News and views
Words, Ideas and Graphic Novels- A Look at the Festival So Far
Posted By: Rowan Whiteside, 16 May 2012
The Norfolk and Norwich festival collaborated with Writers’ Centre Norwich to create a series of events called Words & Ideas. The events so far have all been brilliant in dramatically different ways.
Friday kicked off with an evening event from Alain de Botton where he discussed his latest book
Religion for Atheists. I missed the event because I was at the Spiegletent watching Bourgeois and Maurice perform- a cabaret band with a scathingly brilliant repertoire of tunes, however I heard all about it from my colleagues at WCN. Leila Telford, our Resources Manager, says:
“What a spark of genius to programme Alain de Botton at the start of a cultural festival like NNF12. His premise in Religion for Atheists, which he so convincingly presented to a packed Norwich Playhouse on May 11, is that we can pick and mix symbolic and ceremonial religious experiences, and recreate them through other mediums, such as the arts. This set the stage for a fresh examination of all the upcoming NNF arts events, and a recognition of how we can artistically exploit religious architecture to add a soupcon of the sublime to secular choirs, art films, jazz and classical orchestras and contemporary circus acrobatics.”
Saturday brought two events; Singing the City: From Dawn till Dusk and Tribunal 12. Singing the City took place around Norwich at dawn, midday and dusk, and was an ethereally beautiful experience. Singers performed in Norwich Cathedral, and around the mediaeval streets of Norwich (Elm Hill, Princes Street etc) which added a historical frisson to the event. It was great to hear the words we’d commissioned from George Szirtes and Andrew McDonnell come to life. Anyone who’d like to relive them can have a read of Andrew McDonell’s ‘3 Songs’ and George Szirtes’ 'Frozen Music’ here.
Tribunal 12 at the Norwich Playhouse was concerned with more contemporary issues. Featuring live streaming from Stockholm the event explored human rights violations across Europe, with particular concern for immigration. In between the live streamed events theatre groups performed pieces based around immigrant experiences. The evening brought music and the judgement from the Jury that Europe systematically violates human rights with its immigration policies. I still feel haunted by the immigrants’ stories and know that Tribunal 12 was an event which continues to have great social significance. (More on this soon.)
Finally, Alan Moore and Iain Sinclair visited the Playhouse on Monday for the Writing and Protest event. Iain Sinclair kept the audience riveted with his stories of being banned from Hackney Libraries and of travelling from sea to London via the river in a swan pedalo. Alan Moore read from his never published libretto based on the intriguing life of the alchemist John Dee.
Sinclair and Moore followed their individual readings with discussion and questions from the audience. Both writers talked about finding material in the everyday world and being drawn to the outsider- both in literature and in reality. Alan Moore described his protest writing as being inevitable rather than motivated by anger and categorically stated that he was against violence. Sinclair emphasised the need to trust our own first-hand experiences rather than the digitally imposed and manipulated images which are presented to us.
Alan Moore said that his writing method was to use the ignored and abandoned sections of society for inspiration. He described this as using the bits of wasteland of society to develop something more interesting. The event left me cheering for the outsider and has converted me to the cult of graphic novels- my next book to read will be V for Vendetta.
It’s the end of a fabulous week of events, but there are still more to come! This Saturday Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library will be hosting A New World of Words; an event which explores Persian poetry next Saturday and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will be visiting Norwich in a sold-out event on Thursday the 24th May.
Take a look at our upcoming events.
Visit our Flickr Page to see more images from the Festival.
Welcome to Summer Reads 2012, where reading is just the start...
Posted By: Sam Ruddock, 09 May 2012
Love Reading
One of the constants throughout my life has been a love of stories. There has always been something special about holding a book in my hands and wondering where it might take me, that sense of possibility, the desire to dive in and explore. I love stories that take me on a journey I don't want to end, and to be accompanied by characters that become my friends. I love stories that make me think, that introduce me to new ideas and ways of seeing the world, or that show me what I already feel but haven’t found the words to articulate.
More than anything else, I believe passionately in the power of stories to transform our understanding of other people and the world, to help us be the best of ourselves. I often find myself emerging from a story feeling as though I have a new, more generous and conscientious, view of others and the world. As one of the characters in
All That I Am (one of our
Summer Reads) notes, ‘imagining the life of another is an act of compassion as holy as any.’ The intimacy between reader and book is a rare and wonderful thing.
