National Centre for Writing

With details of awards, courses and more:

Introducing two new awards for early career writers December 2019 What's On Writer's Toolkit Read & Listen About Submissions open for two new early career awards We're delighted to unveil two new early career awards which aim to shine a spotlight on the best unpublished fiction writers in England today. Early career writers can be any age and from any background – it's never too late to embark on a career as a writer. UEA New Forms Award The UEA New Forms Award seeks fiction that communicates in new and innovative ways: either through collaboration with other art forms; experimental performance or print; challenging traditional writing forms; or inhabiting a digital space.   Application deadline: Friday 17 January  Laura Kinsella Fellowship Set up to support writers experiencing limiting circumstances, or whose voices are underrepresented in mainstream literary fiction, one writer will receive not only a cash prize but a bespoke programme of support delivered by National Centre for Writing. Application deadline: Friday 17 January Next Steps Fiction online course – booking open   24-week online course begins February 2020 Award-winning writer Monique Roffey teaches creative writing on this six month advanced course. You can study the course from anywhere and Monique will be on hand to provide feedback on your writing, including one-to-one tutorial sessions. 'I enjoyed engaging seriously with the writing process and having a community of writers with whom I could do that' – Next Steps Fiction student Choose from fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and crime writing... Latest from The Writing Life podcast Progressive politics in crime fiction with Denise Mina Top tips on how to pitch and get funding for travel writing How to self-publish children’s picture books with Mandy Stanley Gain one-to-one mentoring from our expert panel of fiction writers Escalator Talent Development Scheme now open for applications Escalator seeks ambitious new voices in fiction from the East of England. If you feel your voice is under-represented and would benefit from a structured period of support, then we want to hear from you! Our confirmed mentors for 2020 are Michael Donkor, author of the Desmond Elliott-shortlisted Hold; Megan Bradbury, author of Everyone is Watching ('a beating heart of a novel' – Ali Smith) and Kate Worsley, author of She Rises ('enjoyably witty and playful' – The Times). Application deadline: Friday 10 January Fiction writing courses at Dragon Hall starting January 2020 – booking open Beginner, intermediate and advanced levels available Take those exciting first steps into writing or develop your craft further with our friendly, supportive fiction courses led by expert tutor and published writer, Ian Nettleton. Ian has been leading sold-out fiction courses at NCW for a number of years. Through a combination of group discussion and one-to-one feedback, he will equip you with the necessary tools to understand and write engaging stories. Poetry Pulse with Anna Cathenka (four-week course) From Wednesday 5 February, 7 - 9pm, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall Our ‘back to basics’ pulse course is perfect for both first-time and more practised writers. Using a mixture of discussion, writing exercises and (optional) individual feedback, you’ll gain confidence in handling three fundamental elements of your chosen form. Celebrating Carcanet at 50 A free day of panels and events that explore the state of indie poetry publishing today Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carcanet, one of the outstanding independent literary publishers of our time. We’re delighted to host a free day of presentations, discussions and poetry readings, to explore the relationship between publisher and poet over the years. Speakers and performers include Caroline Bird, Mimi Khalvati, Peter Scupham, Neil Astley, Julia Blackburn and Sophie Hannah. Saturday 25 January, 1 - 9.30pm, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall Free Dragon Hall Debates – Spring 2020 Join us as we discuss some of the most pressing topics of our time Dragon Hall Debates tackle a range of scientific, cultural and political issues, drawing on the expertise of UEA academics as well as guest thinkers, writers and commentators. Come along and hear from the panel, then join the conversation and have your say. This season, we'll be looking at environmental waste, adolescence and mortality.  We need your feedback! Have you attended an event or workshop with us since April 2019? We are carrying out a survey to help us learn more about our audiences as a requirement of our Arts Council funding and would be very grateful for your feedback. You may also be interested in... Three-month full-time paid internship at Granta Deadline: Friday 13 December Applications are now open for the February–April 2020 Granta Books three-month full-time paid internship. Candidates of all backgrounds are welcome to apply and no previous experience of publishing is required. Find out more >> Submit your work for 'Bread Poetry' Deadline: Monday 16 December Seeking original submissions of poetry. If selected, you will receive £200 as payment and your poem will be baked onto 200 loaves of bread and distributed through five bakeries across the west country. Find out more >> Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition 2020 Deadline: Friday 28 February Open to all cartoonists, and writers and artists working as a team, who have not previously published a full-length graphic work. The winner will be offered the opportunity to develop their work with Myriad, with a view to being offered a contract and publication. Find out more >> Join the NCW Supporters' Circle As a UK registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to make our work possible. Please consider joining the NCW Supporters’ Circle today to ensure that the writers of tomorrow get the support they need to thrive and tell their story, whatever their background. Find out more The National Centre for Writing is supported by: Copyright © 2019 National Centre for Writing, All rights reserved. Registered charity number: 1110725 Our mailing address is: National Centre for Writing Dragon Hall 115 - 123 King Street Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1QE United Kingdom  Forward Forward to a friend:

