We are delighted to announce our summer / autumn programme of events for writers, running from August – November.
For our latest programme we are continuing to keep our programme accessible to writers by offering free and low-cost opportunities alongside bursary places as part of our create-write-connect campaign. If you are in a position to make a donation to our campaign to support writers, Spread the Word and the invaluable work of the Trussell Trust, you can do so here: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/spreadthewordxtrusselltrust.
Come and be part of an online writing community with our free Write Together workshops led by Kajal Odedra for writers of all levels. These workshops will explore different aspects of writing and activism.
Our free Developing Tutors workshop programme is back with Arun Das, Han Smith and Ruth Goldsmith, running workshops on developing your writing craft and practice. Please only book onto ONE of these events as these are limited capacity.
Our low cost activities includes the following masterclasses: ‘Bodied – a Poetry Masterclass with Keith Jarrett‘ and ‘Editing Fiction with Ana Fletcher.’ Each masterclass offers five free bursary places for writers by application. The bursary information is on the individual event pages and applications for bursaries close on 6 August 2021.
Our writing course this season is ‘Writing the Self: (Auto)Fiction, Memoir and In-Between with Jarred McGinnis, which has concessionary prices and five bursary places for writers.
Writers will also have the opportunity to book onto our series of 1-2-1 sessions led by our Writer Development Manager, Eva Lewin, which includes two Fiction Surgeries (31 August, 20 September), and one Getting to Where You Want to Be coaching session (13 September).
Saima Mir is leading our free course-by-email this season, How to Write Quality Crime Fiction with Characters That Leave a Lasting Impression with Saima Mir. The course will be delivered in five emails straight to your inbox between 7 October – 4 November. Read more and sign up here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/introduction-to-crime-fiction-with-saima-mir/
We are also offering a series of in-person and online nature writing workshops for London writers underrepresented in the publishing industry as part of This Is Our Place, our nature writing project in partnership with London Wildlife Trust.
Our full programme is listed below. Please go to each event page for more details on pricing and the bursary places available. Please note that all workshops will take place on Zoom, and the online course will be delivered via Slack.
We welcome all writers onto our workshops. If you have access requirements and would like to attend, please email [email protected], to discuss how we can support your needs.
We know that the booking system on our website is not fully accessible to Blind writers. and we are in the process of developing a new website which will be fully accessible. In the meantime, we recommend that Blind writers sign up to our Access List to receive priority booking of our seasonal programmes: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/access-policy/. If you would like to book on to one of our workshops, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll make sure your booking is put through.
Summer / autumn programme
Fiction Surgery with Eva Lewin
An opportunity for fiction writers to have a bespoke one-to-one session with Spread the Word’s Writer Development Manager, Eva Lewin.
Tuesday 31 August, 4-5pm
Monday 20 September, 4-5pm
£55 (standard), £49.50 (London Writers Network member), £44 (concessions)
Book here:
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/fiction-surgery-with-eva-lewin-31-august/
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/fiction-surgery-with-eva-lewin-20-september/
Getting You To Where You Want To Be with Eva Lewin
A compact coaching programme led by Spread the Word’s Writer Development Manager, Eva Lewin. You’ll have two 60-minute coaching sessions to explore and map out your route and key steps to achieving your goals
Monday 13 September, 4-5pm
£75 (standard), £67.50 (London Writers Network member), £60 (concessions)
Book here:
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/fiction-surgery-with-eva-lewin-20-september/
Plotting for Every Kind of Writer with Arun Das
In this workshop you will explore how other authors have navigated difficult subjects in children’s writing, and through writing exercises, explore how you can apply this to your own work.
Tuesday 24 August, 6:30-8:30pm
FREE (Developing Tutor series – please only book onto ONE event on our Developing Tutor series)
Book here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/plotting-for-every-kind-of-fiction-writer-with-arun-das/
Write Together with Kajal Odedra
An opportunity for writers of all levels to be part of an online writing community, engaging in fortnightly sessions themed around writing and activism. If you’d like to attend all the sessions, you need to book onto all the sessions individually.