That’s why it gives me great pleasure to bring you our
Summer Reads, which seeks to bring readers together to share the experience of reading, because a great book shared is even better than a great book read quietly on one’s own...and that’s saying a lot!
This brings us to the books. This year, for the first time, the books were selected by readers across Norfolk. It is, I think, our strongest list ever: five brilliantly written and readable titles through which you’ll walk in other shoes and experience other lives. Whether you read a lot, or just a little bit, you like to revisit familiar ground or try something completely new, these five books will challenge, inspire and delight readers.
This years Summer Reads books are:
- All That I Am by Anna Funder.
- Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson.
- Open City by Teju Cole.
- Of Mutability by Jo Shapcott.
- Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos (translated by Rosalind Harvey).
There are characters to treasure – Dora, whose spirit and unquenchable belief in her cause make her the heroine of
All That I Am; precocious and lovable child-narrator Tochtli from
Down the Rabbit Hole – and scenarios that remain long in the mind. Common themes run across them, including personal responsibility for the state of the world, compassion for others, transience, and awareness of the plight of refugees both now and in the past. But first and foremost, these books tell stories that we can all enjoy and engage with. I’ve loved them, other readers have loved them, and I hope you love them too.
Bringing Readers Together
Reading the books is where it all begins. From there you can also get to know other readers in real life or online, meet the authors at events, absorb yourself in bonus material about the books, and win prizes by voting for your favourite.
Most of all, Summer Reads is a community rather an imposition. In the past we’ve selected six books, but this year there are only five: the sixth book is whatever you want it to be! While you read these books, I ask you to recommend your own favourites and to ask other readers for theirs. Over the course of the summer, we’ll be collecting readers’ cherished books at events and book clubs and library open day, as well as online. We’ll also be asking authors to recommend their favourite books. At the end of the summer, we’ll have a list of books that are loved by Norfolk readers that we can all share, and that can influence the books selected in future.
People often say that what they love about Summer Reads is that it introduces them to stimulating books, ideas, and people. Do get involved: I love talking to readers and hope to meet you soon (if I haven’t already). Summer Reads is all about the people who are involved in it, we hope you’ll join us in making this our best reading summer yet.
Reading is just the start... 
Hip Hip! Norwich is England's First UNESCO City of Literature
Posted By: Katy Carr, 09 May 2012
We heard yesterday at about 4.30 pm that Norwich has become England's first UNESCO City of Literature, joining an elite international network comprising Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City, Dublin and Reykjavik. We are absolutely delighted with this news and would like to thank all the many partners who have helped us all to this success.
The UNESCO City of Literature accreditation lends international recognition to Norwich’s literary heritage, contemporary strengths and future potential in the field of literature, creative writing, reading and the literary arts and we are very proud.
See below for some key quotes, and links to more info about what this all means.
“I'm delighted by the news. Literature has deep roots in the beautiful city of Norwich and it was a natural first choice for UNESCO. I'm happy too for personal reasons - Norwich is where my own writing life began. Writers have known for centuries that Norwich is a dreamy city.” Ian McEwan, May 2012
“Congratulations on the success of Norwich’s bid. Thoroughly deserved.” Philip Pullman, May 2012
“This is recognition of the world wide reputation of Norwich as a centre for literary excellence, and acknowledgment that literature and literacy are powerful tools which can inspire people and help change lives." Councillor Brenda Arthur, Leader of Norwich City Council
Click below to read the full bid document:
Rowan Whiteside Blogs About Tribunal 12
Posted By: Rowan Whiteside, 03 May 2012
Immigration and asylum will always be a contentious subject. Whether you yourself have experience of immigration first hand, or have gained knowledge on the subject from newspaper articles and other content, you are sure to have an opinion or stance. Tribunal 12 challenges our preconceptions and forces us to examine our responses to immigration. The day is taking place at Norwich Playhouse from 9am till 11pm and includes live streaming from Stockholm as well as a day long programme of events and music at The Norwich Playhouse Playroom for you to dip in and out of.