Seeking ambitious new voices in fiction Seeking ambitious new voices in fiction Escalator 2020 is open for applications with a focus on working class writers                 The National Centre for Writing is on the hunt for six exciting fiction writers (novel or short story) in the East of England to take part in our talent development scheme.                        We particularly encourage applications from writers who self-identify as from a working class background and those who haven’t undertaken any formal creative writing qualifications. Successful writers will be offered: Five sessions of one-to-one mentoring A writers' retreat in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Workshops and development sessions A showcase event in London with an audience of industry professionals Working class voices remain critically under-represented in contemporary fiction. If you feel that this opportunity is ‘not for you,’ you may be just the writer we’re looking for!                    Application deadline: 11.59pm, Friday 10 January 2020 Meet the mentors 'The Escalator scheme challenged and encouraged me to think about storytelling in radically new ways...I hope I can offer similarly energising and exciting ideas to my mentees' – Michael Donkor, author of Hold, shortlisted for the Demond Elliott Prize Success stories Escalator has been running for over a decade and has supported over 100 writers in their creative projects, with many going on to sign with agents, publish and receive awards for their writing. Here are just a few of their stories: Richard Lambert, author of The Wolf Road 'Just getting on the scheme was a big deal. The mentoring helped, that a writer liked my work and wanted to help me improve it.' In 2017, Richard was longlisted by The Sunday Times for his short story, ‘The Hazel Twig and the Olive Tree’. Jon Ransom, author of The Whale Tattoo 'It's clear to see how a mentoring programme creates a unique and supportive space to explore my writing without any pressure.' An excerpt of The Whale Tattoo was selected for the TLC/A.M. Heath Free Reads anthology. Ruth Dugdall, author of The Woman Before Me 'The ten of us became familiar with each other’s personal journey into writing, and we also began rooting for each other in the quest for agents and publishing deals.' 'Intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated, psychological sensibility.' - Sophie Hannah on The Woman Before Me Ed Parnell, author of Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country 'It was great to talk to a published, professional writer about the day-to-day practicalities of trying to make a living from writing.' ‘A uniquely strange and wonderful work of literature’ Philip Hoare on Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country Not from the area? Not based in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk or Suffolk? Find your Regional Literature Development Agency and visit their website for details on how they can help you. Escalator is supported by: The National Centre for Writing is supported by: Copyright © 2019 National Centre for Writing. All rights reserved. Registered charity number: 1110725 Our mailing address is: National Centre for Writing Dragon Hall 115 - 123 King Street Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1QE United Kingdom Follow us:  Forward Share with a friend:

Plus – National Novel Writing Month and our Escalator Talent Development Scheme View in browser November 2019 What's On Blog & News Support for writers About Inspiration, advice and insider knowledge on how to make a living as a writer Back by popular demand! With writing exercises to get your creativity flowing, opportunities to have your questions answered, and plenty of time to connect with other writers, our inspiration day will illuminate your next steps – wherever you are on your writing journey.       Our guest speakers Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Molly Naylor and Edward Parnell will offer tips on how to pursue publication, make a living from writing, create opportunities through residences and commissions, and much more.       ‘It made me feel my writing might have a future’ – Writer's Roadmap Spring 2018 participant    Saturday 30 November, 10am - 4pm, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, £55/ £45 conc Read Like a Writer with Feby Indirani Wednesday 13 November, 6 - 8pm, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, £15 / £12 conc Following the sold-out success of our Read Like a Writer session with Megan Bradbury, learn how journalist and writer Feby Indirani has gained inspiration and techniques from the books that she loves. ‘I enjoyed hearing about the planning and research involved in producing a full-length novel, in an engaging and accessible way’ – Read Like a Writer October 2019 participant Agent Insights with Ed Wilson Friday 22 November, 2 - 4pm, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, £45 / £35 conc Ed Wilson from the Johnson & Alcock Literary Agency will share his insights into what agents do, how they find and work with their authors, as well as his top tips for submitting your manuscript to agents. Followed by an extended Q&A session. The First Chapter: Celebrating one year of the National Centre for Writing Sharing stories has never been more crucial We are delighted to be able to celebrate and share with you the highlights of our first chapter as the National Centre for Writing. In our first year we have: Provided intensive professional development to 42 early career writers and translators Paid 498 writers for original commissions and event appearances  Worked with 4,440 children and young people from across Norfolk and Suffolk (including on the spectacular Handover Festival in a Day) Welcomed 57,040 audiences and participants across our local, national and international programmes Plus so much more...To find out more about what we have achieved together and what we have planned for the future, explore the page below and download the full report. Try a writing prompt each day throughout November Join the NaNoWriMo writing challenge! Are you itching to write a novel? Do