Write Out Loud's April Newsletter
In this month's Newsletter:
BBC Radio 4 national slam championships North West heat
Make a date in your diary: July 2nd, 2009. Could you be BBC Radio 4 national poetry slam champion, 2009?
The North West of England heat will be hosted by Write Out Loud at the Green Room (to be confirmed), 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5WW at 8pm. For details of other regional heats watch our news section for full details.
If you have won a slam since January 2006, you are eligible to enter the North West heat of this national slam championship, with chance to get onto Radio 4 and to gain a paid guest slot at a Write Out Loud Octagon poetry night.
Not sure if you qualify? Check the rules at http://tinyurl.com/d3leqc
If you qualify, register your eligibility now at the same web address.
Not won a slam since then? Well, there’s still time to qualify at one of the regular slams across the country. One coming up in Liverpool we believe. And there are regular ones in London and Bristol and other places. Keep checking the gig guide.
Michael Wilson is Write Out Loud 2009 Bolton Slam Champ!
“Best poetry night I've ever been to!” - So said Louise Fazackerley - despite being drawn first to compete - the graveyard slot.
“Just got back from the Bolton Slam. You’re all light years ahead of what I’ve seen round our way.” Jimmy Andrex, who crossed the Pennines from Wakefield for the night.
They are right, and we had much more unsolicited praise because it was a thrilling contest, which 17 entrants whittled to a final of five.
And Michael Wilson (pictured) was crowned Bolton Slam Champion, 2009. 2nd was Gemma O'Neill and 3rd Steeve the poet. Other runners up were Jeffarama and John Darwin.
OK, OK we will do some more like that. Promise. Just donate a few quid, eh?
Have a go at Podcasting
Some poetry websites have just discovered podcasting. How quaint! You have been able to podcast on www.writeoutloud.net for ages. Give it a go! Go to the home page, click on 'Poets' Blogs' for a list of the latest 20 blogs with MP3s (audio files) attached.
You can also listen to poems of the month? Click on 'Poem of the Month' and click the icon to get a list of those poems with audio files.
You can play audio files directly on your PC and/or download & play the mp3s on your ipod or MP3 player FREE! and with our compliments.
Or upload your own audio files anytime you like. Good eh? Let us hear your poems the way you read them (mostly). Give it a go! Enjoy!
Why do we ask for donations?
Well over 200 people attended a Write Out Loud poetry event in the North West and Yorkshire last month alone. On the web site there were: 1.4 million hits, 1,936 logins, 254 blogs created, 309 poets' profiles updated, 1,277 comments made and the gig guide had 311 UK events listed with Live-lit organisers creating 78 new events on it during the month.
If we had a bit more money we could do even more for the world of poetry and live lit, and for those individuals who gain confidence in life in general as a result of the existence of Write Out Loud.
And we just thought that - you know - a quid or fifty from some of the better-off users or organisers might help us keep it all going and growing. Send a cheque made out to Write Out Loud, c/o PO Box 21, Bolton BL1 9NP or donate online.
And thank you to those people who have donated already.
Wigan & Leigh Words 09 Literary Festival
Once again, Write Out Loud is helping Wigan with its festival, which seems to get better each year. There's a full programme from 13th to 25th April. Amongst other delights, meet Jimmy McGovern and David Nobbs in conversation with Write Out Loud’s Julian Jordon, have tea with Wendy Cope, have a 'Rhapsody for two' with Write Out Loud’s John & Sandre Clays, find out about King Arthur’s links to Wigan and attend a workshop or three, including Julian’s popular scriptwriting workshop. See News and Gig Guide on the site for further details.
New look gig guide - maps and pictures
What do you think of that then? Maps and pictures for all our venues. Good, innit?
The unsung, mostly unpaid (we managed to give them a small honorarium with last year’s Arts Council money) heroes of the backroom, Paul (Emberson) and Michael - software geniuses - just keep plugging away when they can between their full-time high-profile programming jobs and Paul’s PhD; and David Andrew who does all the essential, boring work of cleaning the data on the gig guide. Not to mention Paul Blackburn; so I won’t.
Write Out Loud's April Event in Sale Cancelled
Due to various circumstances, some of them beyond our control, we have decided to cancel April's event at the Waterside Arts Centre, Sale (Trafford).
Steve O'Connor has agreed to work with us to develop a new and different type event which we hope to launch at the Waterside Arts Centre in May - probably on a different night. We'll bring you news of this event as soon as the details are finalised.
Check out this week’s events
From Cork to Cornwall, Glasgow to Norwich, Bournemouth to New Brighton... Sheffield to Huddersfield (er, that’s not very far. Ed.).
And enjoy your poetry and other live literature events, as well as remembering to spend time writing and rehearsing.
