New Writing SouthNews
13th November 2008
Emerging Brighton authors published in national prize
New Writing South will be hosting the regional launch of the publication of the third decibel Penguin anthology: The Map of Me – True Tales of Mixed Heritage Experience, on 11 December at the Brighton Media Centre.
New Writing South member Monika Akila Richards and Brighton author Rounke (Ronnie) Williams beat off hundreds of other competitors to be selected for the national prize, for both of them this is the first time they have been published.
Winner, Monika Akila Richards says: "My first reaction on being selected for the anthology was that it was a mistake of 'wishful reading'. Grasping the reality of my story being published by Penguin, facilitated by decibel, I got worried about exposing my personal history, some of it painful. On reflection I decided that my experience is bigger than me, it will speak and connect with the readers and raise awareness of an issue I feel passionate about - the human experience".
The anthology contains fourteen fascinating true stories about the joys, sorrows and surprises of coming from a mixed heritage from new writers resident in the UK. The decibel Penguin Prize is a collaboration between decibel, an Arts Council England initiative dedicated to promoting diversity in the arts, and Penguin Books.
Chris Taylor, Director of New Writing South says: “We're really proud to be hosting this launch for both Monika and Ronnie. As an organisation dedicated to nurturing and promoting creative writing talent in the region, we’re thrilled that these emerging authors have been given such a boost with winning this prize.”
Keiren Phelan, Literature Officer at Arts Council England, South East says "Arts Council England takes great pride in the achievements of decibel and its publishing partnership with Penguin Books is one of the highlights. At Arts Council England, South East we are of course delighted to have authors from this region featuring in the 2008 Prize and we wish them every continuing success."
7th October 2008
Sussex Schools get creative for National Poetry Day
New Writing South is partnering up with schools in Brighton and Eastbourne, to place professional writers to work with young people as part of National Poetry Day.
Westdene Primary School, Carden Primary School and Patcham High School in Brighton, and Eastbourne Technology College are all involved in bringing poetry into the classroom, which takes place on Thursday 9th October. For one day each year National Poetry Day channels the enthusiasm, passion and skill of poetry readers and writers into a national celebration, and brings poetry to the public eye.
Dr Beth Miller, Education Manager at New Writing South says ‘We’re really excited to be involved in National Poetry Day as it gives young people the opportunity to get creative with writing and helps them realise how much fun poetry can really be’.
New Writing South has placed members of its education team with each school, at Eastbourne Technology College is poet and performer Paul Lyalls. Paul is writer in residence for the London Borough of Brent and appears on the TV series The Big Slam. All year 7 students will be able to hear Paul read and perform, including the opportunity for 40 Year 7 students the chance to attend a Masterclass.
At Westdene Primary School Jo Smith will be leading workshops. Jo has worked in various forms of theatre and drama in education for many years. Her primary medium is writing for the stage, and she trained as a director at the National Theatre.
At Patcham High School and Carden Primary School in Brighton, is Andrew G. Marshall. Andrew is a playwright, author and journalist with experience working in schools as a writer of residence. Andrew writes for the Times, Mail on Sunday and Sunday Express.
And finally, at Coldean Primary School is Helen Nelder. Helen is a theatre director and playwright. She is the founder of w@rn Theatre Company 2000, a community theatre company exploring social issues, including domestic violence, young carers, refugees and bullying.
For more information on National Poetry Day and how you can get involved visit www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk
2nd October 2008
The journey starts for Points of Fiction
This weekend sees the first session in the exciting Points of Fiction series kick off at the Jubilee Library in Brighton.
The 11 events, which are being led by leading writers and publishing professionals such as Bernadine Evaristo and Mavis Cheek are intended to help aspiring and emerging writers find their own voice as an author, or help established writers to refine their fiction writing. Participants can learn how to create engaging plot-lines, develop real characters and explore strategies for successfully completing their work.
Chris Taylor, New Writing South Director says: ‘We have consulted with writers and publishers to produce these unique set of workshops, all of which are interesting in their own right, but if taken in sequence, they can equip participants with the skills to produce strong, original work’.
Each event is continued every month finishing with the final session on 18 July 2009, where participants will be able to join an array of speakers and guests including literary agents, publishers and publicists in one-to-one intensives, practical workshops, talks and seminars on how to get published! See workshops and events for more information and how to book, places are going fast - session 2 has already sold out!
30th September 2008
Writernet winds-up
After 10 successful years, Writernet is winding up and needs your help so that the organisation can end well and leave a clean space for what might come next.
Since it evolved from New Playwrights Trust, Writernet has worked to support playwriting across the UK. They have done this by working with hundreds of individual playwrights, dozens and dozens of organisations which work with
playwrights to produce and develop their work, and those responsible for funding and promoting them.
Writernet has achieved this with no regular funding and they have consistently aimed to do what they do at no cost, or as little cost to individual playwrights as possible.
Bonnie Greer, Chair of Writernet is asking for donations so that they can complete their work, and allow the organisation to end well. If you would like to help, please donate what you can. Visit www.justgiving.com/writernet
If you are a UK taxpayer and you click on gift aid Writernet will benefit from the additional tax.
26th September 2008
Top Award for BBC Radio Drama inspired by Brighton young offender
Company Paradiso Productions - which was founded and is run by New Writing South member Jon Potter - has won an award for its work with youth offenders in Brighton.
The Koestler Trust's prestigious 1st prize Koestler Award 2008 for Radio Drama went to the young people in Brighton involved Company Paradiso's interactive radio drama project called 'Legsy Gets a Break'. The project, which was performed on BBC Southern Counties Radio and live at the Ropetackle Arts Centre last year, drew inspiration from real life stories from a number of young offenders. The stories were compiled into an interactive play, written by Bill Writer Phil Gladwin.
The project also received a Highly Commended Award for Spoken Text and a Merit Award for Non-Fiction.
It was performed by actors but told the real life struggles of young people living life on the edge. One young participant, who was the inspiration for the main character Legsy, ran away from care homes to find his family at the age of 13 and lived as a missing person in Brighton. The certificate and £80 prize money has been given to him in recognition of his commitment to the project.
Jon Potter, said 'What inspired us with ‘Legsy’ was the idea that we know people best when we understand their stories. Many people caught in a cycle of offending don’t know their own stories, their own lives. It’s often only when you start to understand your own story, and the part others play in it, that you can move forward positively'.
