Tag Archives: Word Factory

Word Factory #26 & Workshop – 27th September, London

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wordfactory-logo-300x88Welcome back to an autumn of intimate salons and inspiring workshops. After our summer holiday, Word Factory is back on the 27th September at Waterstones Piccadilly:

What did they say? – Workshop with Jonathan Taylor – 1.30-4.30pm

An exclusive workshop with Jonathan Taylor on how to make the maximum impact reading your work aloud.

Live readings and literature events are hugely popular and writers need to know how to read out loud and make the maximum impact with their work. It’s vital to understand exactly what’s involved in creating a good group experience while allowing space for listeners to have their own personal response.

In this lively workshop led by an acclaimed teacher and writer, you will explore the characteristics that make a story readable and the keys to good performance. Group and pair work will allow you to maximise your own performance and share with others. The workshop will suit you whether you are already published and wanting to improve your performance and writing skills or have experience as a writer but are not yet published.

Cost: £60 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included. Buy your tickets here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: Lucy Wood – Lights in Other People’s Houses

In September we will be exploring the work of the young British writer, Lucy Wood. Diving Belles, her debut collection, was recorded as a series for BBC radio. All the stories are inspired by Cornish folklore, and in ‘Lights in Other People’s Houses’ the ghost of a wrecker appears in Maddy’s house amidst the moving boxes she is refusing to unpack. Gradually the house fills with sand, and shells, and an atmosphere is created that is both dreamlike and unsettling.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #23 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

We begin our autumn season with three very different but brilliant short story writers: Alexei Sayle, Mahesh Rao, and Jonathan Taylor. They will entertain with their stories and join Cathy Galvin in conversation about their writing lives. We will also announce the winners of our 2014 Word Factory Apprentice scheme. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15 Buy your tickets here – Bring a friend for free on all salon tickets.

Word Factory #25 & Masterclass – 26th July, London

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A warm welcome awaits you at Word Factory on the 26th July, a day packed with literary wonder at Waterstones Piccadilly:

Social Media for Writers – Masterclass with Paul McVeigh – 1.30-4.30pm

Social media has transformed the way writers communicate with the industry and has become an essential tool for gaining readers and even getting published . As more and more voices battle for attention on-line, how do we make sure that we stand out from the crowd? Paul McVeigh, writer and Word Factory’s social media guru, will explore how to improve your social media profile, plan more effective strategies and better connect with our audience. Paul will review blogging, translating followers to book buyers and how to best utilise Facebook and Twitter. He will advise on writing an author profile and the etiquette of on-line conversations.

This class is for you if you are looking to improve your social media profile, enhance the effectiveness of your current activity, grow your online audience or are new to social media and looking to get started.

Cost: £40 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included.
Buy your tickets here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: George Saunders – In The End of Firpo in the World

In July, we’re reading a short story by the award-winning George Saunders, a “savage satirist” who critics have praised for his “demented black comic view of modern American culture”. In The End of Firpo in the World, selected from Saunders’ 2001 collection Pastoralia, an overweight, bullied boy rides round his neighbourhood on his bicycle, reflecting on his unpopularity. This story has been described as the perfect example of the short story as a form, and is full of irony and pathos.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #23 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

Bring a friend for free and enjoy a memorable summer salon in the heart of Soho with the Word Factory team in association with Fiction Uncovered and three brilliant Jerwood Fiction Uncovered 2014 winners – Evie Wyld, Cynan Jones and Naomi Wood. They will be joined by our own Paul McVeigh, after her has shared his knowledge on how writers can make the most impact on social media in this month’s Saturday masterclass. All will join Cathy Galvin in conversation about their writing lives. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15
Buy your tickets here – Bring a friend for free on all salon tickets.

Word Factory #24 – 28th June, London

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A warm welcome awaits you at Word Factory on the 28th June, a day packed with literary wonder at Waterstones Piccadilly:

The Secret of Character– Masterclass with Vanessa Gebbie– 1.30-4.30pm

The Secret of Character: how to create compelling characters and be brave enough to let them take on a life of their own. In this workshop, prize-winning author Vanessa Gebbie will share her techniques for creating compelling characters, which are internally consistent, but capable of surprise. She will challenge you to write beyond your comfort zone and explore with you your own blocks and limiting beliefs.

This workshop is for you if you have experience as a writer and want to improve your skills, learn from those around you and improve your chances of getting published.

