Adrian Ford is circulating details of the event below. Unfortunately, I’m in Cornwall that week but I wish everyone attending a very good night.
Human Rights Tour 2015
The British Institute of Human Rights came to Dorchester today as part of 15 Days of Action to celebrate the Human Rights Act which came into force in 2000. The aim of the workshops is to empower people to:
- know about human rights
- use human rights in practice
- protect human rights
What are human rights?
Human rights were legally defined after WWII in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. It is a set of minimum standards regarding how the state treats people. Human rights cannot be taken away but in some instances, limited or restricted.
Why does the Human Rights Act matter?
- it offers protection to everyone
- it ensures the government is accountable
- the legal duties on public authorities ensure that human rights are respected in their decisions and actions
- it helps the UK show leadership when human rights violations are taking place across the world
For more information see the website: bihr.org.uk
Using sayings from around the world as a prompt for public speaking
Previously on this blog, I have written about my membership of a local public speaking group (you can read about the Casterbridge Speakers here). Last week, it was my turn to lead the table topics section of the agenda. Here members of the group are asked to give an impromptu talk on a non-specialist theme or topic for up to two-minutes. Some people love the challenge – others hate it. My role is to select topics in advance of the meeting which allow speakers to share stories or offer opinions. According to Toastmasters International, this role will help to improve my organisational, time management and facilitation skills.
In order to offer a non-threatening subject for a two-minute talk, I looked to issue 65 of Writing in Education for ideas. There, an article by Robert Paul Weston used Japanese sayings as guidance for writers. This got me thinking about using sayings from around the world as a prompt for a two-minute talk. After a little internet searching, I came up with these prompts:
Skylark Literary visits Shaftesbury, Dorset.
Leading London-based literary agency, Skylark Literary, is undertaking a tour of rural areas in order to reach writers unable to attend urban venues. The session will hosted by Storyslingers and offered on Friday 17 July, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Garden Room, Shaftesbury Gold Hill Museum, Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JW. The talk will cover the children’s publishing industry, followed by a Q&A session with particular reference to writing for young people. Author Kate Kelly will also be present to answer questions from the writer’s perspective. Everyone welcome.
Suggested donation £3
Open Story Slam, Poole
Here are details of an exciting new story slam which is offered by the Dorset Writers’ Network as part of the Poole Festival of Words 2015.
Thrill and surprise the audience with your 500 word story (to be read within 5 minutes).
The finest writer will become Poole Festival of Words’ Story Slam Winner 2015.
Your judges: writers Michael O’Byrne, James Cole and Jennifer Bell.
Your MC: prize-winning poet Ben Johnson
POOLE MUSEUM,4 HIGH STREET, POOLE BH15 1BW
SATURDAY 25 JULY 7.00 – 9.30pm
Tickets £5.00 on the door for readers and audience
Register in advance by emailing gail@dorsetwritersnetwork.co.uk to give your name or turn up on the night. Ten names will be selected from a hat to fill the reading slots scheduled for the evening.
This event is of interest to readers and writers alike. You will be able to listen to a range of stories and experience something a little different.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Writing places: a new project
Thomas Hardy’s Cottage
The National Trust, Literature Works and the Poetry Archive have formed a new partnership to offer to offer a programme of events celebrating the literary heritage of the South West. The launch of the programme was held on 2 July (the birth date of Thomas Hardy) at Max Gate. As an invited guests, I toured the house, listened to Andrew Motion read from a forthcoming collection of poetry and found out more about the project. Five National Trust properties with strong literary connections, including Max Gate and Hardy’s Cottage, will have professional writers appointed to act as writers-in-residence. The purpose is to explore ‘the domestic lives of some of the country’s greatest writers, revealing how the houses and landscape that they loved inspired them to create their masterpieces, and how these places continue to be relevant today’. A programme of workshops and events will be developed so that writers and visitors can contribute to the project. Find out about developments as the programmes progress by visiting the Writing Places blog.
