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
Sunday, 27 May 2012
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.'
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.
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.
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 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.
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
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