Sounds Good: Audio Storytelling Programme
Develop your skills in audio storytelling with a new professional development programme from New Writing North’s growing audio studio, in partnership with Creative UK and Northumbria University.
We are looking for five writers who are interested in developing original fiction or non-fiction series for audio. Over nine months from June 2024 to February 2025, the selected writers will receive a unique package of support.
In a programme led by Executive Producer (Shadows at the Door) Mark Nixon, writers will:
- participate in writers’ rooms, where they work alongside their peers to develop their own scripts, offering feedback and support to each other and building their networks
- participate in one-to-one mentoring sessions with Mark Nixon
- meet guest writers and producers, who will share their experiences in the industry
- learn production skills, and transform their scripts into a finished pilot
- pitch a pilot episode of their series to audio publishers with New Writing North’s support
- receive a bursary of £2500 to cover their participation in the programme.
Eligible writers may have begun to write for audio platforms; or may already have experience writing in other forms.
Sounds Good: Audio Storytelling Development Programme is produced in partnership with Creative UK, funded by North of Tyne Combined Authority and this opportunity is open to writers who live in Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland.
Applications are now open until midday, Monday 20 May 2024.
Schedule
In order to be considered for this programme you need to be available to come to New Writing North’s office in Northumbria University in Newcastle for all the ‘in-person’ sessions listed in the schedule below.
Some key dates are listed below, and, as we go through to February 2025, we will agree further dates together, as a team.
May 2024
Interviews: Thursday 30 and Friday 31 May, virtual
June 2024
Introduction & writing process begins
- Saturday 8 June – Writers’ Room 11am-3pm, In Person
- Monday 17 June – Writers’ Room 6pm-9pm, In Person
- Saturday 29 June – Writers’ Room 11am-3pm, In Person
One 60-minute one-to-one session per writer, date and time to be arranged, Virtual
July 2024
- Wednesday 10 July – Writers’ Room 6pm-9pm, In Person
- Saturday 27 July – Writers’ Room 11am-3pm, In Person
- Two 60-minute one-to-one sessions per writer, date and time to be arranged, Virtual
August 2024
Dates and times to be agreed with the group, to include:
- Writers’ Room Workshop
- Masterclass
- Two 60-minute one-to-one sessions per writer, Virtual
September 2024
Pre-production of pilots begin
Dates and times to be agreed with the group, to include:
- Writers’ Room Workshop
- One 60-minute one-to-one session per writer, Virtual
October & November 2024
Production begins
Dates and times to be agreed with the group, to include:
- Between three and six production sessions
- One 60-minute one-to-one session per writer, Virtual
These will be recording sessions. It may not be necessary for all attendees to attend each session during October and November.
December 2024
Post-production
Dates and times to be agreed with the group, to include:
- Two post-production sessions
- One 60-minute one-to-one session per writer, Virtual
January 2025
Pitches go out
Dates and times to be agreed with the group, to include:
- Three sessions
- Two 60-minute one-to-one sessions per writer, Virtual
February 2025
Review process, next steps for career
Masterclass
Through this process we want to identify and get to know promising writers for audio, and in partnership with Creative UK, signpost them to other opportunities. We will be running a day-long workshop led by Mark Nixon in September 2024 for promising writers. Participants on this session will be invited to attend, having been identified through this recruitment process. So if you don’t make it to the final five, there will be a further opportunity to get involved. Writers attending this masterclass will be paid to cover expenses.
Mark Nixon, Executive Producer and Lead Writer
Mark Nixon is an award-winning Executive Producer of Shadows at the Door, a production house which publishes genre-pushing stories that specialise in the ghastly, the ghoulish and the macabre. Mark is a writer who has written extensively in the audio drama format across genres. He holds a unique position in the North East of wearing multiple hats within the realm of audio drama production. As a producer, director, lead writer, sound designer and mentor, Mark possesses a comprehensive understanding of each facet of long-form audio storytelling from conception to dissemination. Mark has emerged as a champion of drama driven stories with an ear for natural dialogue. As a mentor with over a decade of professional managerial experience, Mark has empowered writers at the beginning of their careers, to those who have worked on household name TV shows.
How to apply
To be eligible, participants must live in the North of Tyne Area (Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland). You will be asked to provide evidence of this should you be accepted.
To apply, you will be asked to upload:
- a sample of your writing (up to 15 pages of poems, up to 2000 words of prose, up to 15 pages of script, or link(s) to your film or audio productions).
- writing CV
- a letter of application up to 3 pages.
In your letter of application, please include:
- an explanation of the idea you would like to develop for your narrative podcast (this does not need to be full blown pitch just a few paragraphs outlining your idea)
- why you think it would work for audio,
- why you are particularly interested in audio as a form.
Applications close at midday on Monday 20 May 2024.
We are hosting an optional Zoom meeting on Friday 10 May, 12.30-1.30pm for anyone who would like to ask questions about the programme. Sign up here.
We will let candidates know whether they have been shortlisted on Friday 24 May. We anticipate holding virtual interviews on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 May and letting successful candidates know by Monday 3 June.