As a result of the launch, I’ve discovered it’s well worth visiting the Poetry Archive. I spent a delightful couple of hours listening to poets read from their work. By following a tour of the archive with Mark Grist and David Almond (there are many tours to choose from), I was introduced to new poetry, which I loved. The experience encouraged me to try my hand a writing a poem – the first one since school days!
Representing the Tudors, an interdisciplinary conference
Join this weekend conference at the University of South Wales (Treforest Campus, Pontypridd) to find out more about how the Tudors are represented in popular culture. Images of the famous monarchs, Henry VIII and Elizabeth 1, abound and have a particular resonance in the arts, literature, the media. At the conference, historical novelists Vanora Bennett, Suzannah Dunn and Elizabeth Fremantle will talk about their work and read from their books. Panel sessions include:
- television and the Tudors
- writing fiction
- constructing an image
- shaping the past in the present
Click here, for further information. The price for attending the full conference (including 2 nights accommodation and food) is £120. Postgraduates/unwaged pay £60. If you can’t attend the whole event, there are various options.
I look forward to seeing you there!
From page to stage workshop and performance
I’ve been attending workshop facilitation training with the Lit Up Writers’ Pool since the beginning of 2015. It’s provided a fascinating opportunity to share practice and receive training on working with a range of groups in a variety of settings. The participants are hugely talented and come from many different writing backgrounds including novelists, poets, playwrights, performance poets and more. Please find below information about an event that is being hosted by members of the Lit Up Writers’ Pool. There are workshops for adults and children aged 7-15 years and the opportunity to showcase your work at an event in the evening. Do go along – I’m sure it will be lots of fun.
FROM PAGE TO STAGE
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
Write, develop and refine a poem, rap, story, song, short play and perform it in The Talent Showcase that same evening.
Price: £7-50
Where: At the Twisted Teapot, 16 Sea Road, BH5 1DB
When: 30th of May 2015 workshop from 13-30pm to 15-30pm and Talent Showcase from 18-30pm to 22-30pm
Also workshop for 7 to 15 years old
Write, develop and refine a poem, rap, story, song, short play and perform it in The Talent Showcase that same evening.
Price: £5
Where: At the Twisted Teapot, 16 Sea Road, BH5 1DB
When: 30th of May 2015 workshop from 13-30pm to 15-30pm and Talent Showcase from 18-30pm to 22-30pm
For further information contact: sistermym@yahoo.co.uk and Facebook Myriam Word Maker
I’m back!
After three and a half weeks in Australia, it’s taken some determination to get back into the swing of writing. Jet-lag, the election campaign and the volume of tasks and activities I’ve undertaken since January have all played a part. In order to sort myself out, I’ve written a progress report which I share with you below. Here’s hoping I can get my act together and reach those deadlines.
| Tasks undertaken | Progress to date | Next steps |
| Novel: How to be Brave | Full draft with reader from Romantic Novelists’ Association for feedback | Final draft, proof read and ready to send out |
| Screenplay: The Hostel | First full draft completed | Second draft ready for final training day on 17 May 2015 |
| PhD: Transfer paper | Full draft submitted to academic supervisor for feedback | Final draft for submission in September |
| Material for 4 one-to-one sessions with publishers and agents at the Winchester Writers’ Conference | Covering letters and sample material drafted | Finalise and send submissions by 28 May |
| Entries for Winchester Writers’ Conference competitions | Drafted entries for the following categories: short story, flash fiction, first 3 pages of a novel, one page outline of screenplay. | Finalise and submit before 15 May |
| Toastmasters Public Speaking | First speech prepared and delivered | Second speech to prepare and deliver 20 May |
| Gain fluency in Spanish | Some knowledge of tenses | On-going practice |
As a reminder that my holiday only ended a week ago, here are some photographs:
Rainforest walks
Sunset at Uluru
Weaving it Real
See Jayne’s Skellett’s wonderful display currently at Bournemouth Library. Weaving it Real brings together ideas around identity through the work of local writers (including me!). There is a huge wall display, images and biographies lining the staircase and bookcases with mounted work. Here are a couple of photographs:
There is also a table of prompts to help get you started with your own ideas. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a look.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
