North West Literary Arts May News

In this month’s newsletter, we’re talking about last month’s Stories at the Storey, upcoming events (you’re all invited), and breaking through writers’ block. Here is this month’s newsletter: North West Literary Arts Newsletter May 2018

Dates to remember:

May 29th: we are hosting an evening with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and Naomi Kruger. If you’d like to join us at our free literary salon in London, please order a free ticket via Eventbrite.

May 31: Funding Your Creativity, the Arts Council will be joining us to discuss funding your creative practice/project. The panel will include discussion of grants as well as ticketing, crowd funding, and collaborations. We have creatives joining us from a number of practices and disciplines. If you’re near Lancaster, order your free ticket via Eventbrite and contact us to make a one-to-one appointment with the Arts Councils Alison Boyle. During the one-to-one you’ll be able to talk about projects, applications, etc…

Thanks and Happy May!

April’s Stories at the Storey: True or False in Pictures

This month saw the routine of the popular true or false night. Writers shared pieces through poetry and stories; through fiction, creative nonfiction, and blends of both.

As always, we were touched by the pieces shared and the trust placed in us. We welcomed new writers to the stage as well as a piece shared anonymously, as well as many of our regular readers. We welcome writers, readers, storytellers, friends, visitors, anyone with a story to share at any writing and/or performing level.

It was a warm environment and another great night of true and false stories. Hope to see you there next month when we return to true stories. We’ll be announcing the theme over the next few days. If you’d like to share your story, let us know. Need help developing it? Let us know that too. We are always happy to help.

Mari Taha shared the following pictures with us.

Stories at the Storey Call for True Stories: Firsts

Kisses, jobs, loves, speeding tickets; they say you never forget your first.This month’s Stories at The Storey theme is “firsts” (loosely interpreted). Want to share your true story loosely exploring the theme “firsts”? Email, message, tweet us to sign up for your 5-minute slot. Not sure you’re ready to read your true story? Well, they say “there’s a first time for everything”.

Get in touch, we can help you get your story ready.
When: Thursday, March 29. 7-8 PM
Where: Printroom Café & Bar, Lancaster

Want to share your 3-5 minute (2-4 pages A4) true story?
Email: storiesatthestorey@gmail.com to sign up for an open-mic slot.

Sponsored by Graduate College, Stories at the Storey is a pay what you decide event. Order free tickets via Eventbrite.

Call for Collaborations, Upcoming Events and More: North West Literary Arts March News

What’s new at North West Literary Arts?

In this edition we have a call for collaborators: We’re interested in hearing from creatives, organizations, institutions, companies, agencies and sites to explore ways we can work together and build communities through story.

We have also included information about upcoming events including Stories at the Storey and readings.

Here is North West Literary Arts March edition

Thank you for reading.

Creating with North West Literary Arts

Naomi Kruger and Yvonne Battle-Felton are writers, educators, workshop leaders, trainers, mentors and creative producers. Between the two of us, we have taught in Higher Education, delivered community workshops, developed a radio show, developed a performance platform, interviewed professionals, created events, managed funding, chaired and presented events, managed events, edited, and more.

How can we help you develop your next literature, community, and/or writing project?

North West Literary Arts offers a range of services. Some of our services are:
1. Writing
2. Editorial services: short stories, novel, character development, conflict, narrative
3. Mentoring: balancing writing life
4. Networking
5. Hosting writing workshops
6. Motivation: writing boot camp: 25 includes writing motivation, time, workshop?
7. Teaching: poetry, prose, script writing
8. Arts management: event planning
9. Social media
10. Presenting
11. Interviewing and Chairing
12. Research
13. Event Organization

We are also interested in collaborations and interdisciplinary research.

Good with Money and with Words? Board Member Opening (Volunteer Opportunity)

North West Literary Arts c.i.c. is looking for a dynamic board member to join us. If you (or someone you know) have experience in writing and managing art funding applications; accounting skills; and experience working with literary events, projects, and/or organizations, we’d love to chat about ways to grow our organization.

