Tag Archives: courses

Write a Book in June. It’s doable!

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30 days

30 Days of Writing is a practical online course for writers who’d enjoy the challenge of putting together a book in a month.

The course is especially suited to anyone who’d like to take on a short story project not necessarily linked to a book project you’re working on. It’s an opportunity to create that passion project you’ve been mulling over for years, and to explore different concepts of what consitutes a book.

The course is run by the writer Shaun Levin, who is also the editor of The A3 Press, a new chapbook press, and the creator of Writing Maps.

The online course is devised so that you can start a project from scratch and complete a first draft by the end of June. The course is a month-long commitment, and will benefit anyone who’d like the inspiration and support to write daily for 30 days alongside other writers from around the world.

To find out more about the course, please click here.

Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, hybrid writing, creating comics or illustrations, we’ll look at how to create a layered and dynamic work. Some of the elements we’ll focus on will include: movement in time and place, conflict and tension, chronology and tone, as well as ways to enhance your text through research and the inspiration of genre companions.

The primary focus throughout the course will be your daily practice of writing and the creation of your book.

Dates: 1 June – 1 July 2019

Fee: £260 (£200 early-bird rate before 30 April)

limited to 15 participants

About the tutor: Shaun Levin is the author of Snapshots of The Boy, A Year of Two Summers and Seven Sweet Things, amongst other books. He has been teaching creative writing for over twenty years and has worked closely with writers at all stages of their journey towards publication.

 

Agatha Christie in the Bath and Two Online Courses

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The A3 Review hosts a monthly writing contest, and this month’s theme is Naked and Nude. We read here that Agatha Christie wrote in the bath while eating apples. We googled for images, but there weren’t any, so we’re wondering: Who’ll write the story of the bathing novelist who said she specialised in “murders of quiet, domestic interest”? We like a good title, so how about: “Agatha Christie in the Bath”? Click here for more naked inspiration.

Deadline is 23rd September. 150 words max, or if you’re sending us artwork, it should fit nicely into an A6-sized panel. Click here to see all the new themes for Issue 8, The Gold Issue.

In the meantime, Issue 7 is almost here. The Silver Issue. We have 12 contributors, plus a story from flash fiction writer extraordinaire, Kathy Fish. There’s a maritime theme running through the new issue. Flowing through it! Whales and shrimp, to be precise. As well as stories and poems about a nun who steals a cross, a boy scout who’s unprepared, a teacher who learns, and some people who revel in their own dirt! From the depths of the ocean to the moon and space, with some complicated earthly relationships in between. If you haven’t pre-ordered already, you can do that by clicking here.

Some details about the two online courses… New dates are up for The A3 Review editor, Shaun Levin’s How to Map Your Book online course. The current one filled up pretty quickly, so you might want to grab a place for the course starting in November. If you’re eager to join a course now, there are still a few places on the Write Around Town online course that starts next week. Both courses are practical and focused on your own writing. It’s a great chance to get detailed feedback on your work, too. Check out both courses by clicking here.

Any questions about the courses or The A3 Review, please contact maps [at] writingmaps [dot] com

Silver, Gold, and Some Hard Cash

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gold thingsWe’ve got a silver-themed contest with a looming deadline; six new themes for Issue 8: The Gold Issue; and an increase in our cash prizes.

There’s still one last chance to be part of The A3 Review‘s Issue 7, The Silver Issue. This month’s theme is SILVER THINGS, so make sure to get your sparkly work in by Saturday the 26th August. Click here for glittery inspiration and to submit. The issue will also include a story by guest flash-fiction writer Kathy Fish alongside the winners of the last 5 months of contests, and this month’s winners, too.

In other news… The A3 Review‘s founding editor, Shaun Levin, is launching a new online writing course, How to Map Your Book. The course is suitable for writers at all stages of a book project, so if you’re putting together a collection of short stories, you might want to check out the details here.  There’s an early-bird rate for bookings up until the 20th August.

Do please spread the word about our new themes for Issue 8: The Gold Issue. Naked and Nude, Windows, and Betrayal are just some of the dramatic themes coming up! And, because our submission numbers are up, we’re able to increase the prize money from this issue. Click here for inspiration and more details.

Live, laugh and learn with fellow writers at this year’s Swanwick Writers’ Summer School

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Eight years ago, having finally taken steps to fulfil my ambition of writing (creatively – rather than for articles about tax!) by joining my local writers’ group, I was persuaded to attend The Writers’ Summer School. What an amazing experience! To be surrounded by fellow writers and immerse myself in writing and learning about writing – from putting words on paper to publishing the finished work – was  life-changing. I’ve been back every year since – and have seen my own short stories published and achieve success in competitions. I’m so impressed by Swanwick and what it does for writers that I’ve also volunteered for the committee which organises the school (a charitable, not commercial, organisation)!

Now in its 67th year, Swanwick (as we call it for short) is a week-long programme for writers of all ages, abilities and genres featuring courses, workshops, panels and one-to-one sessions. This year’s school will be held between 8 and 14 August 2015, as always in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside at The Hayes Conference Centre at Swanwick. All courses, lectures, talks, workshops, entertainment  and full board accommodation are included from just £440 plus day and part-time attendance is available (credit card booking is available). This year’s inspirational guest speakers include Simon Brett, winner of the 2014 Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger, and Della Galton, novelist, short-story expert and writers’ agony aunt.

Short story courses for 2015 include A Twist In The Tale by Linda Lewis and Writing For Magazines by Della Galton but there are plenty of courses for other aspects of writing too (novel writing, poetry, writing for children, scriptwriting etc).

For programme information and a booking form visit the website at  www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk. Booking forms can also be obtained by emailing ‘secretary@swanwickwritersschool.org.uk’ or calling 07765 890 733.

I hope to see you there!

Cathy Grimmer