Saturday 29 December 2012

Greenacre Writers: Going Places. A roundup of 2012


2012 took off with our four groups meeting regularly and two workshops held at Trinity Church Centre. The first, Get Yourself A Reputation, took a new slant by focusing not on writing exercises, but encouraging new writers to create a digital presence, with plenty of practical advice. The second was a creative writing workshop for beginners as part of Trinity in May Arts Festival. Stimulating exercises encouraged the ideas and ink to flow.

Hard on the heels of the workshop was our first Literary Festival. From a barely formed idea, we decided to go for it! The venue was provided courtesy of the Trinity in May Arts Festival. The authors we approached, Paolo Hewitt, Andrew Bradford, Emily Benet and Lane Ashfeldt were very supportive and our members were keen to take open mic slots to showcase their work. In no time at all, we had a programme! Then we added another author, Alex Wheatle, because he was too good to refuse! We had an even better programme.

It was time to launch our second short story competition. Paolo Hewitt accepted our request to be the judge, so we were off. Thinking of digital presences, it was time to consider on-line submissions and payment for the competition so Rosie grappled with PayPal and got a new website up and running.

Our members’ successes have continued. Rosie Canning was selected as a judge for Chris Evans’ ‘500 word’ contest for young story writers in March. She was also busy writing her own flash fiction and had five stories long-listed or short-listed in competitions (Spilling Ink, The New Writer, Flash 500, The Yellow Room and The Word Hut). Lindsay Bamfield had a flash fiction piece short-listed in a competition held by BadLanguage, which was read out at a flash fiction event in Manchester on her behalf. Katie Alford won first prize in a competition for short stories in the manner of a nineteenth century author with A Matter of Timing, her Sherlock Holmes story and she won round three of the Dragon’s Keep story contest held by www.writing.com with The Fairy and the Princess. Linda Dell has been publicizing her latest novel, Earthscape, and Liz Goes marketed the third of her trilogy: The Not Quite English Teacher. (See links for Linda and Liz on our blog.)

Having always presented workshops together, Rosie and Lindsay both ventured into solo teaching: Rosie held a  Greenacre Writers ‘Plot’ workshop on our home-ground in Finchley while Lindsay was pleased to accept the offer to teach a specialist course ‘Getting Started in Fiction’ at the renowned Swanwick Writers’ Summer School in Derbyshire.

Two other GW members attended Swanwick as delegates, Liz Goes, one of Swanwick’s busy committee members was there for her 7th year while Helen Barbour returned for her second visit.

Helen succeeded in clambering off the slush pile. She sent her submission package for her first novel The A-Z of Normal to Lucas Alexander Whitely Ltd in March and Araminta Whitely asked to see the whole manuscript that same month. Although she did not take it on, she gave Helen some very complimentary feedback: ‘Your subject is spot on…the women’s fiction market looks for genuine portrayals of real-life issues. You write fluently and have a good ear for dialogue… I hope it is some encouragement that your novel caught our attention among the hundreds of unsolicited we have received so far this year.’ We are proud of Helen’s achievement and supporting her through some rewriting and further submissions.

Wendy Shillam graduated from Chichester, gaining her MA Creative Writing in October with a distinction for her thesis comprising the first 20 chapters of her novel Thinking Makes it So, which she is completing within one our Finish That Novel groups.

Greenacre Writers’ main aim has always been to support and encourage our members to become the best writers they can be, whether they are aiming for publication or not, and through our regular critiquing groups we have all learned from each other. Some of our members submitted short stories to our first anthology, which also featured winning entries from our first competition. We were delighted when it was short-listed in the NAWG competition. Rosie represented GW at the NAWG festival in Nottingham and accepted our certificate when we were awarded third prize.

In November we ran a creative writing workshop in the local, and now famous, Friern Barnet Community Library which hit headlines when, having been closed by the council in April, was re-opened by members of the Occupy movement along with local campaigners in September. A court case or two later, its future remains uncertain but we have all made the most of it while we can. While a number of our members have supported the library, Rosie and GW member, Keith Martin, have been closely involved with the campaign.

