'THE CHANGING FACE' Newham Borough Writing Competition 2009

Interested in writing poetry or short stories?
Live, work, study or go to school in Newham?
Want to win a prize and have your work published?

Then why not enter the Newham Borough Writing Competition?

With prizes totaling well over £1000 Newham Libraries and Arts & Festivals Service in association with London’s leading writing organisation, Spread the Word, launches its first borough-wide writing competition for poetry, short stories and stage-plays.

In recognition of dramatic changes taking place in Newham today the theme for the competition is ‘The Changing Face’ and the submitted work, in some way, should reflect this in its content. The deadline for entries is 29 May 2009.

Aimed at writers of all ages and abilities the competition seeks to capture the essence of London’s most diverse borough with additional awards for under-represented groups such as schoolchildren, the Under 21’s, the Over 60’s and those with English as a Second Language.

Don’t worry if you’ve never written before, Spread the Word will be hosting a series of Free creative writing workshops in Newham Libraries to help you get the most from your work.

The workshops will cover poetry, short stories and writing for the stage and will be tutored by playwright and novelist, Laura Bridgeman (left, seen here teaching at Beckton Globe) Laura, who has a PH.D in Creative & Critical Writing teaches at the London Metropolitan University and was recently shortlisted for the Charles Pick Fellowship for her latest novel, Raphael Coombs.

The second workshop tutor is poet Vincent De Souza (below right). An experienced tutor and experimental poet, Vincent ran the central London based experimental workshop Physical Poets and in 2007 he launched his first collection
Weightless Road. He currently co-hosts Ride the Word a poetry and prose reading series and his second collection of poetry Resurrecting Knives published by Salt Publishing is due out in March 2009.

The Workshops will be taking place at these venues and at these times and do call the numbers below to book your place:

Saturday 14 February 2pm - 4pm
Canning Town Library Barking Road, Canning Town E16 4HQ
Tel: 020 7476 2696

Thursday 19 February 6pm – 7.45pm
Custom House Library
Prince Regent Lane, Custom House E16 3JJ
Tel: 020 7476 1565

Saturday 28 February 2pm – 4pm
East Ham Library
High Street South, East Ham E6 6EL
Tel: 020 8430 3648

Thursday 5th March 6pm – 7.45pm
Green Street Library 337-341 Green Street, Upton park E13 9AR
Tel: 020 8472 4101

Thursday 12 March 6pm – 7.45pm
Manor Park Library
Romford Road, Manor Park E12 5JY
Tel 020 8430 2207

Thursday 19 March 6pm – 7.45pm
North Woolwich Library
5 Pier Parade, North Woolwich E16 2LJ
Tel: 020 8430 5900

* Special Teenagers’ Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 21 March 2pm - 4pm
Canning Town Library
Barking Road, Canning Town E16 4HQ
Tel: 020 7476 2696

Thursday 26 March 6pm – 7.45pm
Plaistow Library North Street, Plaistow E13 9HL
Tel: 020 8472 0420

Saturday 4th April 2pm – 4pm
Stratford Library
3 The Grove, Stratford E15 1EL
Tel: 020 8430 6890

Saturday 11th April 2pm – 4pm
Library @ The Gate
4-20 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate E7 0QH
Tel: 020 8430 3838

The Competition Judges are:

Maureen Duffy – Short Story
Maureen was born in 1933 in Worthing, Sussex but lived for a large part of her life in Newham. After a career as a schoolteacher she made her debut as a novelist with That’s How It Was, published to wide acclaim in 1962. Duffy has published around 30 other books, including five volumes of poetry. Her latest collection of Poetry, her first in almost twenty years is called Family Values and was published by Enitharmon Press in 2008.

Charlie Dark – Poetry
Charlie Dark is a London-based poet, writer, producer and DJ. He makes up one third of the hip-hop inspired trio Attica Blues and is the founder of Blacktronica, a monthly club night featuring the best acts currently working the black electronic music scene in the UK. He makes regular appearances on the performance poetry circuit, is an experienced tutor and was a Poet Coach for the London Teenage Poetry SLAM for three consecutive years.

Georgia Fitch – Playwriting
Georgia was born in Plaistow. Her plays for the stage include adrenalin …heart, I like Mine With A Kiss, The Footballer’s Wife (Old Red Lion), Come Dancing, Arrivals and Dirty Dirty Princess for the RNT/Connections 2008 Season. Georgia also writes for radio and television.

