programme has just been announced, with a packed schedule of events from 24 April - 3 May. Speakers include George Alagiah, Jung Chang, Holly McNish, and Jenny Eclair. A new commissions programme features Northumberland writers Sarah Davy, Gwennie Frazer, Hilary Elder and Angela Readman. Book tickets here.

HERE is a powerful new play by Lindsay Rodden, directed by Amy Golding, about finding sanctuary in the unlikeliest of places and re-writing the story of the city as your own. It’s the story of two best friends with a library card, and the power they summon through friendship and books to make something magical. The production is part of The Arriving Project – Curious Monkey’s ongoing work with people seeking sanctuary in the North East and Derby. Book tickets here.

A new adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is coming to Darlington Hippodrome theatre on 26–28 March. Darlington Hippodrome are offering an exclusive promo code for our readers, which gets you tickets for just £10 for any performance. Just enter the code GAMEKEEPER at the checkout. Book via this link.

Orb Community Enterprise, Yorkshire, is seeking a Creative and Wellbeing Projects Manager (Full time, £26,999, 37.5 hours per week) who understands the power of creativity to impact on individual and community wellbeing and potential, especially for the most vulnerable. Closing date for applications is Monday 16 March. Apply here.

Arts Council England is recruiting for a Relationship Manager, Diversity (North - Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leeds or Manchester. Full time, permanent, £31,975.00 per annum, plus excellent benefits). As a Relationship Manager You will work with and support a portfolio of funded organizations. This will include enduring that diversity is embedded in all their plans, monitoring their performances against funding agreements, and keeping up to date with their artistic and cultural work. Deadline is 5pm Friday 20 March. Apply here.

If you have news that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter please contact sophiekoranteng@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 20 March 2020.

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.