Christmas Party

The Christmas Social held at St. Anne’s Church Hall on Saturday 10th December proved to be a great success. Over twenty members attended and although the catering was over enthusiastic the food was varied and festive. A different slant on our ‘Pictionery’ quiz with Norfolk village names instead of book titles was really popular. There was plenty of opportunities for members, both old and new, to mingle and get to know one another. Certainly the general agreement was that this was something we should repeat and the Summer Social will be an event to look forward to.

Christmas Social 2011

Christmas Social

Saturday 10th December 2011

3.30 – 7.30pm

at St Anne’s Church Hall, 115 Colman Road, Norwich NR4 7HF

Please bring food contribution and a raffle prize.

Everyone welcome.

Results of Competition One: A Horror Story

Tuesday 6th December 2011

Results of Competition One: A Horror Story

Adjudicator, Joseph Freeman, judging the twelve entries said that the overall quality was very pleasing. He gave a comprehensive critique on each story adding that the authors should not be downhearted by any comments as these were intended to improve the writing.

 General points to remember
1. Presentation is very important. Do not have overly large
    margins. Ensure you do not run out of ink.
2. Clarity of prose; avoid over use of complicated writing
     language. Keep it simple

Results

First

“Horror in the Place de la Concorde” by Sally Newton.

Search for a missing sister with clues read from a diary and subsequent hallucinations after buying an old necklace.

Second

“Santa’s Little Helper” by Neil Walker.

A creepy tale of a child’s search for kindness in Santa’s Grotto with elements of black humour.

Tied at Third

“Talon” by Victoria Bartlett

A pendant helps a bullied child seek revenge.

“Change of Face” by Mickey Dann.

Gift of zoo trip intended to wreck havoc on the life of a plastic surgeon.

Two Special Mentions

“A Christmas Ballad” by Alex Sykes

“For a Friend” by Joanne Watkins

 A spine-chilling evening’s entertainment.



Joseph Freeman

Don't forget Joseph Freeman is adjudicating competition 1: Horror Story on December 6th.

Problem with Website

It appears that we are not able to access our website, in fact nobody seems able to view The Norwich Writers' Circle website. However, it is possible to access the blog direct, so if you are able to read these posts perhaps you can pass on the message that we are aware of the problem and we are trying to rectify it.

Joseph Freeman Horror Story Competition

Anyone attending "As the Nights Draw In" an Evening with Joseph Freeman, on 4th October 2011 will know they're in for a treat when he returns on 6th December 2011 to adjudicate the first competition, a horror story, of our new programme. Not only did he set out the guidelines giving tips and details of how to write horror stories but he gave us an insight into the pleasures of writing the horror genre and the inspiration one has to generate for oneself.

Manuscript Evening

The new arrangement for the manuscript evening was tested last night (15 November 2011) in the Sexton room at the Assembly House. Members and visitors were divided into small groups so that more people were able to read their work and discuss each others writing. It was agreed that the time flew by as it was so enjoyable and we actually over ran the intended allocated time limit.

Manuscript Evening

Tuesday 15th November we will be trying out a new table arrangment for the manuscript evening in the hope that more people will be able to read during the evening.
Visitors welcome.
Remember to bring something to read; a script, story, poem or chapter of novel etc.  

An Evening with Louis de Bernieres

Best selling author Louis de Bernieres opened his talk by saying he wasn't nice to come and talk to other writers. As writing leads to a solitary life and it was nice for him to get out.

There followed a relaxed and informal evening with a question and answer session; covering inspiration, agents and many writing problems. He said it was essential to visit places you're writing about, to absorb the atmosphere, local environments and historical events. Stressing the need for good reading material he said, "Junk food for the mind is as bad as junk food for the body." He believed that whatever happens to you in life is good research for writing. 

He was thanked for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.  

Louis De Bernieres Room Change

On the 1st November Captain Correlli's Mandolin author Louis De Bernieres will be visiting Norwich Writers' Circle.

We will meeting in The Hobart Room, instead of The Assembly House's Sexton Room.

Be sure to arrive early for what will is bound to be one of our most popular meetings in the current programme.