Cost: £60 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included.
Maximum 16 writers.
Buy your tickets here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: Zadie Smith – Moonlit Landscape with Bridge

For June, we’re turning our attention to the acclaimed British writer Zadie Smith, who has been making an impact on the literary world since the age of 25, when her first novel, White Teeth, won the Whitbread and Guardian prizes for a first novel. This short story, Moonlit Landscape with Bridge, which first appeared in The New Yorker in February this year, is about the nature of disaster, and how people respond when everything seems lost.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #23 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

Enjoy a warm welcome at our June salon in the company of three inspirational authors: Val McDermid, entertaining with story and song, with readings from poet, novelist and storyteller Vanessa Gebbie (she’s also taking this month’s Saturday Masterclass) and rising star Carys Bray. All will join Cathy Galvin in conversation about their writing lives. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15
Buy your tickets here.

Word Factory #23 & Masterclass – 24th May, London

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A warm welcome awaits you at Word Factory on the 24th May, a day packed with literary wonder at Waterstones Piccadilly:

Truth is Stranger than Fiction– Masterclass with Sir Peter Stothard– 1.30-4.30pm

In this two and half hour exclusive masterclass focussing on life-writing, TLS editor Sir Peter Stothard will discuss the key elements of creative memoir and its versatility, reading from his own work and from others who inspired him. He will explore the craft of editing and what you should know about editing your work. And he will lead a general workshop discussion on how to open up your life-writing. Participants may send in examples of their own life-writing in advance to cathy@thewordfactory.tv be used as part of a general discussion.

Cost: £60 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included.
Buy your tickets here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: Hassan Blasim – The Iraqi Christ

This month, we are reading a short story from the Iraqi writer Hassan Blasim’s collection, The Iraqi Christ, about a soldier with supernatural abilities. Blasim became the first Arabic writer to be shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize earlier this year and continues to impress and shock with his surreal tales of war and terror. We will discuss themes, language and impact in the hour before the salon.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #23 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

Our May salon takes place in the company of in the company of four exceptional authors: Clive Sinclair will read from his latest collection, Death and Texas and William Palmer from his recently reissued collection, Four Last Things. With Sir Peter Stothard and Sheila Llewellyn, they will join Cathy Galvin in conversation about their writing lives. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15
Buy your tickets here.

April Round-Up II

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Dear short story fans,
Another month almost over! Here’s our roundup of what’s been happening on ShortStops’ blog over the past fortnight:

Lit Mags and Competitions
We welcome two new lit mags to our list: Don’t Do It, “taking in fiction, poetry, critical writing and reviews from around the globe”, and HeadStuff “a collaborative website interested in a wide range of topics”. HeadStuff introduced themselves on the blog and would love you to submit something.

Talking of new and exciting: Writing Maps has launched a new monthly contest and lit mag and Writeidea announced a new national short story contest, The Writeidea Prize, deadline 31 July. More contests: the 3rd annual A Spot of Hysteria Writing Competition run by the UK Hysterectomy Association is now open for entries (deadline Aug 31), and the Historic House Short Story Comp (26 Sep) wants stories inspired by or set in a historic house. Jotters United announced Issue 2 and a new short story comp (deadline 31 May) on the theme of ‘Spirit’. (You can find all competition announcements by clicking the Competitions link in our top menu.)

Long Story, Short is calling for submissions of longer stories and the editor tells us what she’s looking for. The Cro Magnon wants your writing too, for their website and perhaps for their travelling show, and the Manchester Review is open to submissions for Issue 12 until mid May. Check out Confingo’s first issue, now on sale, and Structo’s brand new website.

Holdfast magazine is still open for submissions for their first print anthology, deadline June 15th, with submissions open til May 31st for their online issue #3. Myths of the Near Future is calling for submissions from under-25s for the Money issue, and The Moth International Short Story Prize closes June 30th.

Live Lit & Short Story Events
Fictions of Every Kind has produced its first podcast with stories and music. Story Fridays wants your stories on the theme ‘In Focus’ by 12 May for their May event. You missed Flashtag Manchester’s Short Short Story Slam and the Word Factory’s April event, make sure to keep an eye out for the next ones.


Workshops
Arvon’s Totleigh Barton centre assistant Eliza Squire talks about Arvon and short stories – there’s still space on upcoming residential short story courses. 

Last Minutes & Gentle Reminders
Wednesday is the deadline for to submit your entry to the Bristol Short Story Prize and to send a short story on the theme of Islands and Cities to a new Tasmanian-London anthology.

Happy reading, writing, listening and performing!