Happy Easter, chicks
The Press Team
www.writeoutloud.net
- Write Out Loud Host's a BBC regional Slam
- Michael Wilson is the Bolton Slam Champ 2009
- How to Podcast
- Why Donate?
- Wigan & Leigh Words 09 Literary Festival
- New Look Gig Guide
- Write Out Loud's April Event in Sale Cancelled
Make a date in your diary: July 2nd, 2009. Could you be BBC Radio 4 national poetry slam champion, 2009?
The North West of England heat will be hosted by Write Out Loud at the Green Room (to be confirmed), 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5WW at 8pm. For details of other regional heats watch our news section for full details.
If you have won a slam since January 2006, you are eligible to enter the North West heat of this national slam championship, with chance to get onto Radio 4 and to gain a paid guest slot at a Write Out Loud Octagon poetry night.
Not sure if you qualify? Check the rules at http://tinyurl.com/d3leqc
If you qualify, register your eligibility now at the same web address.
Not won a slam since then? Well, there’s still time to qualify at one of the regular slams across the country. One coming up in Liverpool we believe. And there are regular ones in London and Bristol and other places. Keep checking the gig guide.
“Best poetry night I've ever been to!” - So said Louise Fazackerley - despite being drawn first to compete - the graveyard slot.
“Just got back from the Bolton Slam. You’re all light years ahead of what I’ve seen round our way.” Jimmy Andrex, who crossed the Pennines from Wakefield for the night.
They are right, and we had much more unsolicited praise because it was a thrilling contest, which 17 entrants whittled to a final of five.
And Michael Wilson (pictured) was crowned Bolton Slam Champion, 2009. 2nd was Gemma O'Neill and 3rd Steeve the poet. Other runners up were Jeffarama and John Darwin.
OK, OK we will do some more like that. Promise. Just donate a few quid, eh?
Have a go at Podcasting
Some poetry websites have just discovered podcasting. How quaint! You have been able to podcast on www.writeoutloud.net for ages. Give it a go! Go to the home page, click on 'Poets' Blogs' for a list of the latest 20 blogs with MP3s (audio files) attached.
You can also listen to poems of the month? Click on 'Poem of the Month' and click the icon to get a list of those poems with audio files.
You can play audio files directly on your PC and/or download & play the mp3s on your ipod or MP3 player FREE! and with our compliments.
Or upload your own audio files anytime you like. Good eh? Let us hear your poems the way you read them (mostly). Give it a go! Enjoy!
Why do we ask for donations?
Well over 200 people attended a Write Out Loud poetry event in the North West and Yorkshire last month alone. On the web site there were: 1.4 million hits, 1,936 logins, 254 blogs created, 309 poets' profiles updated, 1,277 comments made and the gig guide had 311 UK events listed with Live-lit organisers creating 78 new events on it during the month.
If we had a bit more money we could do even more for the world of poetry and live lit, and for those individuals who gain confidence in life in general as a result of the existence of Write Out Loud.
And we just thought that - you know - a quid or fifty from some of the better-off users or organisers might help us keep it all going and growing. Send a cheque made out to Write Out Loud, c/o PO Box 21, Bolton BL1 9NP or donate online.
And thank you to those people who have donated already.
Once again, Write Out Loud is helping Wigan with its festival, which seems to get better each year. There's a full programme from 13th to 25th April. Amongst other delights, meet Jimmy McGovern and David Nobbs in conversation with Write Out Loud’s Julian Jordon, have tea with Wendy Cope, have a 'Rhapsody for two' with Write Out Loud’s John & Sandre Clays, find out about King Arthur’s links to Wigan and attend a workshop or three, including Julian’s popular scriptwriting workshop. See News and Gig Guide on the site for further details.
What do you think of that then? Maps and pictures for all our venues. Good, innit?
The unsung, mostly unpaid (we managed to give them a small honorarium with last year’s Arts Council money) heroes of the backroom, Paul (Emberson) and Michael - software geniuses - just keep plugging away when they can between their full-time high-profile programming jobs and Paul’s PhD; and David Andrew who does all the essential, boring work of cleaning the data on the gig guide. Not to mention Paul Blackburn; so I won’t.
Write Out Loud's April Event in Sale Cancelled
Due to various circumstances, some of them beyond our control, we have decided to cancel April's event at the Waterside Arts Centre, Sale (Trafford).
Steve O'Connor has agreed to work with us to develop a new and different type event which we hope to launch at the Waterside Arts Centre in May - probably on a different night. We'll bring you news of this event as soon as the details are finalised.
Check out this week’s events
From Cork to Cornwall, Glasgow to Norwich, Bournemouth to New Brighton... Sheffield to Huddersfield (er, that’s not very far. Ed.).
And enjoy your poetry and other live literature events, as well as remembering to spend time writing and rehearsing.
Happy Easter, chicks
The Press Team
www.writeoutloud.net