you need a bit of a push? Join the millions of people all over the world unleashing their creativity, writing their novels and finding their voices for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). This year, we’re getting involved by sharing a prompt-a-day on Twitter @WritersCentre to help you ward off those writers’ block demons and take the plunge into writing the novel you’ve always dreamed of. Find out more and listen to our NaNoWriMo podcast specials below. Seeking the most exciting emerging fiction writers in the East of England Escalator Talent Development Scheme opens on Thursday 14 November If you feel your voice is under-represented and would benefit from a structured period of support, then we want to hear from you! The Escalator Talent Development Scheme is open to all fiction writers (novel or short story) from the area. If you are one of the six successful writers selected for the scheme, you will be offered a mentoring package, a writers' retreat, workshops and development sessions, and an industry showcase.  Closing soon: Have your manuscript assessed by a professional for free We've partnered with The Literary Consultancy and Arts Council England to offer free manuscript assessments to writers experiencing financial barriers. If you are a low-income writer living in the East of England, you can apply today. Please read the application guidelines carefully before submission. Application deadline: Midday, Friday 15 November Closing soon: Desmond Elliott Prize for debut novelists Publishers from across the UK and Ireland are encouraged to submit literary fiction debuts for the consideration of The Desmond Elliott Prize – recognised as 'the most prestigious award for first-time novelists' (The Telegraph). Please read the eligibility requirements carefully before submitting. Application deadline: Friday 29 November Events coming up in October at Dragon Hall UEA Live: Tash Aw Thursday 21 November, 6.30 - 9pm, free entry A season of free literature events where we showcase the very best of UEA’s past, present and future literary talent. This event will be headlined by Booker Prize longlisted author Tash Aw. Penny Pepper: The Naked Punk Friday 22 November, 7 - 9pm, £6/£4 conc Poet, disability rights activist and Guardian columnist Penny Pepper invites you to an evening of absorbing and inspiring performance about facing life, love, failure, success, prejudice and misadventure. Part of UK Disability History Month. Dragon Hall Debates: Surveillance Monday 25 November, 7 - 9pm, free entry Are we being watched? Special guest speakers Jodie Ginsberg, Dr Joe Purshouse and Dr Kaeten Mistry explore the problems (and benefits) of living in a world of constant surveillance. Come along and hear from the panel, then join the conversation and have your say. Korean Writing Today Tuesday 26 November, 7.30 - 8.30pm, £5 - includes glass of wine Expand your reading horizons and discover some of the most exceptional literature in translation today. NCW Writers in Residence Kang Youngsook and Kim Haeyeon will discuss their latest novels – both personal and political – and what it's like to be a writer in Korea today. Apply for the Tartu UNESCO writers' residency exchange Seeking a writer with links to Norwich for a one-month residency in Estonia We're collaborating with Tartu UNESCO City of Literature to offer a residency exchange for writers to explore the links between Taru and Norwich. In May 2020, the Tartu City of Literature office will host a writer from England for one month. This residency will offer the writer a quiet place to write, opportunities to take part in public events and a commission for a short piece of writing about their stay.  Application deadline: Saturday 30 November Latest from the Writing Life podcast Balancing a job and writing with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir Jackie Kay selects ten brilliant BAME writers working in the UK Sara Collins on how to improve representation in your fiction Online creative writing courses –starting January 2020 Opening very soon – our popular online creative writing courses developed in partnership with the prestigious creative writing school at the University of East Anglia. Places always fill up fast, so join our register to be the first to know when they go on sale! We need your feedback! Have you attended an event or workshop with us since April 2019? We are carrying out a survey to help us learn more about our audiences as a requirement of our Arts Council funding and would be very grateful for your feedback. You may also be interested in... A Taste of Honey Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 November, Norwich Theatre Royal The National Theatre brings Shelagh Delaney's era-defining play A Taste of Honey to Norwich this week! A gritty depiction of working class life in post-war Salford, this ground-breaking play created a powerful new voice for women in the 1950s. Find out more >> Oh Mother Where Art Thou?: An Evening of Music and Poetry Thursday 28 November, 6.45pm, The London Library Award-winning novelist and poetry aficionado Max Porter curates and comperes this very special evening of poetry and music, exploring the ever-rich thematic territory of mothers – what it is to be one and what it is to have one. Find out more >> John Dryden Translation Competition Deadline: Monday 10 February 2020 Awarding prizes for unpublished literary translations from any language into English. Literary translation includes poetry, prose, or drama from any period. There are three prizes of £350, £200, and £100; other entries may receive commendations. Find out more >> Join the NCW Supporters' Circle As a UK registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to make our work possible. Please consider joining the NCW Supporters’ Circle today to ensure that the writers of tomorrow get the support they need to thrive and tell their story, whatever their background. Find out more The National Centre for Writing is supported by: Copyright © 2019 National Centre for Writing, All rights reserved. Registered charity number: 1110725 Our mailing address is: National Centre for Writing Dragon Hall 115 - 123 King Street Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1QE United Kingdom    Forward Forward to a friend: