Monday 21 September 2009

BFS short story competition

The results of the BFS Short Story Competition 2009 were announced at FantasyCon:

Winner:
"Dead Astronauts" by Patrick Whittaker

Runner-up:
"In the Moment" Elana Gomel

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British Fantasy Awards have been announced

Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award)
Memoirs of a Master Forger by William Heaney aka Graham Joyce (Gollancz)

The Karl Edward Wagner Award (the Special Award)
Hayao Miyazaki

Best Anthology
The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 19 ed. Stephen Jones (Constable & Robinson)

Best Collection
Bull Running for Girls by Allyson Bird (Screaming Dreams)

Best Non-Fiction
Basil Copper: A Life in Books by Basil Copper ed. Stephen Jones (PS Publishing)

Best Novella
The Reach of Children by Tim Lebbon (Humdrumming)

Best Short Fiction
"Do You See" by Sarah Pinborough from Myth-Understandings ed. by Ian Whates (Newcon Press)

Best Magazine/Periodical
Postscripts ed. Peter Crowther and Nick Gevers (PS Publishing)

Best Artist
Vincent Chong

The PS Publishing Best Small Press Award
Elastic Press (Andrew Hook)

Best Comic/Graphic Novel
Locke and Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW Publishing)

Best Televison
Doctor Who (Russell T. Davies, BBC Wales)

Best Film
The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner Brothers)

The Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer
Joseph D'Lacey for Meat (Bloody Books)

Tuesday 8 September 2009

S-o-T Writers' Weekend

Three tutors (Emma Hardy, Nicholas Corder and Dinesh Allirajah) are leading a Writers' Weekend in November at the City Centre Library, Hanley. There will be around 12 workshops covering many aspects of writing -- short stories, research, sense of place, poetry, etc. The weekend costs just £20, which is excellent value for money.

The workshops are scheduled for the weekend 28/29 November.

You'll need an application form to register. Phone 01782 238455 for details
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Monday 7 September 2009

Writing for Teenagers

Tutor: Gill James
Introductory workshop looking at the characteristics of YA fiction
Bentilee Library, Stoke-on-Trent (about 6 miles from Cheadle)
Saturday 26 September, 10.00--3.30
Cost: Free

Take your own lunch

If you are interested in attending this workshop, phone 01782 231315
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Scriptwriting for Absolute Beginners

Venue: City Centre Library (Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent)
Sat 7th November, 10.00--3.30
Tutor: Nicholas Corder

Take your own lunch

Developing ideas
Plots and narrative
Structure of film
Dialogue
Etc

To reserve a place phone 01782 238455

Again, this course is free.

Sunday 6 September 2009

SToW -- Future Meetings

The next meeting is on Saturday 3rd October at the Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre. SToW meetings have also been booked for 7th November and 5th December

Saturday 5 September 2009

Writing Your Life Story

Ever wanted to write all about yourself, your life, all the things you did when younger? Here's an opportunity to gain an insight in how to do it. Writing Your Life Story is a workshop scheduled for Wednesday 25th November, 10.00-3.30, at Bentilee Library, Stoke-on-Trent. Lunch isn't provided, so take along sandwiches, Cornish pastries, sausage rolls...

The publicity says that the workshop is open to anyone of any age, and that you don't need to have done anything spectacular (such as climb Everest). No writing expereince is necessary.

The workshop is free. To reserve a place phone 01782 231315
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Romantic Novelists' Association

From the Romantic Novelists' Association's website: "Romantic fiction is the best selling, most widely read type of fiction, universally enjoyed because everyone knows something about love."

There are three degrees of membership, including probationary level for new writers. Visit the RNA website for further details, plus info on many favourite romance writers.
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Writing Romance

Jan Jones, award-winning author and member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, is leading a workshop on writing romance fiction. If you want to write in this area then don't miss this workshop on Saturday 3rd October, 2009, at the City Central Library, Hanley. The workshop lasts from 10.00 to 3.30 with a short lunch break (food is not provided). And the cost of this workshop? Nothing. Brilliant value!

To reserve a place on this workshop phone 01782 238455

Jan Jones has a website: http://www.jan-jones.co.uk/
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National Poetry Day

Join Nicholas Corder -- Stoke-on-Trent's resident writer -- for a celebration of National Poetry Day. Come along to the Stoke Library (not Hanley Library) and try your hand at writing comic verse and/or add to the open community poem. The celebartions start at 9.30 and end at 12.30 (pop in anytime) on Friday 9th October, 2009.

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Write On. What Next?

Write On's funding comes to an end this coming December. The Stoke City Centre Library is interested in hearing your ideas for future projects, in order to secure further funding. Contact Anne Mackey with your suggestions (before 30 September):

anne.mackey@stoke.gov.uk

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The Write On Anthology

Today I received confirmation that the deadline to this anthology has been extended to 9 January 2010. This anthology is only open to all participants of Stoke-on-Trent's Write On workshops held over the past 18 months.

Submission guidelines: Max 1200 words prose or a 40 line poem. Or a combination, such as 600 words of prose and a 20 line poem.

Send your submissions on disc (save in 'doc' file format) and paper to:

Write On Anthology / Emma George
City Central Library
Bethesda Street
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3RS