Write Out Loud July Newsletter
Welcome to the July Newsletter from Write Out Loud.
This month we include:
* News about our busy schedule in July
* Encouragement for you to send us reviews & photos of your events
* An invitation for you to request a copy of our new FAQ file to help you make the most of our web site
* Look at web-based poetry radio programmes
Ever wondered what it would be like living in an island off the Scottish mainland? Find out with this month's article, written by Mavis Gulliver, "News from the Isle of Islay"
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Write Out Loud Events
July is going to be a very busy time for us. We've got all our usual monthly events - one Bolton, one Rochdale and three in Wigan - plus a few one-offs that we'd like to tell you about.
Early in the month we have two events as part of the Hebden Bridge Fringe Festival. First up we've got an open floor event at Stubbing Wharf on 3rd July which we intend to turn into a regular monthly event. Followed on the 7th by a slam at the Nutclough Studio when you can win up to £50!
On the 26th, there is the Bolton Music showcase which amongst many other events will include one from Streetwise at 3pm followed by a Write Out Loud open floor from 7pm.
The month (at least for us) culminates in a slam in Wigan as part of the North by North West festival where, again, prizes of up to £50 can be won.
Full details of these and all our other regular events, along with many others from across the country (& beyond) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/3abq87
_________________________
Photos & Reviews
If you have run an event why not tell us, and the rest of the world, about it - post your review of the event on our Discussion pages and send your photos to the editor@writeoutloud.net - don't forget to give us captions for the photos.
_________________________
Celebr8 Festival
During the month there are many events as part of the NW regional festival including two script writing courses by WOL's Julian Jordon the first in Wigan on 12th July and the second in Stockport on the 19th. Full details in our News section.
_________________________
FAQs
We've produced a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file to help people get the most out of the site - if you want a copy email the editor@writeoutloud.net and simply say you want one!
_________________________
Web-Based, Radio Poetry Programmes
As you may have noticed from our News section on our web site there seems to be a slowly increasing number of web-based radio programmes that feature poetry sections. If you run such a programme or know of one that we haven't featured please send details including the web address to the editor@writeoutloud.net .
_________________________
Finally
As usual we urge you to tell us about your events and please give the full postal address (including Post Code) of where the event is being held, people will travel to your event if they know exactly where you are. Send us reviews and continue checking www.writeoutloud.net, not only for the comprehensive gig guide, but also for News from the poetry world, details of competitions, workshops, reviews and much more.
_________________________
NEWS FROM THE ISLE OF ISLAY
by Mavis Gulliver
Imagine, if you can, my writing space. A log cabin in a secluded cove at the bottom of my garden where I look out on shingle, rocks, wildflowers, a vast expanse of sea and a huge, huge sky.
Paradise for an aspiring poet? Indeed it is and I am sure that many of you will be envious, but there is a downside.
On this island of around 3,500 people there are few who are interested in literature, and even fewer who share my passion for poetry. So sometimes I envy you and your ability to attend poetry readings and to meet regularly with like-minded people.
After a great deal of effort I have managed to get five aspiring writers together. We meet fortnightly to write on a set topic, in any genre which appeals to us; but I am the only one who is really committed to writing poetry.
There is one shop which, among other things, sells a number of books. Our library is a mobile van which does the rounds on a fortnightly rota.
Books, therefore are bought rather than borrowed, and subscriptions to numerous poetry magazines keep me in touch with current works. Despite the paucity of readily available reading material there are a number of Book Groups on the island.
The one to which I belong won the Penguin/Orange Prize in 2005, for the most innovative reading group in the UK. Our prize was a trip to the Edinburgh Book Festival which inspired us to stage a Festival of our own. In 2006 and again in 2007, we organised two day of talks, with parallel sessions for both adults and children.
This year our Festival will be on September 6th and 7th, with additional sessions for the High School pupils on the 5th, and workshops for aspiring writers on the 8th. Holding a Festival here is an expensive business, as, in addition to fees, we have to cover the
cost of transport and accommodation. Our chosen authors come for the full weekend and are treated to our special brand of island hospitality.
See www.islaybookfestival.com for details of the programme and the visiting authors - among whom you will find such well known names as Iain Banks and Ali Smith.
Each year we include a poet. The first year Christopher Rush, last year Stewart Conn and this year, Kenneth Steven who will provide a poetry workshop for children in addition to a talk for adults.
Apart from this one weekend and the luxury of an Arvon Course, I have to rely on myself, my imagination, my memories and my immediate environment. Reference books, computer, telephone, even electricity and running water are left behind in the house. The only distractions arrive in the form of birds, occasional otters and dolphins, fishermen dropping their lobster pots, the weather and the ever-changing play of light on the sea. Most of the time I don't ask for more!