Reading & Writing

Thanks to everyone who has read and supported this Blog since its inception in 2009.

Keep watching this space, as well as following Norwich Writers' Circle on Twitter and YouTube, to hear all our latest programme details, member news and much more.

Please visit norwichwriters.org.uk for more on our friendly, welcoming and ever-growing writing group.

Complete Works

All the poems featured in our online Poetry Season are now available to listen to one handy playlist.

To listen to all of this year's poems, please go here.

Twitter 350

Norwich Writers' Circle now has over 350 followers on Twitter.

To discover how to join us online, please go here.

Open Reminder

Our 2011/2012 programme, which begins with an Open Evening, is now only a week away.

Entry to the 7.30pm meeting, to be held in The Assembly House's Sexton Room, on Tuesday 20th is free. This meeting gives an opportunity for the Circle to introduce itself, and to hear a selection of both members and visitors work read aloud.

We recommend that any manuscripts featured next week are no longer than 500 words and/or 10 minutes in length.

Everyone is more than welcome to our friendly writing group - reading aloud is not compulsory.

For more information of this year's upcoming meetings, including visiting writers and more, please visit norwichwriters.org.uk.

Time Lines

Our online Poetry Season concludes today with Time Lines by David Underdown.

David previously won our Open Poetry Competition, and this is the title poem from his recently published first collection. To order the book please go here.

For more information on our current Poetry Competition please visit norwichwriters.org.uk/poetry.

To hear our latest poetry upload click here.

Dead Good

Our YouTube video featuring the theme tune of ITV police drama Taggart has seen its popularity grow once more.

The film, which was created to celebrate programme creator Glenn Chandler's visits to Norwich Writers' Circle in October and December 2010, has now been watched over 2,500 times.

To view the video please go here.

2012 Poetry Trailer

Our YouTube channel is now showing a promotional trailer for Norwich Writers' Circle's Open Poetry Competition 2012.

Please go here to watch the short film, or why not check out norwichwriters.org.uk/poetry for more Competition information.

Twenty Miles

Our online Poetry Season continues today as we give you the opportunity to listen to Twenty Miles by Oliver Bernard.

To hear the poem please go here.

Visionary

Our YouTube channel's success continues.

Since its launch in Summer 2010, Norwich Writers' Circle's online video channel has now been viewed over 2,500 times.

Check out youtube.com/norwichwriters for more.

Letton Hall

Between 19th and 22nd September, you are invited to come and join professional authors Nick & Claire Page for a taster programme in Creative Writing at Letton Hall, near Thetford.

The 3 night retreat is designed to give you the skills, space and inspiration to get creative. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced writer, everyone is welcome.

For more information on the course, please visit lettonhall.org.

Everyday Eclipses

Everyday Eclipses by Roger McGough is the next poem to be featured in our online Poetry Season.

Please go here to listen to the poem.

Twitter 300

Norwich Writers' Circle now has over 300 followers on Twitter.

To discover how to join us online, please go here.

Poetry Postal

The postal address for our 2012 Open Poetry Competition has been announced.

Please send your entries to:

Norwich Writers' Circle
Open Poetry Competition Secretary
1 Stannard Road
Norwich NR4 7JD
ENGLAND

More information on our ever-popular competition can be found at norwichwriters.org.uk/poetry.

Good luck!

Busy With Many Jobs

Our online Poetry Season continues today with Busy With Many Jobs by Tadeusz Różewicz.

To watch the video poem please go here.

Assembly House Art

Norwich Writers' Circle's regular meeting venue, The Assembly House on Theatre Street, is holding an Art Show which features new work by more than 150 artists from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, until the end of the month.

Flying Colours: Fascinating Forms has been receiving rave reviews, with the Eastern Daily Press commenting: “The Georgian gem in the heart of Norwich is suddenly reborn as a major gallery via an event which aims to be the region’s answer to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition”.

This major new contemporary art exhibition is attracting over 200 people a day, and continues until Wednesday 31st August. The art show is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday, and 11.30am to 4.00pm on Sundays. Admission is free.

Voewood Festival

This year sees the first Voewood Festival.

The event, described as the literary garden party of the year, takes place over the weekend of 27th to 29th August at a house in High Kelling, voted the best in the region in this year's England Favourite House Awards.

Amongst the weekend's numerous highlights are appearances by historian Dan Cruickshank, Man Booker prize winner DBC Pierre, ex-MI5 boss Sir John Scarlett, plus The King's Speech authors Mark Logue and Peter Conradi.

Musical highlights include Beth Orton, David McAlmont, Glen Matlock and Adam Ant.

For more information please visit voewoodfestival.com.

2011/12 Programme

Our full 2011/12 programme is now available online.

Norwich Writers' Circle will meet again on the 20th September for one of ever-popular free Open Evenings. Highlights for the following weeks include an evening with horror writer Joseph Freeman and a visit from best-selling author Louis de Bernières.

Along with welcoming other authors to our ever-growing writing group, we will also be hosting our popular Manuscript Evenings and holding several in-house competitions.

Our first meeting, on 20th September, will be an Open Evening. The free evening will be a chance for the Circle to introduce themselves to new members and visitors.

Further details of the programme can be seen here.

We look forward to seeing you at The Assembly House.

Men Talk

Men Talk by Liz Lochhead is the next poem to feature in our online Poetry Season.

Watch the video on YouTube by going here.

Wymondham Words

The Wymondham Words Festival returns next month.

The event's 2nd year, which runs from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th September, features a weekend of readings, conversation and music set in the beautiful and historic South Norfolk market town.

Amongst the weekend's highlights is evenings with George Szirtes and Heidi Williamson. The weekend also sees our current Open Poetry Competition adjudicator Helen Ivory host a writing workshop on the Saturday.

Please visit wymondhamarts.com for more Festival info.

Murder City

The popularity of our YouTube video featuring the theme tune of ITV police drama Taggart has continued to grow.

The short film, created to celebrate programme creator Glenn Chandler's visits to Norwich Writers' Circle in October and December 2010, has now been watched over 2,000 times.

To view the video please go here.

Twitter 250

Norwich Writers' Circle now has over 250 followers on Twitter.

To discover how to join us online, please go here.

The Shout

As part of our ongoing online Poetry Season we are proud to feature Simon Armitage's The Shout.

To listen to the poem please go here.

Visiting Writers Celebration

Our YouTube channel has been updated to include a video featuring all the visiting writers from our most recent programme.

Amongst the writers featured in the short film are Martin Figura, Paeony Lewis and Glenn Chandler.

To watch the film please go here.

Programme Start

The beginning of our 2011/12 programme has been announced.

Norwich Writers' Circle will meet again on the 20th September for one of ever-popular free Open Evenings. In the weeks that follow we will be holding a evening with horror writer Joseph Freeman and welcoming best-selling author Louis de Bernières, along with a lot more to be announced.

Details of our complete programme will appear here during our annual Summer break. Watch this space for more details.

Refrigerator 1957

Our Summer Poetry Season belatedly begins today with Refrigerator 1957 by Thomas Lux.

Please go here to watch the video poem.

Skylight Press

A new small press is looking for talented British writers to publish.

Skylight Press publish literary fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fictions titles, and our looking for submissions via e-mail.

To discover more about Skylight, please visit them online.

Make An eBook

One of Norwich Writers' Circle's online friends Michael Boxwell has recently published Make An eBook.

The book, aptly described as the complete handbook for creating, marketing and selling eBooks successfully, is available from here.

We whole-heartily recommend this book for all NWC members, and Blog readers, who are looking to sell their books online.

Summer Poetry

In conjunction with our recently launched Open Poetry Competition, this Summer sees our own online poem celebration.

Every weekend, for the next 7 weeks, we will be uploading some of the best comtemporary poetry to our popular YouTube channel for you to experience and enjoy.

For more information on how to enter our OPC please go here.

Open Poetry 2012

Our 2012 Open Poetry Competition has been launched.

The competition - Norwich Writers' Circle's 41st - has the following prizes in the Open Category:

1st

£300.00

2nd

£150.00

3rd 

£75.00

In addition to the main prizes, we also have sponsored ones for Minimalist and Humorous poetry, plus another on The Family.

The competition closes on the 21st February 2012, and this year, as previously announced, will be judged by Helen Ivory.

A prizegiving evening, featuring adjudications and readings, will then take place on the 17th April 2012 at The Assembly House. This evening also sees the launch of the Competition's Anthology, which will be able to be purchased from the night onwards.

To read the Competition rules and much more, please visit the dedicated section of our main website by going here.

Assembly House Twitter

Norwich Writers' Circle's regular city centre meeting venue, The Assembly House, is now tweeting.

To hear all the latest news from the popular Grade I listed Georgian building, please go here.

Forthcoming Attractions

Norwich Writers' Circle is currently on its annual Summer break. Our writing group will meet again in September, when our 2011/12 programme starts.

In the meantime, this Blog will be updated and include information on forthcoming meetings, along with all our regular member news, and the launch of our annual Open Poetry Competition. The OPC launch will also be complimented by Norwich Writers' first online poetry season.

Watch this space for all the latest NWC news.

Anne Thanks

Last Tuesday's AGM & Prize-Giving Evening saw our long-standing Chairman, Anne Funnell, step down from her role.

Anne has now sent the below message to us:

Dear All

I was overwhelmed by the magnificent bouquet presented to me on the occasion of my resignation from the post of Chairman of the Norwich Writers' Circle. There were so many that the flowers filled two vases.

The card signed by various members of the Circle was very touching and even more wonderful was the Waterstone's voucher which was totally unexpected and will be carefully preserved until the right book is chosen.

Thank you all very much
 
Anne Funnell

Summer In The City

A video featuring a selection of images from our recent Summer Social is now available to watch on our popular YouTube channel.

To watch the short film please go here.

AGM And More

Norwich Writers' Circle's AGM took place this evening.

This well-attended meeting also included our annual prizegiving, which acknowledges Circle members' successes in the various group competitions held throughout the year.

The prizes awarded tonight were:

The Ivy Ferrari Trophy
1st

Maureen Nisbet

2nd

Sally Newton

3rd

Phyllida Scrivens

The Competition Cup

1st

Mickie Dann

2nd

Sally Newton

3rd
Maureen Nisbet

The Colin Sutton Cup for Humour

1st
Sally Newton

2nd
Joanne Amos
3rd
Anne Sanderson

Sadly this evening's meeting also saw Anne Funnell, our Chairman, step down after several years in the role. Anne's efforts were recognised by all Norwich Writers' Circle members in a presentation of a gift, along with some flowers.

We next meet in September, following our annual Summer break.

Details of our new programme, including competitions and visiting writers, will be announced on this Blog in the weeks ahead.

We hope to see you later on in the year.

Flash Mob

Following the Flash Mob which descended on The Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library on 5th June, a video of the event is now available to watch online.

Please go here to watch the mob in action, including Norwich Writers' Circle member Anne Sanderson.

Agnes & Walter

Norwich Writers' Circle committee member Elizabeth Taylor can currently be seen on stage in Smith dancetheatre's Agnes & Walter

The show, inspired by The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, is currently being performed in Norfolk this July, before heading to the Edinburgh Festival during the Summer.

More about the theatre production can be found on the show's official website here.

Rate My Story

A new website has been launched giving authors and writers the opportunity to gain quick easy feedback on their work.

Check out ratemystory.net for more information.

David Underdown

Congratulations to one of our previous Open Poetry Competition winners, David Underdown, who has recently had his first full collection published.

Copies of the Time Lines are now available from the publishers, Cinnamon Press, or via Inpress Books.

To discover more about David please visit his official website.

Our latest poetry competition will be launched this Summer. Watch our websites for more information in the coming months.

Summer Fun

Norwich Writers' Circle held its annual Summer Social today.

The afternoon/evening event proved popular with many in our growing writing group attending, and then enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of St Anne's Church Hall. The social also saw the opportunity for members to informally catch up with one another before our forthcoming Summer break.

We next meet on the 5th July, for our final meeting of our current programme. We will back at The Assembly House for our AGM and Prize-Giving Evening. Everyone is welcome.