Inspired by the International War Crimes Tribunal formed by Bertrand Russell and Jean Paul Sartre in 1967, the live streaming of Tribunal 12 will feature testimonies, documentation, performances and input from acclaimed international artists and experts all beamed to you in your seat in the Norwich Playhouse. Find about more about the live streaming here.
The full day event at the Playhouse also gives you the opportunity to discuss and debate the role of immigration in our society. The day will have a real festival feel and will include several live performances from various theatre groups, including the newly commissioned Label Me Not; a ten minute short which examines the dehumanisation of asylum seekers. There will be DJ’s playing from 4-11pm in the Playhouse Bar, and World Music playing all day.
Tribunal 12 gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people and discuss key issues in a relaxed atmosphere- and what better atmosphere then the charmingly quirky and fairy-lit Playhouse? There’s sure to be impassioned debate around the plight of immigrants, fiery political discussions and even some dancing.
For those of you who plan to stay the day there will be a Barbecue from 12pm in the Playhouse garden. For those of you who plan to stay all night you can enjoy performances from some of the best DJ’s around. And, for those of you who just want to pop in and out, that’s okay too.
Best of all, it’s only a fiver!
Buy your ticket online.
The Story Museum: Other Worlds
Posted By: Chris Gribble, 02 May 2012
I’ve just returned from the opening night of the Other Worlds exhibition at The Story Museum in Oxford. My mind is hopping between the images and fragments of other worlds opened up by this extraordinary collaboration between writers, artists and the Story Museum building itself: the science of capturing a story as expressed in the marks it leaves on a handkerchief after a sneeze, the Lost Property Office (spare sets of marbles available), the Time Travel Office (has anyone seen Nostrodamus and please, ladies, the Bullingdon Club tour is for gentlemen only, Mr Cameron will be along shortly) and the glorious, tumbling, vociferous angels garlanding the entrance to this magical building in the centre of Oxford.
But back to the beginning, where all good stories start (until the modernists came along, but we won’t get involved in that debate just yet…).
The Story Museum is space to capture the power, joy and importance of stories. A place that reminds and teaches us that without stories (narrative, imagination, difference, risk) we cannot understand, describe or enjoy the world we live in. It is a place that will head Oxford’s bid to be UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014 and a labour of love for all those involved. It is also, in the words of its Co-Director, ‘in the pumpkin phase’. That is, the building is there, the passion is there, the remit is there, but the magical transformation (i.e. the MONEY) is still to arrive in full. They have the building, the great idea, and a lot of backing from investors, volunteers, Arts Council England, Oxford City Council and others, but they’re still fundraising.
So what do they do? Why, they invite a magnificent collaboration between Dark Angels (http://www.dark-angels.org.uk/) and a set of artists (with the support of Arts Council England), to animate their fabulous building with intriguing ideas, fragments of stories, rooms of delight, audio, video, art, and the infinite promise of ‘Once upon a Time…’
The space is an old GPO building – suitably enough, designed for the transfer of stories, news, gossip and information. The artists range from fabulous painters to cunning conceptual types, master story tellers and tantalizing poets. The result is a wonderful exhibition that brings together the playful, comforting, disturbing, didactic and delightful in an amazing setting that is surely set to be a national treasure of a place when it opens fully in 2014.
Do try and call in over May to see the Other Worlds exhibition. If you can’t make it, join their mailing list to hear about the other treats in store. Support it financially with a gift large or small if you can, or perhaps with some time, if you live locally.
I hope they all live happily ever after. Or interestingly ever after, at least.
To find out more about the Other Worlds exhibition visit http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/the-story-museum/otherworlds
Programme Manager (Maternity Cover)
Posted By: Anonymous, 02 May 2012
Don't forget the closing date for our Programme Manager (Maternity Cover) post is May 14, just two weeks to go! Further details.
Looking Back: The Norwich Showcase
Posted By: Richard White, 25 April 2012
Back in March we presented an international platform for British writing and literature development called the Norwich Showcase. We did this in partnership with the British Council in venues across Norwich, and, frankly, loved every minute of it.
The Showcase introduced international literature specialists to excellent British writers and translators and brought together literature delegates from across the world, literature organisations from the UK and some of the best writers out of the UK.
Want to find out how it went? Good, because our former Digital Media Officer, Ed Cottrell, kindly returned to interview, film events and generally capture the flavour of all that went on; he did a cracking job.
