New Writing North Common People anthology

With details of the New Writing North anthology of working class writers Common People, jobs, competitions, workshops and a class for teachers, here are the latest newsletters from New Writing North:

Common People: an anthology of working class writers In a recent BBC Radio 4 documentary, novelist Kit de Waal asked ‘where are the working class writers?’ The answer is: right here. Too often, working class writers find that the hurdles they have to leap are higher and harder to cross than for writers from more affluent backgrounds. Inspired by a shared concern that working class voices are increasingly absent from the pages of books and newspapers, Kit de Waal has come together with crowd-funded publisher Unbound, New Writing North, Writing West Midlands and the other regional writing development organisations, to do something about it. Common People will be a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir, bringing together sixteen well-known writers from working class backgrounds with an equal number of brand new as-yet-unpublished writers from all over the UK. Contributors will include:  Damian Barr,  Malorie Blackman OBE, Lisa Blower,  Jill Dawson,  Louise Doughty,  Stuart Maconie,  Chris McCrudden,  Lisa McInerney,  Paul McVeigh,  Daljit Nagra,  Dr Dave O’Brien,  Cathy Rentzenbrink,  Anita Sethi,  Adelle Stripe,  Tony Walsh,  and Alex Wheatle. The new writers will be selected by the regional writing development agencies, who will support and mentor them in the run-up to publication. New Writing North will be identifying writers to put forward for this project whose work has come to our attention through our talent networks. These networks consist of writers who have entered work for various open access talent schemes and programmes over recent years, such as the Northern Writers’ Awards and Significant Ink. Common People is now 47% crowdfunded and we need more support to make it a reality. Please join us and pledge your support now. There is a 10% discount available to New Writing North subscribers until midnight on Monday 22 January using the code writingnorth.  New Writing North PO Box 1277, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 5BP Tel: 0191 204 8850 office@newwritingnorth.com     Like     Tweet     Forward

The latest news from New Writing North Merry Christmas from New Writing North The poet Andrew McMillan made history in 2015 as his debut book physical was the first ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award. We commissioned Andrew to write a poem for Durham Book Festival. Click on the gift opposite to have a listen... Vacancy at NWN: Finance & Administration Assistant Our Finance & Administration Assistant has recently moved to another role within New Writing North, so we’re now recruiting for her replacement. The Finance & Administration Assistant role supports financial management and company administration and would be suitable for those with some experience of finance and administration or for someone wishing to take the first step into a career in arts administration. Find out more and apply by 11.59pm on Thursday 11 January 2018. Creative Writing for Teachers  Our popular Creative Writing for Teachers programme is now open for bookings. The course will start in January 2018, with five meetings over the remainder of the academic year. Now in its sixth year, the project allows teachers to work with professional writers to develop their own creative writing, share ideas and reflect with their peers on their creative writing teaching. The course costs £99 per academic year and is suitable for teachers working at all stages of education. This year, sessions will take place at Durham University, St. Chad’s College, 18 North Bailey, Durham DH1 3RH. For more information including dates and how to book visit our website or contact Lizzie Nixon on lizzie@newwritingnorth.com / 0191 204 8850.  Writing for Television Roadshow The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX Saturday 13 January 2018, 12.30-4.30pm Our first excursion of the New Year is to Liverpool, one of the planet’s great centres of creativity, for our Writing for Television Roadshow. The Northumbria University/Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards provide bursaries and placements within the television industry at Bonafide Films and Lime Pictures. The free-to-attend Roadshow will include discussions about how to find outlets for your work, an introduction to how our awards programme can support you and opportunities for you to ask questions and share your own experiences. Our speakers at this event include: Matt Anderson (TV producer on Hollyoaks and writer), former award winners Nuzhat Ali and Jayshree Patel, and staff members from New Writing North. Reserve your place here.  Royal Court Writers Group (North) Thanks to everyone who applied for a place on our Royal Court Writers Group (North) programme, in partnership with the Royal Court and Northern Stage. The standard of applications was extremely high and we are delighted to welcome Karen Laws, Laura Lindow, Olivia Hannah, Mhairi Ledgerwood, Lindsay Rodden, Chris Salt, Jack Nicholls, Tamsin Rees and Zosia Wand to the group.  We began our sessions last week and over the six sessions the writers will work with playwrights including Alistair McDowall, Simon Stephens, Tom Wells, and Stacey Gregg. Three Northern authors selected for WriteNow Earlier this year we partnered with Penguin Random House on WriteNow, which aims to find, mentor and publish new writers from communities currently under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves. Our Newcastle event was one of three (with London and Bristol), which between them hosted 150 writers. We’re delighted for all 11 exceptional writers who have now been invited to join Penguin Random House UK’s year-long mentoring programme, WriteNow, but especially for Beth Lincoln, Burhana Islam and Polly Atkin, who are based in the North. We can’t wait to see what you do next!  Congratulations to Gordon Parker, from Newcastle. His short story ‘The Anniversary’ was short listed for the Fish Publishing short story competition, as part of Cork Literary festival 2017. Michael Brown, Elizabeth Gibson, Jasmine Chatfield, Rosa Walling-Wefelmeyer and Maria Isakova-Bennett, the winners of the New North Poets Awards at the 2017 Northern Writers' Awards have been mentored by The Poetry School and Clare Pollard. Along with special guest Caroline Bird, they will be presenting a free reading at the Poetry Cafe, London on 13 January 2018, 3.30-5.30pm. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance to avoid missing out. Email administration@poetryschool.com to be added to the guest list. Congratulations to Lydia Kennaway, winner of the Flambard Poetry Prize 2017. Her winning collection of poems are all connected by the theme of travelling on foot. The Papatango New Writing Prize is now open for submissions of new plays. All entries will receive personal feedback. The winner will undergo a process of R&D culminating in a full production by Papatango at Southwark Playhouse in autumn 2018 with publication by Nick Hern Books. They will also receive 10% of the gross box office and a £6000 commission to develop a new play. Deadline 28 February 2018. Edinburgh International Television Festival invites writers to enter their awards. The Debbies New Voices Award is looking for original scripts with potential for development, particularly those that tell stories that are underrepresented in TV. The Debut Writer Award celebrates an emerging television writer; enter if you have made your broadcast debut in 2017. Deadline 1 February 2018. Recommend a poet you think deserves the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. If you are a member of The Poetry Society or The Poetry Book Society, you can recommend a poet you feel has made the most exciting contribution to poetry, published between 1 January and 31 December 2017. Deadline 4 January 2018. The 2017/18 International Book & Pamphlet Competition, judged by Liz berry and David Constantine, is now open for entries. Prizes include publication by Smith|Doorstop, a share of £2000 cash, a launch reading at The Wordsworth Trust, publication in The North, book vouchers and more. For eligibility requirements and to enter, visit the website. Deadline 1 March 2018. The British Council and Word Factory are branching the gap between writers of the UK and Turkey. They invite you to submit short stories to their new writing competition for the chance to win prize money, publication and translation of your story into Turkish. Deadline Sunday 31 December. Bedtime Stories for the End of the World is a new poetry podcast about fairy tales, mythology, apocalypse and writing on the edge of crisis. Applications are now open, so you can get involved too. They are looking for emerging poets to join in, work collaboratively with one of their lead artists and to each produce a 5-10 minute poem. Successful applicants will also receive a £300 fee for this commission. Deadline 12 January 2018. Durham County Council's Community Arts Team have posted a call out for a Creative Writer to be a part of a one-off event on Saturday 27 January 2018 in Weardale, Durham. This community event is to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and they are looking for a creative writer to deliver an afternoon workshop followed by a ‘sharing’ session based on this year’s HMD theme of ‘The Power of Words’. Please contact Debbie Connell, DCC Community Arts Team, Deborah.Connell@durham.gov.uk. Plotstormers 2018: New Year, New Novel is a special New Year run of the 5-star Writer’s HQ Plotstormers creative writing course. This six-week course includes weekly tutor feedback, a comprehensive editorial review of your plot, a private online student group for peer critique and support. Book your place here. Plus, sign up for The Writers’ HQ Fully Fledged membership before 31 December for 25% off with promo code WHQERSRULE25 Facilitated by North East poet and educator Natalie Scott, Seasonal Space to Write brings writers together, regardless of age, ability or discipline and whether their interest may be in poetry or prose, report writing or simply recording daily events and experience.  The next event will take place at Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club near Darlington, 20 January 2018 10.00 – 16.30, £38 per person including lunch and refreshments. Places are limited, so please register your interest with Natalie in the first instance by email: nataliescott.poet@yahoo.co.uk. Completed booking form and payment in full are required to secure your place. Northern Stage, Newcastle presents The War of the Worlds, a new adaptation of the H.G. Wells story by Newcastle-based writer Laura Lindow. This production relocates the sci-fi classic to the North East of England following a band of survivors as they become forced to flee from an unknown and unprovoked army. Showing from 31 January – 10 February 2018. Acclaimed poet and Lancaster’s Visiting Professor of Poetry, Paul Muldoon and leading German publisher and poet, Michael Kruger will be at The Storey, Lancaster on 25 January 2018, 7.30pm for Translating Practices: Moving Worlds Through Poetry. Register your place for free here. The World is Never by David Napthine, is a new play set in Durham City. Drawing on experience as writer in residence for the exhibition Hearing Voices: suffering, inspiration and the everyday, David provides compelling insight into what it is like to hear voices, with a play that takes its audience on a journey through the streets of Durham and the lives of its residents. A rehearsed reading will take place 26 January 2018, 7.30pm at Durham Town Hall. A free event, reserve tickets here. Bradford Literature Festival has a vacancy for an Education Programme Manager to develop the festival's schools programme. Find out more here. Deadline Wednesday 20 December.  The Reader is seeking a Children and Young People Programme Manager to lead the development and expansion of the Families Programme. Based in the North West. Find out more here. Deadline 8 January 2018. DaDaFest is looking for an experienced Marketing and Communications Manager with a passion for the arts to join their team. Based in the North West. Find out more here. Deadline 8 January 2018. If you have news that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter please contact charlotte@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 22 January 2018. 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. New Writing North PO Box 1277, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 5BP Tel: 0191 204 8850 office@newwritingnorth.com     Like     Tweet     Forward