This month we include:
* News about our busy schedule in July
* Encouragement for you to send us reviews & photos of your events
* An invitation for you to request a copy of our new FAQ file to help you make the most of our web site
* Look at web-based poetry radio programmes
Ever wondered what it would be like living in an island off the Scottish mainland? Find out with this month's article, written by Mavis Gulliver, "News from the Isle of Islay"
_________________________
Write Out Loud Events
July is going to be a very busy time for us. We've got all our usual monthly events - one Bolton, one Rochdale and three in Wigan - plus a few one-offs that we'd like to tell you about.
Early in the month we have two events as part of the Hebden Bridge Fringe Festival. First up we've got an open floor event at Stubbing Wharf on 3rd July which we intend to turn into a regular monthly event. Followed on the 7th by a slam at the Nutclough Studio when you can win up to £50!
On the 26th, there is the Bolton Music showcase which amongst many other events will include one from Streetwise at 3pm followed by a Write Out Loud open floor from 7pm.
The month (at least for us) culminates in a slam in Wigan as part of the North by North West festival where, again, prizes of up to £50 can be won.
Full details of these and all our other regular events, along with many others from across the country (& beyond) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/3abq87
_________________________
Photos & Reviews
If you have run an event why not tell us, and the rest of the world, about it - post your review of the event on our Discussion pages and send your photos to the editor@writeoutloud.net - don't forget to give us captions for the photos.
_________________________
Celebr8 Festival
During the month there are many events as part of the NW regional festival including two script writing courses by WOL's Julian Jordon the first in Wigan on 12th July and the second in Stockport on the 19th. Full details in our News section.
_________________________
FAQs
We've produced a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file to help people get the most out of the site - if you want a copy email the editor@writeoutloud.net and simply say you want one!
_________________________
Web-Based, Radio Poetry Programmes
As you may have noticed from our News section on our web site there seems to be a slowly increasing number of web-based radio programmes that feature poetry sections. If you run such a programme or know of one that we haven't featured please send details including the web address to the editor@writeoutloud.net .
_________________________
Finally
As usual we urge you to tell us about your events and please give the full postal address (including Post Code) of where the event is being held, people will travel to your event if they know exactly where you are. Send us reviews and continue checking www.writeoutloud.net, not only for the comprehensive gig guide, but also for News from the poetry world, details of competitions, workshops, reviews and much more.
_________________________
NEWS FROM THE ISLE OF ISLAY
by Mavis Gulliver
Imagine, if you can, my writing space. A log cabin in a secluded cove at the bottom of my garden where I look out on shingle, rocks, wildflowers, a vast expanse of sea and a huge, huge sky.
Paradise for an aspiring poet? Indeed it is and I am sure that many of you will be envious, but there is a downside.
On this island of around 3,500 people there are few who are interested in literature, and even fewer who share my passion for poetry. So sometimes I envy you and your ability to attend poetry readings and to meet regularly with like-minded people.
After a great deal of effort I have managed to get five aspiring writers together. We meet fortnightly to write on a set topic, in any genre which appeals to us; but I am the only one who is really committed to writing poetry.
There is one shop which, among other things, sells a number of books. Our library is a mobile van which does the rounds on a fortnightly rota.
Books, therefore are bought rather than borrowed, and subscriptions to numerous poetry magazines keep me in touch with current works. Despite the paucity of readily available reading material there are a number of Book Groups on the island.
The one to which I belong won the Penguin/Orange Prize in 2005, for the most innovative reading group in the UK. Our prize was a trip to the Edinburgh Book Festival which inspired us to stage a Festival of our own. In 2006 and again in 2007, we organised two day of talks, with parallel sessions for both adults and children.
This year our Festival will be on September 6th and 7th, with additional sessions for the High School pupils on the 5th, and workshops for aspiring writers on the 8th. Holding a Festival here is an expensive business, as, in addition to fees, we have to cover the
cost of transport and accommodation. Our chosen authors come for the full weekend and are treated to our special brand of island hospitality.
See www.islaybookfestival.com for details of the programme and the visiting authors - among whom you will find such well known names as Iain Banks and Ali Smith.
Each year we include a poet. The first year Christopher Rush, last year Stewart Conn and this year, Kenneth Steven who will provide a poetry workshop for children in addition to a talk for adults.
Apart from this one weekend and the luxury of an Arvon Course, I have to rely on myself, my imagination, my memories and my immediate environment. Reference books, computer, telephone, even electricity and running water are left behind in the house. The only distractions arrive in the form of birds, occasional otters and dolphins, fishermen dropping their lobster pots, the weather and the ever-changing play of light on the sea. Most of the time I don't ask for more!
Tue, 1 Jul 2008 07:45 am