Good eh?
There’s a lot more media to consume on our Norwich Showcase project page: films from our live streamed events featuring readings, a translation slam and more; podcasts of author readings; photos by Martin Figura and Dave Guttridge and blogs from our delegates and writers.
It's like we never left!
Get Out Before Dawn With The Voice Project
Posted By: Katy Carr, 18 April 2012
"We are making a piece which features the beauty of a single voice on a rooftop; the harmonic intrigue of a small ensemble in a crypt and the uplifting sound of massed voices in the cloisters and nave of Norwich Cathedral."
Sian Croose and Jon Baker from The Voice Project are well known in Norwich for their original and beautiful musical events. So Writers' Centre Norwich is delighted to support their 2012 Norfolk and Norwich Festival production Singing the City - From Dawn to Dusk, by sponsoring the original libretto created by Andrew McDonnell and George Szirtes. You can read that work soon on our NewWriting site, but for now, here’s a little more info from Sian and Jon about why you’ll want to be getting up before the sun rises in a few Saturday’s time in order to join in...
Singing the City – From Dawn to Dusk – Saturday 12th May
Singing the City is going to be a musical mystery tour animating the medieval streets and buildings from St Andrews Plain to Cathedral Close with exciting new music created specially for the Voice Project Choir by Jeremy Avis, Jonathan Baker,
Helen Chadwick and Orlando Gough.
We plan to stage three performances that make use of a whole variety of interesting and unusual acoustic spaces - interior and exterior: placing singers in squares and streets, crypts and alleys, dark corners and cloisters, courtyards and rooftops.
The Voice Project Choir conducted by Sian Croose with Nik Bärtsch at the piano NNF May '11
The piece will have a more theatrical feel than previous projects and we will be working with a theatre director as part of our rehearsal process.
The libretto is being created by George Szirtes and Andrew McDonnell and will describe worlds of shadow and light and tell the stories of past and present. We are making a piece which features the beauty of a single voice on a rooftop; the harmonic intrigue of a small ensemble in a crypt and the uplifting sound of massed voices in the cloisters and nave of Norwich Cathedral.
To take part in Singing the City - From Dawn to Dusk on Saturday 12th May, please gather at
Norwich Cathedral. There are performances at sunrise (5.11am), 2pm & 10pm.
About The Voice Project
The Voice Project is the umbrella title covering the joint activities of singer/choral leader/composer partnership of Sian Croose and Jonathan Baker. Since 2003 we have been running large-scale vocal performance projects in the UK which bring together outstanding musicians and community choirs in events that combine the ethos of community music with cutting-edge creativity and high performance and production values. Working with partners from Norwich Arts Centre, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, the Sage Gateshead, Jazz Sous Les Pommiers, the Norwegian and Swiss Cultural Foundations, Writers' Centre Norwich and international music promoters Serious, we have premiered new works by Barbara Thompson, Karen Wimhurst, Richard Chew, Dennis Rollins, Andy Sheppard, Jon Hassell, Gwilym Simcock, Arve Henriksen, Jan Bang and Nik Bärtsch.
Best wishes
Sian & Jon
£3m backing for Norwich’s International Centre for Writing
Posted By: Richard White, 29 March 2012
Writers’ Centre Norwich is absolutely delighted to have received first stage backing from Arts Council England to develop an International Centre for Writing (ICW) in Norwich.
In partnership with Norwich City Council, University of East Anglia and Norfolk County Council, this backing for ICW is brilliant news for literature, writers, readers and the city of Norwich.
Chris Gribble, Chief Executive of Writers’ Centre Norwich said:
“We are delighted to have been offered this important grant from Arts Council England today and see it as a great endorsement of a project which marks a shift in ambition and capacity for the non-commercial literature sector, at a time when literature as a sector is undergoing huge change. Literature is our national art form and this award demonstrates belief in a remarkable partnership dedicated to exploring the social and artistic power of creative writing and reading. It is great news for readers and writers nationally and internationally, and for Norwich too.”
Helen Lax, Regional Director, Arts Council England, East, said:
"With a programme that is aimed at achieving resilience, sustainability and innovation, it seems only fitting that Writers’ Centre Norwich has been given the green light to continue with its bold plans for improved facilities. Writers’ Centre Norwich has great vision and ambitions for physical improvements that will enhance its ability to not only produce great art, but reach wider audiences and equip artists to fulfil their potential. Norwich already has an international reputation for literature and writing, and the plans for a new centre reflect and respond to this. The proposed investment shows our commitment to these exciting plans and we look forward to working with these organisations as they develop."
Writers' Centre Norwich looks forward to creating a space that will inspire writers, readers and communities by supporting the development of and improving access to the best in world literature.
This is just the start, and we hope you join us for the journey ahead!
Read WCN’s Press Release
Rowan Whiteside Blogs About the Norwich Showcase
Posted By: Rowan Whiteside, 28 March 2012
The Norwich Showcase ran from the 9th to the 13th of March 2012. Organised by Writers’ Centre Norwich and British Council, the Showcase aimed to introduce international delegates from all walks of the literary world to the best and brightest of British writers, translators, and literature specialists. The hope was that this meeting of international and national representatives would create a platform for collaborative work.
The Showcase opened with a reading from poet Lavinia Greenlaw (The Casual Perfect, Minsk) and from Hannah Lowe (The Hitcher), an exciting new talent in modern British poetry. Hannah’s reading was emotionally pitch-perfect, and touched deeply on her relationship with her father. I will definitely be purchasing her new collection once it’s published; if only to discover more about her intriguing father! Lavinia and Hannah's reading was the first of our events to be live streamed, and viewers from all over the world tuned in.
You can watch Lavinia's reading and other perfomances from the Norwich Showcase on our YouTube page.
I wasn’t present for Saturday’s events and have been frequently informed that I missed out. Kei Miller (A New Song of Light, There is an Anger That Moves) was frequently mentioned to me over the course of the Norwich Showcase and I have heard that he is being booked for literature festivals and events around the world. Anjali Joseph (Saraswati Park, Another Country) is another writer that I didn’t get to see perform, although I plan to console myself with an advance copy of her latest novel.
If you too missed Kei's reading at the Norwich Showcase you can listen to it on SoundCloud.
Listen to other podcasts from the Norwich Showcase on Writers' Centre Norwich SoundCloud page.
Sunday’s events kicked off with another round of the 6X8 Delegate Presentations. The Delegate Presentations throughout the Norwich Showcase never failed to be fascinating and intriguing. It seems that across the world representatives of literature face similar problems, yet they remained deeply passionate in their belief of the power of literature. The Norwich Showcase proved over and over again that books, reading, and writing, make a huge difference in people’s lives.
(Images courtesy Dave Guttridge)
Sunday evening finished with a bang with stunning performances from live literature artists Molly Naylor (Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You) and Luke Wright (High Performance, The Vile Ascent of Lucien Gore and What the People Did). Molly Naylor performed movingly from her debut Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You. Luke Wright performed two pieces with his trademark scintillating wit and sarcasm.
Monday delivered another live literature performance, but this time in the form of a showdown between Francesca Beard (Chinese Whispers), Siddhartha Bose (Kalagora) Ross Sutherland (Twelve Nudes, Things to Do Before You Leave Town) and Writers’ Centre’s very own Martin Figura (Whistle, Boring the Arse Off Young People). The Literary Death Match involved jeering, cat-calling, and even a nerf gun. Ross Sutherland was- after a tense tie-breaker- crowned reigning champion after his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air inspired set. Drinks and much debate followed the event.
(Images courtesy of Dave Guttridge)
One of the final events of the Norwich Showcase was my favourite; the Creative Non-Fiction event with William Fiennes (The Snow Geese, The Music Room), Kathryn Hughes (The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton, George Eliot: The Last Victorian) and Alexander Masters (Stuart: A Life Backwards, The Genius in my Basement). William Fiennes read from a stunning short piece entitled Why the Ash Has Black Buds, while Alexander Masters and Kathryn Hughes spoke about the trials and tribulations of biography writing.
Enjoy the Creative Non-Fiction podcast on SoundCloud:
I believe the Norwich Showcase was a spectacular success. I thoroughly enjoyed the events, and had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful individuals who I hope to see again very soon. I have been reliably informed that many of the different organisations are already fostering links between one another, and that new partnerships and projects are on the horizon.
(Image courtesy of Martin Figura)
To find out more about The Norwich Showcase visit our project page.
Words and Ideas - Our Norfolk and Norwich Festival Programme Launches
Posted By: Mitch Albert, 01 March 2012
I moved to Norwich in December 2011, and began working full-time in January 2012 as the Programme Director of Writers’ Centre Norwich – just in time to join the discussion about programming the literature component of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Now, one of the joys of being the new kid on the block is, in no small measure, the pleasure of perpetual discovery: everything is new, fascinating, remarkable … Of course, such wide-eyed effusiveness can grow tiresome very quickly from the point of view of one’s new local acquaintances, jaded Old Norfolk Hands themselves; yet whenever I directed my breathless appreciation toward the general awesomeness of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, I was met with … more breathless appreciation.
That makes sense. The scope and ambition of the NNF are truly remarkable, no less so for thefestival’s having continued to sharpen its cutting edge even after two and a half centuries of existence.
It is within this context that the ‘Words and Ideas’ strand of the NNF, presented by Writers’ Centre Norwich, will offer the chance to hear great contemporary thinkers addressing some age-old themes. Over five days in May, Norwich will get down to some serious thinking with poets, philosophers, writers, and social activists holding forth on faith and doubt, revolution and quiescence, social exclusion and acceptance, and the life of the emotions.
On Friday 11 May,
Alain de Botton will address the moral utility of religious faith even for non-believers. De Botton can always be relied upon to bring reason, compassion, and clarity to such a complex topic; he’ll be drawing from his new book
Religion for Atheists, and is adept at engaging with enquiring audiences on philosophical questions that inspire and perplex us all.
The following day, Saturday 12 May, Europe will stand accused of violating human rights in itstreatment of asylum seekers:
Tribunal 12, organised by the Shahrazad project (an offshoot of the
International Cities of Refuge Network), has been convened to examine the hard evidence. The day-long proceedings will unfold onscreen at the Norwich Playhouse, live-streamed from the Kulturhuset in Stockholm. An impressive jury featuring luminaries from the worlds of literature, music, film, social activism and law will formulate the verdict later that evening. Tribunal 12 is modelled on the International War Crimes Tribunal organised in 1967 by Bertrand Russell and Jean-Paul Sartre, which focused attention on atrocities taking place during the US military intervention in Vietnam. This prescient Russell-Sartre project was largely ignored in the US, which was not yet prepared as a nation to examine its actions in Vietnam; will the European Union – that is, will we ourselves – listen any more carefully to the accusations of Tribunal 12?
The sessions (and hence the screenings) will be punctuated by four intervals of up to two hours, so audiences will have a chance to check out other events at the Playhouse that day, related to the themes of refugee issues and human rights. Do check WCN’s website for updates on who will be performing and offering information on the day!
Find out more the about Tribunal 12 event.
‘Legendary’ is an unfortunately abused descriptor, but if you’ve been plugged into the counter-culture at any point during the past couple of decades, you would have stumbled across the names of
Iain Sinclair and
Alan Moore. These two – yes, legendary – writers, psychogeographers, and social critics will appear on Monday 14 May to weigh in on the value of anger and action in the face of encroachment by authority – and the erosion of society’s sense of space, place and protest.
Find out more about the Sinclair & Moore event.Poetry is front and centre during this week as well, in a big way. On
Saturday 19 May three renowned Afghan poets and their esteemed translators will perform their work both in the original Dari (Persian) and English, respectively. If the sum total of your information about Afghanistan derives only from news reports of war and social conflict, be prepared to have your assumptions overturned: these poets are contemporary and electric, investing their language (which dates back millennia) with a fresh, modern energy.
Find out more about the Afghan poets event.
Poetry caps this fine series of events as well, with the Poet Laureate her own self, to boot, on Thursday 24 May.
Carol Ann Duffy will perform alongside the musician John Sampson, with whom she often collaborates, to enchanting, moving and thoughtful effect – and how could it be any other way …? Many thanks to the
Rialto magazine - our partners on this event.
May’s looking good, then; can’t come quickly enough! I hope to meet many of you at NNF. I’ll be an Old Norfolk Hand myself by that time, showing signs of impatience at every gasp of delight by newcomers freshly inducted into this best-kept secret corner of England – many doubtless lured here by the festival itself …
Red in Tooth and Claw: Literary Death Match
Posted By: Sam Ruddock, 24 February 2012
“Literary Death Match is the unholy spawn of American Idol and the first reading of Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ at the Six Gallery 50 years ago. Dangerous, edgy, yet very ready for prime time.”
Jane Ganahl, Director San Francisco’s Litquake Festival
In an era where books are desperate to evolve, Literary Death Match — a groundbreaking take on both the written and spoken word — is a crowd-luring, bright-minded spectacle.
Part literary reading, part comedy show, part game show, Literary Death Match brings together four talented writers to compete in an edge-of-your-seat read-off critiqued by three celebrity judges, and concluded by a slapstick showdown to decide the night’s ultimate champion.
Perhaps it sounds a bit out-there? Well it isn’t.
Literary Death Match has long been passionate about inspecting new and innovative ways to present text on the page and off of it. The most fascinating part of an evening is not the upbeat music, free-flowing drinks, or clubby atmosphere – though all make for great fun. It is how attentive the audience is during each reading. This is the great literary ruse: an audacious and inviting title, a harebrained finale, but in-between the judging creates a relationship with the viewer as a judge themselves. After the event, people don’t talk about if they liked a particular story, they talk about why. To put it bluntly, Literary Death Match keeps people’s smartphones in their pockets, their eyes on the stage, and their minds on literature.
If you love literature, it is the night for you.
Since the first event in New York City in 2006, Literary Death Match has grown rapidly and now travels the world delivering energetic and enjoyable events to packed out audiences. Norwich is the smallest city it has ever visited and we are delighted to be bringing it here.
I guarantee that, if you come along, it will be the most fun you have had at a literary event in your life.
Monday 12th March, 8pm, £5 advance, £6 on door, Norwich Arts Centre
Literary Death Match with Francesca Beard, Siddhartha Bose, Martin Figura and Ross Sutherland
Book your tickets for Literary Death Match now.
Escalator Fiction: Meet our Ten Winning Writers
Posted By: Richard White, 03 February 2012
At last we have our ten winning writers!
Before I introduce you, let’s begin with a quick rundown on how they got here, and what they have to look forward to.
In October 2011 we once again put the call out to talented, unpublished novelists from the East of England, asking them to submit their writing for the Escalator Fiction Competition. Rather than the usual cash prize normally associated with literary competitions, the winners enjoy a year’s worth of development from professional writers including one-to-one mentoring and professional development workshops, culminating in a showcase event in London in September 2012. Not bad, eh?
It’s a unique offer, so we were absolutely delighted to receive the highest number of Escalator applications yet, and not only that, the quality across the board was outstanding.
Escalator winners have a satisfying habit of impressing agents and publishers (previous winners include Guy Saville, Helen Ivory, Ruth Dugdall, Susan Sellers and Nicola Upson) and our judges/mentors and all here at WCN have no doubt this year’s winners will follow in their tracks.
Enough of the context, let’s meet our winners.
Our Ten 2011/12 Escalator Literature Novel Writing Competition Winners Are:
Rebecca Atkinson
Elaine Bishop
Armando Celayo
Guinevere Glasfurd-Brown
BTI Larsson
K J Packer
Teresa Rogers
Erin Soros
Shereen Tadros
Kate Worsley
View biogs and read extracts of their writing.
Commended Writers Are:
Paul Davenport-Randell
Mary Jane Riley
Simon Coard.
We’ll be keeping you up-to-date with their progress throughout the year and beyond. If you have any questions about our winners or the Escalator scheme, email:
info@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
What's Going On? The Norwich Showcase
Posted By: Katy Carr, 02 February 2012
Hopefully you’ve seen the news about The Norwich Showcase – where Writers’ Centre Norwich and the British Council will be bringing three groups of people together over five days in Norwich from 09th-13th March: international delegates from the world of literature; British literature organisations and 40 of the best writers writing in Britain today.
So what, I wondered, does our CEO Chris Gribble think is exciting about this project?
After thinking about it a few moments he replied:
“The Norwich Showcase is the first time we’ve tried promoting the best in literature and literature development from the UK to the rest of the world.
It’s also the first time we’ve been able to invite so many exciting literary festival programmers, publishers, cultural activists and development workers to the UK to share their experiences and tell us about programmes across the globe that we might not have heard of. I’m hugely excited by the chance both to share Norwich’s love for and experience of writing and reading, and to learn from our colleagues from as far away as Pakistan, Uganda and Brazil.
As home to UEA, the British Centre for Literary Translation and Writers’ Centre Norwich, we are really fortunate to be at the heart the UK literary scene and we hope that as a result of this first Norwich Showcase, we are able to inspire new partnerships, ideas and work within the UK and internationally.”
Indeed.
We’re also aware that many more people will want to take part than can participate, so we’re pleased to be live streaming a poetry reading with Lavinia Greenlaw, Hannah Lowe and Don Paterson on Friday 09th and a full day’s events on Monday 12th March featuring sessions on new fiction, a historical panel, a translation slam and another poetry panel.
We’re sure all the technicalities will work out perfectly.
If you’re around in Norwich in March you can also take part in the Showcase by coming along to our very exciting Literary Death Match, taking place at Norwich Arts Centre on March 12th and featuring lots of talented people spouting away for seven minutes each in a literary duel to the literary death. Find out more about our
Literary Death Match here.
As well as this there will be podcasts, films and blogs galore, and plenty of post event work will be finding its way online too.
Do keep an eye on our latest news page where we’ll be updating you about all of this, and if you have a few moments why not engage in some happy surfing from
The Norwich Showcase project page.
From a Masterclass to Publication - Good News from Terri Armstrong
Posted By: Richard White, 10 January 2012
Terri Armstrong attended a Writers' Centre Norwich Masterclass workshop back in June 2010, led by author MJ Hyland. She has kindly written to update us about what happened next. It's music to our ears - read on! 
In June 2010 I had already begun sending the manuscript of
Standing Water, my first novel, to agents and publishers when I saw that M J Hyland was holding a Masterclass at the Writers' Centre. I’d vowed years before to give up ‘studying’ writing, and just write (I took the Diploma in Creative Writing at UEA and had done various other classes and courses), and my novel was ‘finished’, but this was a class I couldn’t resist; M J Hyland - one of my all time favourite, most revered novelists! I felt a bit guilty only paying twenty five quid.
The group was small, and of mixed experience, but Maria Hyland gave the same incisive, direct but practical advice to all. We’d each provided her with a sample of our work a couple of weeks prior to the class and I’d picked a significant section of my book, where a revelation takes place. I’d worked on the section a lot but it was still niggling me; why didn’t it seem right? I couldn’t work out what the problem was.
When Maria returned my piece in the class I panicked - red writing everywhere! She hated it. The whole book was rubbish; I was a talentless nobody who should never have bothered. When I calmed down enough to read the comments most of them turned out, thankfully, to be positive, and the rest provided me with exactly what I’d been hoping for – the answer, at last, to why the section wasn’t working. As with the other members of the class, my piece was discussed, and everyone had an opportunity to comment, question and advise.
Following the class, I revised not only the section Maria Hyland had looked at, but the whole novel in light of new ideas and understandings I’d gained from the Masterclass.
In August 2010 I had a happy surprise, with Standing Water winning the Yeovil Literary Prize, and an incredible and much welcome £1000. After a steady stream of rejections (nice book; won’t sell) it was just what I needed to lift my writing confidence. I pushed on.
At last, in December 2010 a small independent publisher called Pewter Rose Press offered to publish Standing Water, and I accepted.
Standing Water will be published in February 2012. Maria Hyland’s endorsement: ‘A talented writer with immense natural flair’ will be on the cover. Who would have thought?
Novel launch: Standing Water, by Terri Armstrong
Join Terri at the
Book Hive in Norwich to celebrate the launch of
Standing Water.
23rd February, 6:30pm, Free.
Standing Water by Terri Armstrong
‘A completely engaging and particularly vivid story about friends and family, love and death, set, mostly, in the brutally harsh outback… A powerful tale, loaded with pertinent, and increasingly poignant issues of betrayal and redemption, loss and new beginnings… Exceptional.’
Henry Sutton.
Winner 2010 Yeovil Literary Prize
Published by Pewter Rose Press, February 2012