Read Regional 2010: Monument Metro taken over by summer reading campaign
Commuters passing through Newcastle’s Monument Metro station on Friday 4 June will be encouraged to take five minutes out from their busy day by relaxing with a good book as the ticket hall is transformed into a beach reading haven. Between 7.30am and 11am, the station will be adorned with deckchairs, banners and well-stocked bookshelves to launch this year’s Read Regional campaign, which is intended to get people reading books by regional authors. Free copies of the books being promoted by the campaign will be handed out to commuters and some of the writers will also be on hand to join in the fun. For more information about Read Regional, see www.readregional.com.

Galloping Stone makes Durham debut
The Galloping Stone is a collection of poems and prose written by clients, staff and volunteers at the Medical Foundation for the Care of the Victims of Torture, arising from poet Gillian Allnutt’s residency there. At this special Colpitts event, Gillian and some of the contributors will read their work. The event is at Alington House, Durham, on Friday 11 June at 8pm and tickets are £5/£3. For more details go to www.colpittspoetry.co.uk. Copies of The Galloping Stone are available to buy from the NWN shop.

Nightingales and Roses: poetry in Iran
Two years ago, radio producer Caroline Beck, who runs our Living Room Book Group, visited Isfahan in Iran. On a dawn walk she heard the hypnotic sound of a man on his way to work pausing to sing. She recorded him, asked him what he was singing – he said, Hafez, a 14th-century poet. Imagine anyone reciting Chaucer underneath the Tyne Bridge at 6am…

Nightingales and Roses, which is presented by Iranian born British film-maker Amir Amirani, is broadcast today on the BBC World Service. The programme is the culmination of that chance encounter that day and how a delight in poetry reflects a rarely seen side of Iran. Nightingales and Roses is broadcast throughout the day today, but it’s probably easier to listen to it on iPlayer.


People

Bishop FM features local authors in new writing programme
Bishop Auckland’s community radio station, Bishop FM (available on 105.9FM if you’re in the area and online at www.bishopfm.com if you’re not) has launched a monthly programme giving airtime to author reviews and interviews. Local crime writer Ann Cleeves is their first guest on Tuesday 1 June at 7pm, when she’ll be interviewed by fellow local author Wendy Robertson. On 1 July, Bishop FM will have an interview with children’s writer David Almond (pictured). You can get more details of programmes on their website.


In the North East

Writers’ Block North East starts in Middlesbrough
Writers’ Block is an exciting new project for writers and creatives in the Teesside region, bringing writers together with actors, directors, film crew, musicians, illustrators, animators, radio producers and photographers; it will provide work space and facilities; create opportunities to produce showreels and develop portfolios; house regular training sessions; and give writers access to agents, publishers and key industry figures. Want to get involved? Visit www.facebook.com/writersblockne for further information about the opportunities outlined, or contact laura@writersblockne.com.


Courses and workshops

Write for Animation with Ian Fenton
Teesside University’s School of Arts & Media is offering Writing for Animation, a one-day workshop on Friday 25 June hosted by award-winning scriptwriter Ian Fenton, who also directs the Story Engine conference. In this highly practical workshop, Ian will look at the skills required to write for animation compared to live action film. He’ll focus on the dynamics of developing an animation screenplay – how you go about writing a script for it, what the process is and how you create a ‘story bible’. He’ll also talk about how to get feedback on your script, and how to get your ideas to a producer. The subsidised Writing for Animation price for North East registered SMEs or freelancers is just £39.99 (usually £170) per person. To book, contact James McDermott on 01642 738 089 or samwfd@tees.ac.uk.


National opportunities

National Poetry Competition open for entries
Now in its 33rd year, the Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s biggest poetry competitions. As well as a cash prize, winners’ work is published in the Poetry Society’s international journal, Poetry Review. The judges this year are poets George Szirtes, Deryn Rees-Jones and Sinéad Morrissey. The prizes are: £5,000 for the overall winner, £2,000 for the second, £1,000 for the third and seven commendations of £100. Deadline for entries is 31 October 2010. Enter online or download an entry form at www.poetrysociety.org.uk.

Arvon International Poetry Competition
Founded by Ted Hughes and now in its 30th year, The Arvon International Poetry Competition is one of the UK’s most prestigious open poetry prizes. The first prize of £7,500 is one of the largest available for a single poem. The competition is truly international, welcoming entries from around the world. You can get all the details and enter online at www.arvonfoundation.org/p147.html. Deadline for entries is 5pm, 16 August 2010.

Opportunities for professional writers, musicians and artists in North Yorkshire
The Extending Practice/Celebrating Place project has a budget of £70,000 towards marketing, mentoring and commissioning of writers, musicians and visual artists in North Yorkshire. Writers and musicians can attend one of the information sessions in June and July. Details of the information sessions as well as more on the project are available at www.creativenorthyorkshire.com.

Poetry Business 2010 Book & Pamphlet Competition open to submissions
The Poetry Business is now inviting entries for its 24th Book & Pamphlet Competition. This year the prize is sponsored by NAWE (The National Association for Writers in Education), whose support has allowed the prize pot to be raised to £2,000. This year’s judge is Simon Armitage. Deadline for entries is 29 November 2010. For more information, go to www.poetrybusiness.co.uk.

Call for short stories for new anthology of British Asian fiction
Tindal Street Press, the independent publisher based in Birmingham, has opened its doors to submissions of short stories by anyone who considers themselves to be British Asian. The anthology, Asian Enough?, is set be published in October 2011. Deadline for entries is 30 June. For more information, see www.tindalstreet.co.uk/news/call-for-submissions-for-a-new-anthology-of-britis.


Miscellany

Manuscript appraisal offer by agents at Blake Friedmann
Would you like your manuscript read and appraised by real, live agents? How about doing it for charity? Agents at Blake Friedmann, both in books and film, are offering manuscript appraisals in an auction for the Book Trade Charity’s Action Week (7-11 June). Your bid needs to be emailed to auction@blakefriedmann.co.uk before midnight on 11 June, and you can get more details about the charity and the agency at www.blakefriedmann.co.uk/auction.

Free scriptreading by Live Theatre
If you haven’t already taken advantage of this scheme, Live Theatre offers a free script reading service which provides an opportunity to get professional and objective feedback on your script prior to sending it out to theatres and agents for consideration. Visit www.live.org.uk/newwriting/scriptreadingservice.php to check submission guidelines.


Deadline for the next newsletter

If you have news that you would like to submit for inclusion in the newsletter please contact olivia@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 7 June. The next edition of The Listening Post covering July’s literature events will go out in late June. If you have events that you would like to submit for inclusion, you will need to send information by 20 June to olivia@newwritingnorth.com.

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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.