Northern Writers’ Awards roadshows
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New Writing North is taking to the road this November to speak to writers about the Northern Writers’ Awards and other development opportunities. At these special events, writers of all levels of experience can learn more about the opportunities that the awards offer and hear from previous winners about how winning an award contributes to career development.
There’s also the chance to learn more about how to write for radio, the ways our awards can help you to break into writing for television and Arts Council England’s support for individual writers. Whether you’re a new writer or more experienced, if you’re interested in developing your career these events are not to be missed!
All of the events are free to attend but spaces are limited, so please make sure you book in advance. The 2016 Northern Writers’ Awards portal will be open for submissions from Tuesday 1 December 2015 until Wednesday 3 February 2016. Details of this year’s awards will be available from Monday 16 November at www.northernwritersawards.com. The awards are supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and many other organisations, individuals and partners.
Bradford
Saturday 7 November 2015, 1.30-4.30pm
Kala Sangam Arts Centre, St Peter’s House, 1 Forster Court, Bradford BD1 4TY
In association with Freedom Studios, we are delighted to be presenting a roadshow event for novelists, poets and television screenwriters.
Freedom Studios Introduction (1.30-2pm): Alex Chisholm and Aisha Khan will open the day by telling us about their valuable work at Freedom Studios and their range of activities involving writers.
Writing for Television (2.15-3pm): Writers Nuzhat Ali and Sharma Walfall will discuss their first steps and experiences so far on the Channel 4 Writing for Television bursaries. They will also provide insight on how to prepare your work for this award opportunity.
Writing Fiction and Poetry (3.30-4.30pm): Two previous Northern Writers’ Award winners, children’s novelist Chloe Daykin and poet Degna Stone, will discuss how novelists and poets can best approach applying for an award and give advice on how to develop a career in writing and publishing. They will be joined by Professor Michael Green from Northumbria University, who will talk about how to develop your novel and the kinds of opportunities universities can offer writers at different stages of their careers.
Book your FREE place online via Eventbrite.
Kendal
Friday 13 November 2015, 2.30-4pm
Brewery Arts Centre, 122a Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4HE
This roadshow will feature introductions to the opportunities that the awards offer and a discussion on how to enter. New Writing North’s Chief Executive Claire Malcolm will be in conversation with poet Zaffar Kunial and television writer Sharma Walfall, both former winners. They will be joined by writer and lecturer Dr Tony Williams from Northumbria University, who will talk about how to develop your fiction and the kinds of opportunities universities can offer writers at different stages of their careers.
Book your FREE place online via Eventbrite.
Hull
Saturday 21 November 2015, 12.00-3.45pm
Wilberforce Lecture Theatre 12, Wilberforce Building, University of Hull, HU6 7RX
In association with Hull University, New Writing North is running an afternoon of seminars for writers. Join us for the full afternoon, or select a session.
Writing for Radio (12-1pm): Sue Roberts, the Editor of BBC Radio 3’s The Verb and Audio BBC Radio 3 and 4, will lead a discussion on writing for radio at the BBC. Sue will discuss what radio drama is and what the BBC is looking to commission. She will give you the lowdown on how to get work commissioned, and will also discuss the potential for cross-platform projects and more experimental approaches to creating work for radio.
Writing for Television (1.30-2.30pm): Writers Nuzhat Ali and Sharma Walfall will discuss their first steps and experiences so far on the Northumbria University/Channel 4 Writing for Television bursaries and give advice on how to prepare your work for this award opportunity.
Writing Fiction and Poetry (2.45-3.45pm): Two previous Northern Writers’ Awards winners, children’s novelist Chloe Daykin and poet Zaffar Kunial, will discuss how novelists and poets can approach applying for an award and how to develop a career in writing and publishing.
Book your FREE place online via Eventbrite.
Grants for the Arts sessions (30-minute slots 12.30-3.30pm): Also available on the day will be 30-minute one-to-one sessions with Arts Council England Relationship Managers Oliver Bliss and Alison Boyle, who will be able to advise writers on prospective project funding from Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts programme. Arts Council England is particularly keen to see innovative literature ideas that incorporate sound and other media, including digital, but all enquiries are welcome. If you are interested in signing up to a half-hour surgery, please email [email protected] by Monday 16 November with a one-paragraph outline of your proposal.
One-to-one sessions with BBC and ACE
Saturday 7 November 2015, 1-4pm
Free Thinking Festival, The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays NE8 2JR
In addition to our Northern Writers’ Awards roadshows, we are offering one-to-one writer development sessions in Gateshead.
Writing for Radio sessions (15-minute slots 1-3pm): As part of the Verb New Voices project, Sue Roberts, Editor of BBC Radio 3’s The Verb and Audio BBC Radio 3 and 4, will be available for short one-to-one sessions with writers looking to develop their ideas for radio. If you are interested in speaking to Sue, please email [email protected] by Monday 2 November with a short proposal (of no more than one page) about what it is you would like to discuss with her. Sue will then select proposals that she thinks she can most usefully help with.
Grants for the Arts sessions (30-minute slots 1-4pm): Alison Boyle (Relationship Manager, Literature for Arts Council England), will be holding one-to-one sessions with writers to provide advice on applying for Grants for the Arts. Arts Council England is particularly keen to see innovative literature ideas that incorporate sound and other media, including digital, but all enquiries are welcome. If you are interested in signing up to a half-hour surgery, please email [email protected] by Monday 2 November with a one-paragraph outline of your proposal.