Word Factory #22 & Masterclass – 26th April, London

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A warm welcome awaits you at Word Factory on the 26th April, a day packed with short story wonder at Waterstones Piccadilly:

In the Beginning – Masterclass with Nicholas Royle – 1.30-4.30pm

A rare chance to work with this renowned short story writer and editor in an intensive three-hour masterclass. He will talk about how he chooses the Best British short stories and also focus on beginnings: how to ensure your reader is gripped from the very first paragraph and your own inspiration is stimulated and kept on track. You will leave with new beginnings of your own – in your work and thinking.

Cost: £60 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included.
Buy your tickets here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: Steven Millhauser -In the Reign of King Harad IV

Join us as we read a classic short tale – this month from a novelist and short story writer whose work inspired the film, The Illusionist and whose distinctive, fantastical voice has been compared to Borges. We will discuss themes, language and impact in the hour before the salon.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #22 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

Our April salon takes place in the company of three outstanding authors: performer and writer AL Kennedy – reading from her latest collection and in conversation about her writing life with Cathy Galvin. Nicholas Royle and KJ Orr will join us, reading from new work. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15
Buy your tickets here.

March Fortnightly Roundup II

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Hello story lovers,
Here’s our roundup of what’s been happening on ShortStops over the past fortnight:

Lit Mags and Competitions
Mslexia’s short story competition closes today, March 17th, get your entries in quick! We welcome new lit mag Jotters United to our list. You can now enter Brittle Star’s short story and poetry competitions online, deadline March 21st. Read an extract from a story from Neon’s Winter issue and check out their call for proposal for chapbooks and pamphlets. The Brighton Prize, a short story prize with a live lit twist, is accepting entries until April 1st.

Holdfast magazine’s second issue is published and submissions are open for Issue #3 on the theme of Objects, Artefacts and Talismans, and the Moth International Short Story Prize is open until June 30th.

Live Lit & Short Story Events
Today is the deadline for submissions to Telltales on the theme of ‘Unhinged’ to be read at their next event in Falmouth on March 25th. Stand-up Tragedy’s Tragic Heroes is at the Hackney Attic in London on March 21st.

At In Praise Of Short Stories at the Daunt Books Festival on March 27th in London, KJ Orr will be talking to AL Kennedy, David Constantine and Helen Simpson. Book tickets for the next Word Factory event, also in London, on March 29th: a masterclass, short story club, then live lit event with AS Byatt, Joe Dunthorne and Will Cohu.

Last Minutes & Gentle Reminders
Short Fiction’s 2014 short story prize is still open for entries, deadline March 31st

Anthologies
Submit a short story on the theme of Islands and Cities to a new Tasmanian-London anthology by April 30th.

Happy reading, writing, listening and performing!

March Round-Up (I)

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Hello story lovers,
Welcome to spring! Here’s our roundup of what’s been happening in the short story world over the past few weeks:

Lit Mags, Competitions and Workshops
Stinging Fly’s new editor, Thomas Morris, tells us what he’s looking for in his submissions pile: A Tingling Pleasure. Holdfast magazine’s second issue is published and they are calling for submissions for Issue #3 on the theme of Objects, Artefacts and Talismans. Check out the new issue of Flash magazine, issue 6.2. Short Fiction’s 2014 short story prize is still open for entries, deadline March 31st, and you have until June 30th to submit to the Moth International Short Story Prize.

Live Lit & Short Story Events
The next Hubbub is on March 10th in London and features Zoe Pilger and Liane Strauss. Telltales wants your submissions by March 17th on the theme of ‘Unhinged’ to be read at their next event in Falmouth on March 25th. Stand-up Tragedy’s Tragic Heroes is at the Hackney Attic in London on March 21st.

At In Praise Of Short Stories at the Daunt Books Festival on March 27th in London, KJ Orr will be talking to AL Kennedy, David Constantine and Helen Simpson. And the next Word Factory event, also in London, on March 29th, is a trifecta of short story delights: a masterclass, short story club, then live lit event with AS Byatt, Joe Dunthorne and Will Cohu.

Last Minutes & Gentle Reminders
The Edge Hill Prize for published short story collections is still accepting entries, until the first week of March. Bare Fiction is looking for contributors to its Features and Reviews section.  Brittle Star magazine is holding an Open Writing Competition, judged by the excellent David Constantine, deadline March 12th, and The Siren journal is calling for submissions for its first short story anthology, deadline March 15th.

Writing, Publishing & Workshops
The Writers’ Centre Norwich is holding a short story workshop on March 15th & 16th.The creators of On The Same Page have launched a crowdfunding campaign to finish development of the app which will allow you to publish your own creative work as an app.