Greenacre Writers brought the year to a close with the announcement of the winners of our second short story competition. Congratulations to all who were long listed and especially our winners. We look forward to publishing these stories in our second anthology, which is just one of our many activities planned for 2013.

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Monday 17 December 2012

And the winner is......

We are very pleased to announce the  winners of the second Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition.

Congratulations to you all.


1st prize: A Perfect World by Veronica Bright

2nd prize: God the Homeless by Simon Farnham

3rd prize: The Art of Being Late by Julie Swan

Runners up (in no particular order)

The Veteran by Elliot Mayhew

Up to the Ankles by Amy Flinders

An Accident Waiting to Happen by Marie Campbell

Many thanks to judge Paolo Hewitt


Saturday 8 December 2012

The Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition Shortlist

Twelve stories from our competition have been short-listed. They are presented in no particular order.

Ejecting Foreign Objects - Joanna Campbell
God the Homeless - Simon Farnham
Picture - Erik Lofroth
An Accident Waiting to Happen - Marie Campbell
The Art of Being Late - Julie Swan
A Perfect World - Veronica Bright
The Phantom Cavalier - Wanda Sellar
Up to the Ankles - Amy Flinders
The Art of Infinite Patience - Joanna Campbell
Watermark - Barbara Leahy
The Deaths of Zlatka Vlachova - Sue Healy
The Veteran - Elliot Mayhew


About our judge: Paolo Hewitt

We were delighted when Paolo agreed to attend the Greenacre Writers Mini Literary Festival in May 2012, as he is a much sought after writer and commentator on British popular culture, focusing on music and fashion. He was recently a major contributor to the BBC documentary series ‘British Style Genius'. At the festival he read from his book on Oasis and from his autobiography, gaining a few new fans in the process. 

Paolo first came to prominence when he joined Melody Maker in 1979 where he stayed for four years before joining the NME. At the same time his first book was published The Jam: A Beat Concerto. In 1990, he left the NME and started writing for Vogue Germany, Fare Musica in Italy and The Sunday Times. 

In 1993 his first novel was published: Heaven's Promise the first of its kind to focus on Britain's Acid House scene. After his third book The Small Faces: The Young Mod's Forgotten Story he was asked to write the major biography on the band Oasis - Getting High: The Adventure of Oasis.

In 1999 he wrote Forever The People - Six Months on the Road with Oasis along with his anthology of Sixties writing The Sharper Word.

In 2007 he had two more books published - The Changing Man, the definitive biography on Paul Weller and The Mumper a novel about seven friends who meet every week in their local pub. When a stranger asks them if they'd like to buy a racehorse, things get interesting. The book is the basis of the recent film 'Outside Bet', starring Bob Hoskins and Jenny Agutter. 
Paolo 's heart-wrenching autobiography The Looked After Kid - My Life in a Children's Home, led to the BBC shooting a 45 minute documentary on Paolo as part of their 'Taking Care' season.

Paolo has had no fewer than three books published this year: The A-Z of Mod; his book on The  Beatles  Love Me Do: 50 Great Beatles Moments, and Bowie: Album By Album


Wednesday 28 November 2012

The Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition Longlist

Twenty stories from our competition have been long-listed. They are presented in no particular order.


Pride and Joy - Sal Page
Ejecting Foreign Objects - Joanna Campbell
Up or Down? - Dorothy Cox
God the Homeless - Simon Farnham
Picture - Erik Lofroth
Jail Birds - Alice Parrant
The Stars are Screaming - Scott James
An Accident Waiting to Happen - Marie Campbell
Are We There Yet? - Anne Oatley
Birds, Booze and Bikers - Jo Derrick
The Art of Being Late - Julie Swan
A Perfect World - Veronica Bright
Six Bits of Wood - Pam Eaves
The Phantom Cavalier - Wanda Sellar
Up to the Ankles - Amy Flinders
The Art of Infinite Patience - Joanna Campbell
Green Fingers - Deborah Birch
Watermark - Barbara Leahy
The Deaths of Zlatka Vlachova - Sue Healy
The Veteran - Elliot Mayhew


Thursday 1 November 2012

Short Story Competition 2012 Has Closed

Our second short story competition has now closed. Thank you to all those who sent in entries. The variety of themes and writing styles is amazing! Our readers are now busy reading and selecting the long-list and will then decide on the short-list, both of which will be published here, so keep a look out for your story title. The lists will consist of the story titles only until after the final judging, when we will add authors' names.

Good luck!

Thursday 25 October 2012

Last week for competition entries....

The closing date for our short story competition is midnight 31st October 2012, so there are still a few days to polish your entry.  Enter here.

The readers are gearing up to the task of reading and making notes on every entry to produce a longlist, followed by earnest discussions to select the shortlist to be forwarded to our judge Paolo Hewitt.

The longlisted stories will be posted here on the blog, followed by the shortlist, so keep a lookout for the title of your story!


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Two weeks to go...

Just two weeks left in which to enter your short story for the second Greenacre Writers Short Story competition. For all the details see  Here

Monday 3 September 2012

Prize Winning Greenacre Writers Anthology.

We are very pleased to announce that our first anthology was awarded third prize in the National Association of Writing Groups'  Denise Robertson Anthology prize.

Our stories were selected from the winners of our first short story competition and our own members. The top three competition stories win cash prizes, the top six win a year's membership to Greenacre Writers and publication in the anthology.

The second short story competition is under-way and entries are coming in. For your chance to be published in the second volume of our anthology send in your entry now.

For details on purchasing this anthology and how to enter the competition see:

Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition





Thursday 30 August 2012

Two months to go...

There are still two months to write and submit a winning entry to the 2nd Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition.

Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition 2012.

The winning entries will win cash prizes and will be published on this blog and our website and in the second Greenacre Writers Anthology.

Genre: Fiction

Word count: Maximum 2000 words
Prizes: 1st Prize £100, 2nd Prize £50, 3rd Prize £25
(3 Runners up: Greenacre Anthology)

Entry fee: £5 per entry (£5.50 on-line)

Closing date: 31st October 2012
Judge: Paolo Hewitt

About the judge: Paolo Hewitt is a former journalist and author of over 20 books. He has written for Melody Maker and NME, and The Sunday Times. Among other books, he is author of The Jam: A Beat Concerto, The Small Faces: The Young Mod’s Forgotten Story, Getting High: The Adventure of Oasis, and Alan McGee and the Story of Creation Records. His two excursions into fiction include the novels, Heaven's Promise and The Mumper which was recently made into the film, Outside Bet. His highly acclaimed autobiography, The Looked After Kid brilliantly chronicles his time growing up in the care system.

Entries may be made by post: e-mail greenacrewriters@gmail.com for entry form or enter online: Here

Friday 3 August 2012

Workshop: Plot

* This workshop is now full *


Who dunnit? Why? And what happens next? Learn how to sequence events that take place within the narrative.

Do you get a bit muddled when trying to remember who does what, when and how? If so, this workshop will help. For beginners as well as the more advanced writer. We will design our own plot chart as well as work on creative writing exercises.

Where and when:
Saturday 25th August
25 Chislehurst Avenue
2-5pm

About me:
I am a co-founder of Greenacre Writers. I studied MA Writing at Middlesex University. I’ve recently started submitting stories for competitions – all of which have been either short or longlisted. I’ve written a novel, short stories, and am currently re-writing my autobiography, ‘Bibliotherapy: Stories that Saved my Life’.

For further details or to reserve a place, please contact:
Rosie Canning (MA Writing) 020 8346 9449
Email: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

There will be a small charge to include yummy cakes:
Members £5; Non-members £10

Thursday 26 July 2012

Greenacre Writers Anthology shortlisted



Very pleased and proud that our anthology has been shortlisted in the National Association of Writers Groups annual anthology competition.

If you have ever produced a collection of writing you will know about the labour of love that goes into getting it published.

If you would like the opportunity of being selected for our next anthology, enter our short story competition....

Monday 2 July 2012

Meet the Writer: Rosie Canning.

We're proud to announce that Rosie Canning, co-founder of Greenacre Writers, is featured on The Word Hut's 'Meet the Writer', along with one of her winning flash fiction stories, Tree Love.  The interview gives Rosie's take on the writing process and how she approaches her writing.

Read the interview here


Monday 4 June 2012

Reflections on The Greenacre Mini Literary Festival



Andrew Bradford discussing his book
Live Eels and Grand Pianos
The first Greenacre Writers Mini Literary Festival on 26th May 2012, was a great success. We were treated to a mix of literary styles which entertained and educated us. The talks and readings from five authors, Paolo Hewitt, Alex Wheatle, Andrew Bradford, Emily Benet and Lane Ashfeldt, along with a selection of nine readings from members of Greenacre Writers varied from serious to light-hearted, raising tears and smiles along the way. We had planned a varied programme but found that themes of belonging, difference and change linked the readings strengthening my core belief that whatever our age, race, culture, religion, social class, ability - whatever demographic one chooses - we all have far more similarities than differences.


Paolo Hewitt relaxing after his opening talk
listening to fellow guests.

Each writer brings unique life experiences and ideals to their writing and whether writing directly from life, as several of us did, or simply using fleeting experiences and observations on which to base a story, we all write about what matters to us. Writing can reach readers of differing attitudes and beliefs, and in so doing can help break down the barriers than often divide society. Some of the readings we heard may well have made us question our own attitudes. Writing should make us think but it should also entertain and I believe our afternoon of readings succeeded on both counts. The comments below say it all.

 

Alex Wheatle at the book signing session.
‘Many thanks for the mini-lit festival …I think it was very successful. I particularly enjoyed the readings from Alex Wheatle.’ Ruth

‘I was most impressed with Paolo Hewitt - that's writing! And Emily Benet's other name should be Miss Fizzy - great fun. And I liked Anna Meryt’s poems, ‘Shoes’ and ‘Bulawayo‘. I'd never attended that type of event before, but can see the attraction. Roll on your second event!’ Lynn

‘The readers from Greenacre were full of surprises… both Judith and I were really interested in the work we heard and talked about it. The guest authors were amazing, the Brixton Bard (Alex Wheatle) had me on the edge of my seat.’ Josie

Here's to next year! For both of us, the mix of readings was stimulating and entertaining. Now looking forward to reading the books I was tempted to buy. . .’ June


Emily Benet signs her book.
‘Thank you so much for organising an excellent event. I loved the format, loved the readings and wouldn't change a thing.’ Wendy

‘What a pleasure to hear all (and I mean ALL) the writers reading their short stories, flash fiction, poetry and excerpts. Well done organisers and roll on the next Greenacres Literary Festival (forget the mini bit) - let it grow big. I thoroughly enjoyed it - thank you.’ Liz

‘Indeed it was an inspiring afternoon. Feedback from my friends confirms their enjoyment and appreciation of a professionally run event.’ Keith

We would like to extend our thanks to our brilliant authors, the members of Greenacre Writers and, of course, our audience for making the day one to remember. What a foundation on which to build next year's event.


Sunday 27 May 2012

2nd Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition

Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition 2012.

The winning entries will win cash prizes and will be published on this blog and our website and in the second Greenacre Writers Anthology.


Genre: Fiction

Word count: Maximum 2000 words

Prizes: 1st Prize £100, 2nd Prize £50, 3rd Prize £25
(3 Runners up: Greenacre Anthology)

Entry fee: £5 per entry (£5.50 on-line) 

Closing date: 31st October 2012

Judge: Paolo Hewitt

About the judge: Paolo Hewitt is a former journalist and author of over 20 books. He has written for Melody Maker and NME, and The Sunday Times. Among other books, he is author of The Jam: A Beat Concerto, The Small Faces: The Young Mod’s Forgotten Story, Getting High: The Adventure of Oasis, and Alan McGee and the Story of Creation Records. His two excursions into fiction include the novels, Heaven's Promise and The Mumper which was recently made into the film, Outside Bet. His highly acclaimed autobiography, The Looked After Kid brilliantly chronicles his time growing up in the care system.

Entries may be made by post: e-mail greenacrewriters@gmail.com for entry form or enter online:  Here

Monday 7 May 2012

Ways into Creative Writing - afterword from the last workshop

Two days after the last Greenacre Writers workshop, we are left with some vibrant images from the writing that was produced. In our book that means the quality of writing was good. Many participants had done relatively little writing and some claimed none at all. One felt quite intimidated by the other writers in the workshop and thought her attempt rubbish, but by the end of the session and after the last exercise, Secret Treasure, she realised that she too could write good stuff.

The three exercises we set required the writers to write - no planning, no editing but to just get words down. What stood out most for us were the emotions and the visual images the writers conveyed: a child admiring her new shiny shoes, and her devastation of finding them spoiled after she had played heedlessly in the garden. The tender appreciation of an adult for her old teddy bear who has watched over her throughout the ups and downs of life; the delight of a child when allowed to play with the bright shiny jewels in her mother’s treasure box, the tragic desolation of a young woman who cannot cope with her depression.




Each of the writers brought something special to the workshop, not least our youngest writer. The observations of Smokey the cat, were brought vividly to life by her owner, 8 year old Summer who attended with her mother.


The exercises we carried out: Science Experiments (originally devsied by Mario Petrucci), Famous Monologues, and Secret Treasure.

We hope the writers enjoyed the workshop as much as we enjoyed running it and that it will encourage our 11 writers, aged between 8 and 80, to keep putting pen to paper. After all, there is a short story competition coming up very soon!

'Thank you Lindsay and Rosie for a great and productive afternoon - I am finally sitting down to write! Also, thank you for your patience and kindness to Summer. She said that she did not feel very confident when she first sat down, but after Lindsay said such positive things about her story, she felt "VERY CONFIDENT, MUM" and chatted about it all the way home.'

Monday 16 April 2012

Alex Wheatle MBE is joining the Greenacre Writers Mini Literary Festival

We are honoured to have award-winning author Alex Wheatle MBE joining the Greenacre Writers Mini Lit Festival Saturday May 26th 2-5.30pm.


Alex Wheatle is the author of several novels, some of them set in Brixton, where he grew up.

Born in London of Jamaican parents, his first book, Brixton Rock (1999), tells the story of a 16-year old boy of mixed race, in 1980s Brixton. Brixton Rock was adapted for the stage and performed at the Young Vic in 2010. Its sequel, Brenton Brown, was published in 2011.
His second novel, East of Acre Lane (2001), has a similar setting, and won a London Arts Board New Writers Award. A prequel, Island Songs, set in Jamaica, was published in 2005, and a sequel, Dirty South, in 2008.
Other novels include In The Seven Sisters (2002), in which the scene moves to Surrey in 1976, where four boys escape from an abusive life in a children's home; and Checkers (2003), written with Mark Parham, was published in 2003.

In 2010, he wrote the one-man autobiographical performance, Uprising.
Alex Wheatle lives in London. He was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008.

Sunday 25 March 2012

Exciting News - Greenacre Mini Lit Festival: 26th May 2012

Greenacre Writers are delighted to confirm the authors who will be appearing at the Greenacre Mini Lit Festival, 26th May 2-5.30pm, Trinity Church Centre, Finchley, N12 7NN.



We are pleased to have Paolo Hewitt who is a former NME journalist and author of over 20 books. He has written for Melody Maker and NME, as well as Vogue Germany, Fare Musica in Italy and The Sunday Times. Among other books, he is the author of The Jam: A Beat Concerto, The Small Faces: The Young Mod's Forgotten Story, Getting High: The Adventure of Oasis, and Alan McGee and the Story of Creation Records, as well as several works of fiction and his autobiography, The Looked After Kid. Paolo will read from various works and discuss the writing process.



Emily Benet's debut book Shop Girl Diaries began as a weekly blog about working in her mother’s unusual chandelier shop. Interest in the blog from Salt Publishing and Television Director, Chloe Thomas, led to the publication of the book in December 2009 and the shooting of the ‘Shop Girl Blog’ TV pilot (soon to be finished). Her blog was announced winner of the Completely Novel Author Blog Awards (published category) at the London Book Fair 2010. Her short stories ‘Camouflage’ and ‘Harry’ were selected for readings at Foyles while ‘Looking for Castles’ was the runner up of Word Market Short Story Competition 2008.



Andrew Bradford has written Live Eels and Grand Pianos, which is both a family memoir and a significant contribution to the social history of the twentieth century. It tells the story of the author's parents, Charlie and Kathy Bradford. Charlie and Kathy were seriously disabled by polio when they were young children. Charlie contracted the disease in 1909, when he was three, and Kathy in 1913, when she was ten months old. Live Eels and Grand Pianos tells the story of their extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.



Lane Ashfeldt's stories appear in various anthologies, from Portico’s rough and raucous ‘Punk Fiction’ to the rather more genteel ‘Dancing With Mr Darcy’. Prizes for her fiction include the Fish Short Histories Prize and a Jane Austen Short Story Award runner up prize. Her story, ‘Catching the Tap-Tap to Cayes de Jacmel’ (awarded a Global Short Stories Prize) is part of the Haiti fundraiser anthology ‘A Lime Jewel’.

Admission is free but by ticket only. E-mail greenacrewriters@gmail.com

'Trinity in May', is part of a small arts festival over 3 weekends in Trinity Church, involving music concerts, exhibition of paintings, a creative writing workshop 5th May (run by Greenacre Writers: Rosie Canning & Lindsay Bamfield) and other arts events.

Sponsored by Trinity Church with charity collection during 'Trinity in May' on behalf of the Stroke Group and Greenacre Writers will be raising funds for the Greenacre Bicycle Rally.

Saturday 24 March 2012

Creative Writing Workshop

Ways Into Writing...

Saturday 5th May 2012 2.00- 5.00pm

Trinity Church Centre, 15 Nether St, North Finchley, London N12 7NN

Greenacre Writers are holding a creative writing workshop open to all. Suitable for beginners, but many more experienced writers find these sessions valuable too.

Come along to try writing exercises to stimulate the creative juices and receive supportive feedback in an informal, friendly environment.

The workshop will be led by Rosie Canning and Lindsay Bamfield.

e-mail greenacrewriters@gmail.com for more information.


The workshop is part of Trinity in May. Entrance is free, but we request donations for the Greenacre Bicycle Rally on 10th June 2012.

Saturday 17 March 2012

Change of Venue for Get Yourself A Reputation - Workshop

Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
Saturday 24th March 2012 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Get Yourself A Reputation
NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE: Trinity Church Centre, Nether Street, North Finchley, London N12 7NN

View Larger Map

The workshop will introduce you to some ideas of how to raise your writing profile and get your writing published - suitable for beginners. This workshop is not how to get your book published. The workshop starts way before sending manuscripts to publishers and looks at ways to get a writing reputation.

* Writing exercises
* Ideas for flash fiction and websites
* Online writing forums
* Promoting your writing profile
* Self-publishing
* Talk/Feedback from a self-published author

The aim of the afternoon is to meet fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, and share your work to receive supportive feedback and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

There will be a small charge to include refreshments:
Members £5; Non-members £10
(Cheques payable to: Greenacre Writers - cancellation available up until 7 days before the event)

For further information or to reserve a place contact: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Extra information - for those driving to the workshop on Saturday, there is very limited parking at the venue and the surrounding streets are controlled parking zones. The nearest free parking is around Woodside Park Station within the CPZ that runs only from Monday to Friday. Beware of the nearby streets as these are controlled on a Saturday. Look at the signs! Allow extra time in case you are unable to park outside the venue.

Woodside Park Station is about 5-10 mins walk - it's actually a little nearer the venue than West Finchley Station - but if coming by tube make sure you exit through the main entrance as this way is quicker.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Congratulations to Rosie Canning

Rosie Canning has been selected as one of the volunteer judges for the Chris Evans Breakfast Show 500 WORDS competition.


Tuesday 6 March 2012

Message from Lemn Sissay

Lovely message from Lemn Sissay about the Greenacre Anthology: I'm reading it and I'm loving it. xL. Thank you.

