Karen's blog: Writers' Centre Norwich newsletter

Here is the latest Writers' Centre Norwich newsletter, including the Escalator writing competition, workshops and masterclasses, for my followers:

January 2016

Welcome to the Writers' Centre Norwich newsletter - bringing you the latest news, events and courses from England's first UNESCO City of Literature.

Take your writing to the next level with Escalator

Is your New Year resolution to take your writing more seriously? Apply for Escalator, our talent development scheme open to all fiction writers living in the East of England. We're looking to support ten ambitious fiction writers who show promise and think that a period of structured support would enable them to develop artistically.

The selected applicants will be awarded a unique professional development package which includes one-to-one mentoring from an established writer, a series of workshops as part of a residential retreat, and a final showcase to agents and publishers.

Escalator has been running for almost a decade and has supported over 80 writers in their creative projects, with many going on to sign with agents, publish and receive awards for their writing. Find out about our alumni here.

The application deadline is Friday 26 February 2016. Apply now.

New season of workshops and masterclasses

Alongside our regular agent days, fiction and poetry workshops, we are pleased to introduce a number of creative non-fiction sessions, events and workshops for those interested in biography, history, memoir, family history and nature writing. Click here for our new programme including masterclasses with Emma Healey, Daljit Nagra, Alison Light and Nikesh Shukla.

Go behind-the-scenes with our Writer At Work series

Gain behind-the-scenes insight into the technical and creative processes of prominent writers in fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry with our new 'Writer at Work' master-classes. Explore the pleasures and pitfalls of creative non-fiction with Guardian journalist Ian Thomson, think differently about family history with award-winning writer Alison Light, gain practical life writing tools with Nelson Mandela biographer Elleke Boehmer, and discover how personal and writing lives intertwine with East Anglian Book Awards winner Julia Blackburn.

Whether you're a writer looking for inspiration and practical advice for your own work or a passionate reader interested in the secret life of books, make sure you bring a notepad ready to soak up their advice, top tips and answers to your questions. Book now .

Major step forward for a National Centre for Writing

WCN's plan to open a National Centre for Writing in Norwich, England's first UNESCO City of Literature, took a major step forward this month following an announcement from Arts Council England. The project has been successful in the highly competitive funding process and now has access to £900,000 towards the development of the Centre at the iconic Dragon Hall. Find out more on our website, and read coverage in T he Guardian.

Listen...

BBC documentary 'City of Writers' examines why Norwich has become such a mecca for those who want to write.

Watch...

Re-live our Christmas #LibraryAdvent campaign featuring wonderful libraries from across the world.

Write...

Check out our hand-pick of writing opportunities - from screenwriting to residencies - and start your New Year on a writing high.

Read...

An extract from Peter Bush's 'The Orwell Syndrome? Class, Nation and Beyond' essay in the latest issue of In Other Words.

Han Kang in conversation, The Book Hive
Tonight! 6.30pm, free entry, no booking required

Internationally acclaimed experimental South-Korean author Han Kang returns to Norwich on 12 January to launch her novel Human Acts. Her debut The Vegetarian was described by The Guardian as 'sensual, provocative and violent, ripe with potent images, startling colours and disturbing questions.' She will be joined for this free event by translator Deborah Smith and Senior Editor of Granta Max Porter. Find out more.

Poetry for Ashraf Fayadh, Norwich Art Centre
14 Jan, 8pm, free entry, no booking required

Some of the region's finest poets will come together on Thursday 14 January at Norwich Art Centre as part of a unique night of worldwide readings in solidarity with the Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh, who has been sentenced to death by the Saudi Arabian authorities. Confirmed poets include George Szirtes, Moniza Alvi, Martin Figura, Helen Ivory, Andrea Holland and Joanna Guthrie. Entry is by donation. Find out more.

Coaching and mentoring sessions

Trying to get published? Want to overcome a creative stumbling block? Or perhaps you need some one-to-one feedback on your writing? Our coaching and mentoring packages offer guidance and advice from accredited writing coaches Katherine Skala and Heidi Williamson, and are entirely flexible to your needs. Book now.

Celebrating the work of R.F.Langley, WCN Dragon Hall
11 Feb, 7pm, free entry, RSVP required

Britain's leading Late Modernist poet J.H.Prynne has joined the line-up for the PN Review event in celebration of the writing of R.F.Langley. Hear readings from award-winning writers Helen Macdonald and Julia Blackburn, acclaimed poets Peter Gizzi and Matthew Welton, and UEA Lecturer and Sunday Times critic Jeremy Noel-Tod. Entry is free. For further info and to RSVP, click here.

Join us for a new season of UEA Live

Our free UEA Live literature events were packed to the rafters at Dragon Hall last year; if you missed out then make sure you pencil our Spring season into your diary. With headline authors, the very best new writing talent, a popup bar and book stall from The Book Hive, it's a great opportunity to meet fellow writers and future stars of UK publishing in a spectacular medieval setting.

Creative Writing at Tokyo International Literary Festival

Should you find yourself in Tokyo this spring (!), WCN is running a two-day Creative Writing Workshop at the Tokyo International Literary Festival on 3-4 March. The sessions will be designed for early to mid-career literary translators working from Japanese to English and English to Japanese, and will be taught by Kyoko Yoshida and Jonathan Morley.For more info and how to apply, click here.

National Lives, WCN Dragon Hall
22 April, 6pm, free entry

A unique opportunity for anyone with an interest in biography or history. For the first time in a public forum, the head of the Australian Dictionary of National Biography Melanie Nolan and the former head of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Lawrence Goldman will meet in conversation. Hear them discuss the concept of 'national biography', the histories of the two dictionaries, how individuals are selected for inclusion and the future of the dictionaries as they increasingly move online. Book now.

The W.G. Sebald Lecture: Roger McGough
The British Library, 22 Feb, 6.30pm, £12

Booking is now open for the 2016 Sebald Lecture with poet, playwright and broadcaster Roger McGough. The annual lecture on literary translation is organised by the British Centre for Literary Translation with support from WCN. Roger will draw on his experience of translating three critically acclaimed Molière plays as well has having his own poems translated into other languages - including translations into German by W.G. Sebald himself. Book now.

You may also be interested in...

What I Learned From Johnny Bevan, by Luke Wright
Told through one extraordinary friendship, this funny and poignant poetic monologue about the British relationship between class and politics won a Fringe First for new writing and a slew of ecstatic 4 and 5 star reviews. Fri 22 Jan, Diss Corn Hall, £10

Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize
There's still time to submit the first 50 pages of your novel to the Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize. Entrants must be unpublished females aged 21 and over. Deadline 5 Feb 2016.

Arvon courses 2016
Arvon, renowned for its creative writing residential courses set in inspiring rural locations, has now released its 2016 programme. Grants are available to help with course fees. Find our more.