Happy reading, writing, listening and performing!
Tania x

Word Factory #21 & Masterclass – 29th March, London

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Word Factory continues an exciting new year! The 29th March is packed with short story wonder at Waterstones Piccadilly:

Instinct and Experiment – Masterclass with Joe Dunthorne – 2-5pm

Award-winning novelist and poet Joe Dunthorne will get you writing throughout this intensive 3 hour masterclass. You will leave with techniques that will help you break habits and introduce strangeness and surprise into your work. Maximum 20 writers.

Cost: £60 per person with free entrance to the evening reading included.
Buy your ticket here.

Short Story Club – 5-6pm

This month: Flannery O’Connor – A Good Man Is Hard To Find

Join us as we read a classic short tale – this month from an author who has inspired generations of writers and discuss themes, language and impact in the hour before the salon.

Simply email Sophie Haydock for more details and a copy of the story: sophie@thewordfactory.tv

The Word Factory #21 – the intimate short story salon – 6-8pm

An exclusive evening of brilliant stories and conversation in the company of one of Britain’s leading international authors, AS Byatt, and two rising stars: Will Cohu and Joe Dunthorne. Book early to secure your place and a free glass of wine at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly.

Online tickets – £12 | Concessions – £8 | On the door – £15
Buy your tickets here.

Word Factory #20 – 22nd February, London

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Word Factory continues an exciting new year! Don’t miss an unforgettable evening of readings and conversation in the company of Toby Litt, our Word Factory mentor Alex Preston and his apprentice Holly Dawson, at Waterstones’ flagship store in Piccadilly, London, Europe’s largest bookstore – brilliant fiction and a free glass of wine.

Click here for all the event information and to book your tickets. 

January Round-Up

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Hello short story fans!
There has been so much activity at ShortStops since our last round-up that I’m still trying to catch my breath! First, congrats to Tracy Fells, the winner of a copy of the new Short Fiction journal – read Catherine McNamara’s interview with Short Fiction co -editor Tom Vowler. More interviews and giveaways of lit mags coming soon.

Here’s a round-up of the rest:

Workshops
Want to work on your own short stories? Check out the Writers’ Centre Norwich’s upcoming short story workshops.

Live 
We welcome bi-monthly Falmouth live lit night, Telltales, to our list – their first 2014 event is on Jan 28th. White Rabbit is taking Bernadette Russell’s multimedia story show, 366 Days of Kindness, on tour around the UK from Jan 10th – find out if it’s coming to a theatre near you. Seven of Gill Blow’s short stories have been adapted for the theatre  –  Take 7 will be performed in Sheffield on Jan 24th and 25th. Word Factory #19, featuring David Almond, Stella Duffy and Rebecca Swirsky, is on Jan 25th in London. And Bad Language is back for their first event of the year, on Jan 29th in Manchester.

Lit Mags
New additions to our pages include “surreal/irreal/gritty/realist” print mag Fur-lined Ghettoes, Octavius, a literary magazine for students in Scotland which is calling for submissions for Issue 3, and fortnightly online journal The Siren,

Tube-flash is back – The Casket of Fictional Delights has new flash stories inspired by the London Underground – and wants yours, too. The January edition of Long Story, Short is ‘Nutella’, by Katie M. Anderson, read an excerpt. Open Pen Issue 10 is now in the shops, get a sneak peak and a hint of upcoming events. Smoke, the London Peculiar, is calling for submissions for their London water-themed short story anthology, Smoke on the Water. And Neon Magazine wants your tiny fictions for a new project, Battery Pack.

Last Minutes & Gentle Reminders
Today, Jan 20th, is the last day to submit to Holdfast for Issue #2, ‘Animals, Beasts and Creatures’, so get your stories in. If you are an Irish citizen or resident, send your stories to the Davy Byrnes short story competition by Feb 3rd. The National Flash Fiction Youth competition is open for entries til Feb 21st. Number Eleven mag welcomes submissions for Issue 4, and Riptide Journal is open for submissions for Volume 10, on the theme of ‘Imaging the Suburbs’ (deadline March 1 2014).

Phew. I told you there was a lot going on. Enjoy! To get this by email every two weeks, glance slightly to your right and click on the link that says Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter.
Tania x

Word Factory #19 – 25th January

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Word Factory returns for our first salon of what is shaping up to be an exciting new year! Starting as we mean to go on this salon will feature readings from the magical, mythical David Almond, reading from his work and talking to Cathy Galvin, as well as readings from our apprentice Rebecca Swirksy and her irrepressible mentor Stella Duffy.

We are thrilled to be holding this event at Waterstone’s flagship store in Picadilly, Europe’s largest bookstore. Join us for an unmissable event with brilliant fiction and a free glass of wine.

Click here for all the event information and to book your tickets.