Commonword Cultureword Shots in the Dark competition, deadline 30 April

The latest Commonword Cultureword newsletter has details of a Crime flash fiction competition and upcoming events:

Events and News from Commonword Cultureword   March 2017   to get updates: website www.cultureword.org.uk twitter @cultureword @bawconf  facebook (facebook.com/culturewordcommonword)       Launch Event: Date: 5th May 2017 Time: 6.30pm onwards Venue: Three Minute Theatre, Manchester - sui anukka - col bashir - hafsah aneela bashir - jane bradley - maeve clarke - dipali das - afshan d’souza-lodhi - christina fonthes - - bethany hermitt - charlotte maxwell - yolanda mercy - heena patel - deborah sabina - shahireh sharif - naomi sumner chan - sounds that exceed 80 decibels is an anthology that contains poetry, monologues and performance pieces written by 15 women. It raises the voices of women that are often marginalized in mainstream British Society which includes women of diverse heritage and identity. All the writers in this anthology are women of colour, and/or identify as LBT. Cultureword started the Women In The Spotlight (WITS) programme to address the lack of women competing and performing on stage. We found that the winners for poetry slam competitions were overwhelmingly men. We wanted to know why. We held panels and events to find out how things could be changed. Based on the feedback, we decided the best way to do this was to develop a programme for women who want to write for and/or perform on the stage. The challenge for women, particularly women identifying as LBT+ and/or BAME, is to have our voices heard. The title sounds that exceed 80 decibels came from a conversation that took place  at  a WITS workshop. Ears exposed to over 80 decibels continuously, can become damaged. As women, we are often told that we need to be more assertive, that we need to speak louder. When we do, we are told we’re being aggressive. The problem is simple. We are not being heard. We will be heard.             Cultureword call-out for Crime Flash Fiction pieces Fancy killing someone? Cultureword is putting together a new crime flash fiction anthology called: Shots In The Dark featuring BAME writers. We are seeking flash fiction pieces - under 500 words. This initiative is a follow-on from our first flash fiction pamphlet ‘Elevator Fiction’ which was so successful we had to do a reprint. The deadline for shots in the dark entries is Midnight 30th April 2017. Submission guidelines: - You can submit if you self-identify as of African, Asian, Middle Eastern and/or Latin American backgrounds. - You can submit up to three pieces and we may choose up to two from them. -  Please submit the pieces as Word or .rtf documents titled clearly with [your name and title of submission]. - We can only accept online submissions. Please submit your entries via this Submittable link only:  https://commonwordcultureword.submittable.com/submit/79658/culturewords-crime-flash-fiction-anthology If you have any problems with using Submittable, please email afshan@cultureword.org.uk. - The deadline for entries to shots in the dark is Midnight 30th April 2017.   We will be printing 200 copies of the anthology. If your work is selected, you will get two copies of the printed book.       Identity Writers Group Every Wednesday 7-9pm at Commonword offices BAME only Open to all levels of writers; just turn up. From PhD to beginners www.cultureword.org.uk or email afshan@cultureword.org.uk for more details   Monday Night Group Every Monday 7-9pm in the Snug at the Lass O'Gowrie Open to all levels of writers, for everyone; just turn up. From PhD to beginners www.mondaynightgroup.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/mngmanchester   Young Enigma Day and time varies. Open to all LGBT+ identifying people under 35 (no strict restrictions on age). You define yourselves. Email info@youngenigma.com or visit www.youngenigma.com for more info   Young Identity Open to all young people under 25 for spoken word poetry workshops. Every Tuesday evening 6-9 at Contact. email reece@cultureword.org.uk for more info about other workshops or visit www.youngidentity.org     Do you ❤ Commonword? tweet/facebook us with your favourite/first memory of Commonword. Send us a picture of yourself holding a I ❤ Commonword sign  #iLoveCommonword    You can catch us on Social Media twitter @cultureword #iLoveCommonword facebook.com/commonwordcultureword       Facebook Twitter Website   Commonword | Cultureword | Crocus Books Commonword No. 3 Planetree House 21-31 Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JG There is a buzzer for entry. The office number is 3, the workshop space number is 6. 0161 832 3777  enquiries@cultureword.org.uk

Commonword · No 3 Planetree House · 21-31 Oldham Street · Manchester, M1 1JG · United Kingdom