About Us: The Directors, Naomi Kruger and Yvonne Battle-Felton, are published writers, educators, and creative producers who are passionate about empowering emerging writers, providing platforms, and creating engaging literature-based events. Our past and current projects include performed workshops, literary salons, and a monthly true-story open mic night. We aim to increase diversity in publishing and most of our projects are aimed at writers over 30.

We want to make literature accessible to writers from backgrounds under-represented in publishing and to engage audiences who may not currently see their stories reflected on the page.

Our mission is to build community one story at a time. We hope you’ll join us.
Please note, this is a voluntary role but expenses will be paid. To arrange a discussion about the role please email Yvonne and Naomi at northwestliteraryarts@gmail.com


North West Literary Arts Newsletter

In this month’s edition of North West Literary Arts news letter, we share insights into February’s theme for Stories at the Storey. We also discuss upcoming projects and opportunities to collaborate and share our call for an unpaid board member to join us. These are exciting times and we want to grow our team, our services, and our expertise.

We are also calling on you to get involved by telling us what sort of projects you would like us to create, deliver, collaborate on, or lead.

Read this month’s issue here: North West Literary Arts February Newsletter

We aim to increase diversity in publishing by creating opportunities and platforms. Want to support us?


Call for True Stories: January Stories at The Storey

It can warm, guide, and move us; propel, protect, reveal: This month’s theme is “light” (loosely interpreted). Join us as we share true stories of light: walking with or in it, the pursuit of, the search for, the loss of, and everything in between.

We are looking for writers, storytellers, friends, strangers, and anyone with a true story on the theme of light (loosely interpreted). Do you have a 3-5 minute (2-4 pages A4) true story? Message us here or email: storiesatthestorey@gmail.com to sign up for an open-mic slot.

Please note this month features the opportunity to have your true story recorded by and broadcast on Beyond Radio. As always, this is optional. If you would like to read and have your story recorded, please let us know. If you would like to read and would not like your story recorded, please let us know that as well.

The choice is yours.

Either way, we’d love to hear your true story.

When is it? The next Stories at the Storey is Thursday, January 25.

Where is it? Stories at the Storey is at Print Room Cafe in The Storey.

What are we looking for? Stories at the Storey is a true story open mic night. The stories we are looking for are creative nonfiction, lifewriting, well-crafted true stories.

What is Creative Nonfiction? Creative nonfiction draws on storytelling techniques to create stories that engage readers. Create a scene for us; describe the setting, landscape (emotional, geographical, otherwise), bring your characters to life. For an example of Creative Nonfiction, read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood or Creative Nonfiction magazine.

Tips:
The most engaging stories are practiced. Whether you memorize your story, read it from a screen, or read it from a notebook, practice reading your story out loud.

Remember you have 3-5 minutes; that’s about 2-4 sheets of A4. Your story will be concise. It doesn’t have to connect all of the dots for us.

Engage us, invite us in to your world.

Relax: we want to hear your story as much as you want to share it.

So sign up for your slot and get writing!

Stories at the Storey Uploaded

As much as I love writing true stories each month, I enjoy hearing them. To get the stories rolling for our podcast, I recorded my story from October’s Stories at the Storey. In the piece I explored what might have happened if I hadn’t moved my family to the UK. It’s a short piece about choices, saying yes, and defining roles.

Introducing Back Story, Stories at the Storey

We are launching Back Story, a podcast where writers share insights into their writing practice. Each month we will record a writer reading their true story loosely exploring the month’s theme. The reading will be followed by a conversation led by Naomi and Yvonne where we chat about the writer’s interpretation, the inspiration for the story, and other writing pursuits.

The recordings give us a chance to share some of the amazing stories writers share with us each month. So wherever you are in the world, sit back and listen. When you’re finished, feel free to write a piece interpreting the month’s theme and email it to us.

Now for Naomi Kruger’s Backstory, an interview where she explores her interpretation of September’s School Memories theme.