There is only ONE Lemn Sissay in the world. Click here to find out more.

Lemn Sissay is a poet and playwright. He’s associate artist at at Europe’s largest arts complex, Southbank Centre. He’s the first poet commissioned to write for the 2012 Olympics. His poem “Spark Catchers” is etched into a Transformer on The Olympic Site. He is an honorary Doctor of Letters. He curated the world’s first Literature Festival of The Sea. His Landmark Poems are written in throughout Manchester and London. In London they adorn The Royal Festival Hall and The City. His Landmark Poem Gilt of Cain, commissioned by City of London is based near fenchurch st station and was unveiled by Bishop Desmond Tutu in 2006. In 2010 Lemn travelled to The Arctic with Jarvis Cocker, Laurie Anderson, Martha Wainwright, KT Tunstall, Lesley Feist. He is featured in Burning Ice, a film of the voyage.

Lemn is author of five books of poetry spanning twenty five years He reads on stages throughout the world. He is an honorary Doctor of Letters and was awarded the 2010 travelling award scholarship from the Society of Authors. His play Something Dark directed John McGrath (artistic director of National Theatre Wales) is winner of a RIMA award and has been performed throughout the world. BBC made a television documentary about his life – Internal Flight. In 2010 he was made a MBE by the queen of England for services to literature. Lemn is Patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation. He is education ambassador for Arvon Foundation and Trustee of World Book Night.


If you would like to order a copy it is £6.50 plus £1.49 p&p Send a cheque/postal order for £7.99 payable to Greenacre Writers, 25 Chislehurst Avenue, London N12 0HU.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Get Yourself a Reputation

Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
Saturday 24th March 2012 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Chislehurst Avenue, Finchley, London N12

Get Yourself A Reputation.

The workshop will introduce you to some ideas of how to raise your writing profile and get your writing published - suitable for beginners. This workshop is not how to get your book published. The workshop starts way before sending manuscripts to publishers and looks at ways to get a writing reputation.

* Writing exercises
* Ideas for flash fiction and websites
* Online writing forums
* Promoting your writing profile
* Self-publishing
* Talk/Feedback from a self-published author

The aim of the afternoon is to meet fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, and share your work to receive supportive feedback and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

There will be a small charge to include refreshments:
Members £5; Non-members £10
(Cheques payable to: Greenacre Writers - cancellation available up until 7 days before the event)

For further information or to reserve a place contact: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Monday 13 February 2012

Greenacre Mini Lit Fest

We are running two events as part of 'Trinity in May' Arts Festival in North Finchley.

Saturday 5th May - Ways into Creative Writing - workshop suitable for beginners

We are holding a Greenacre Mini Lit Festival on the afternoon of Saturday May 26th as part of the 'Trinity in May' Arts Festival in North Finchley. We envisiage including an 'open mike' session with local writers reading their flash fiction or passages from longer work and poems, and one or two authors to speak about their current books, with some readings, for around a 20 minute slot.

Please let us know if you are interested in attending.

Saturday 28 January 2012

Greenacre Writers Workshop - Get Yourself A Reputation - 24th March 2-5pm

Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
Saturday 24th March 2012 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Chislehurst Avenue, Finchley, London N12

Get Yourself A Reputation.

The workshop will introduce you to some ideas of how to raise your writing profile and get your writing published - suitable for beginners. This workshop is not how to get your book published. The workshop starts way before sending manuscripts to publishers and looks at ways to get a writing reputation.

* Writing exercises
* Ideas for flash fiction and websites
* Online writing forums
* Promoting your writing profile
* Self-publishing
* Talk/Feedback from a self-published author

The aim of the afternoon is to meet fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, and share your work to receive supportive feedback and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

There will be a small charge to include refreshments:
Members £5; Non-members £10
(Cheques payable to: Greenacre Writers - cancellation available up until 7 days before the event)

For further information or to reserve a place contact: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Sunday 22 January 2012

Eliza Jane Goes - Fusion


Enjoy the video promoting Eliza Jane Goes' first novel, Fusion



There's only one way to find out more....buy it and read it!