Wednesday 29 September 6.30 – 8.00pm – The power of your story: finding your cause and your voice.
Wednesday 13 October 6.30 – 8.00pm – Language and power: words as tools for oppression and empowerment.
Wednesday 27 October 6.30 – 8.00pm – Flash activism: the art of being concise.
Wednesday 10 November 6.30 – 8.00pm – Journalism to change the world: long form non–fiction and its impact.
Wednesday 24 November 6.30 – 8.00pm – Writing as protest: strategic and restorative practices.
FREE
Book here:
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/write-together-with-kajal-odedra-session-one-the-power-of-your-story-finding-your-cause-and-your-voice/
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/write-together-with-kajal-odedra-session-two-language-and-power-words-as-tools-for-oppression-and-empowerment/
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/write-together-with-kajal-odedra-session-three-flash-activism-the-art-of-being-concise/
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/write-together-with-kajal-odedra-session-four-journalism-to-change-the-world-long-form-non-fiction-and-its-impact/
www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/write-together-with-kajal-odedra-session-five-writing-as-protest-strategic-and-restorative-practices/
Writing the Self: (Auto)Fiction, Memoir and In-Between with Jarred McGinnis
With intimacy comes risk, what is true in life is true in writing. This six-week writing course, run on Slack, with Jarred McGinnis will focus on the different ways you can tell your story.
Thursday 16 September – Wednesday 27 October
£99 (standard), £89 (London Writers Network members), £79 (concessions), 5 bursary places available.
Book here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/writing-the-self-autofiction-memoir-and-in-between-with-jarred-mcginnis/
Inside and Outside; Surface and Depth with Han Smith
What lies beneath the surface? What’s beyond the mirror glaze? What’s happening just underneath the skin? How deep are we willing to go?
Tuesday 21 September, 6:30-8:30pm
FREE (Developing Tutor series – please only book onto ONE event on our Developing Tutor series)
Book here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/inside-and-outside-surface-and-depth-with-han-smith/
London Writers Network: How to get into zines
Ever wanted to start your own Zine? Or improve your chances of getting published in one? Join us for an evening of discussion with three zine fouders Sam Le Butt (chief editor and director of The Selkie), Sean Preston (founding editor of Open Pen), and Amy Mae Baxter (editor-in-chief and founder of Bad Form).
Thursday 23 September, 7pm – 8.30pm
£6 (standard), FREE – London Writers Network members, £4.80 (concessions).
Book here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/london-writers-network-how-to-get-into-zines/
Bodied – a poetry masterclass with Keith Jarrett
On this head-to-toe journey through the body, we’ll be looking at different ways to explore intimacy and physicality without leaning on tired cliches. From the sensual to the surreal, we’ll experiment with ways to include the body in our work, before focusing on how to present it.
Saturday 9 October 10am – 1pm
£22 (standard), £20 (London Writers Network member), £18 (concessions), 5 bursary places available.
Book here: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/bodied-a-poetry-masterclass-with-keith-jarrett/
Editing Fiction with Ana Fletcher
Learn the tips and tricks of a senior book editor and apply their techniques to your own work in progress.
Saturday 6 November, 10am – 1pm
£22 (standard), £20 (London Writers Network member), £18 (concessions), 5 bursary places available.
Book here: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/editing-fiction-with-ana-fletcher/
Reading Pictures: Bringing the Visual Arts Into Your Writing Practice with Ruth Goldsmith
Explore how the visual arts offer writers a toolbox to unstick the stuck, spark the imagination, explore unfamiliar narratives and enhance creativity, through looking, reading, discussing and writing together.
Tuesday 16 November, 6:30-8:30pm
FREE (Developing Tutor series – please only book onto ONE event on our Developing Tutor series)
Book here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/reading-pictures-bringing-the-visual-arts-into-your-writing-practice-with-ruth-goldsmith/
Members of the London Writers Network scheme get 10% off our paid courses and a free space at our next London Writers Network event.
Published 12 July 2021