‘The Changing Face’ Rules

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
1. The theme for this competition is ‘The Changing Face’
2. There is one entry per person.
3. Poetry, short stories and short plays can be submitted
4. There is one award category for Short Plays.
5. There are five award categories for poetry and Short Stories:
(i) General – for all entrants
(ii) Entrants aged under 20
(iii) Entrants aged Over 60
(iv) Entrants who have English as a second language
(v) Entrants attending School
6. Each Entry must be the undisputed work of the Entrant
7. No covering letter or other material should be enclosed with your entry. 8. Once submitted, entries cannot be withdrawn from the competition or alterations made.
9. Entries will not be returned so please do not send your only copy. 10. Acknowledgement of receipt of entry will only be given if a stamped, self-addressed envelope marked ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is enclosed.

ELIGIBILITY
11. Entries will be accepted from writers of any nationality provided that: (i) they live, work, study or attend school in the borough of Newham (ii) they are written or translated into English (iii) they have not previously been published in any form (including appearing on the internet) (iv) they are not translations of another author’s work 12. Employees of Spread the Word and members of its Committees and Management Board and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

GUIDELINES
13. Stories must be no longer than 1,000 words.
14. Poems must be no more than 42 lines in length
15. Entries must be typed or clearly written on one side of the paper only.
16. Plays must be maximum 30 minutes (As a guide: 1 page per minute, double-spaced) with a maximum cast of five characters.
JUDGING
17. Winners will be decided by professional judges.
18. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. 19. The closing date for receipt of entries is 6pm Friday 29 May 2009. All entries must reach us by this date.
20. Shortlisted entries will be notified in writing by end of June 2009. 21. Competitors who want to receive a printed list of prizewinners must enclose a separate stamped, self-addressed envelope marked “prizewinners”

PRIZEWINNERS
22. The list of prizewinners will be available after the prize giving ceremony in August 2009
23. Prizes for short story and poetry are:
£100 for 1st Prize, £50 for 2nd Prize and £25 for 3rd Prize.
In addition there will be supplementary prizes for commended work as well as prizes for winners currently attending school.
24. Prizes for Short Plays will be rehearsed, public readings with professional actors, staged at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
25. All winners will agree to participate in any reasonable request by the Organisers to fulfill marketing obligations relating to the Competition and their own Entry.
26. Winning and commended poems and short stories will be published in an anthology and the authors offered mentoring and professional advice. The authors of the winning plays will be offered future dramaturgical support with their writing.

COPYRIGHT
27. Copyright will remain with the author, but Spread the Word and Newham Writing Competition reserves the right to arrange the first publication in an anthology.
28. Submission of a poem, short story or play implies the competitor’s acceptance of the conditions set out above.

COMPETITION RULES
29. These terms and conditions are the Competition Rules (‘Rules’) and by entering the competition, all entrants agree to be bound by them.
30. You can enter online by requesting a submission form from writingcompetition@newham.gov.uk

Postal entries can be sent to: Newham Writing Competition, Library at The Gate, 4-20 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, London E7 0QH

THE CHANGING FACE of a dream...

We're well and truly into the throes of 2009 and it's already proving to be quite a momentous month, not least because on a freezing cold January 20th the United States of America inaugurated its 44th President.

Americans preened, danced and cried whilst basking in the glory of deservedly being crowned the greatest nation on the earth. Various media outlets reported over a billion people worldwide tuning into the event, the rest of the world looking on somewhat perplexed, possibly shamed as they cast a glance into the fractured mirror of their own stagnant societies, where they would see merely a dream. Americans peered beyond the dream...

Tuesday 27th January saw the official launch of 'The Changing Face' Newham Borough Writing Competition to a standing room only crowd at Stratford Library. There was a lovely turnout from local writers, press and Newham Council staff and it was particularly pleasing to be able to welcome a contingent of schoolchildren from Keir Hardie Primary School, whom I must say were exemplary in their attitude to the event. I will be returning the favour by arranging a visit to the school.

The Competition Judges, all with a connection to Newham, poet Charlie Dark, playwright Georgia Fitch and poet, novelist and playwright Maureen Duffy each expressed their vision for writing in the borough and we were blessed with a wonderful poetry performance from eighteen year old Samuel Jima with his very moving and rhythmic poems. He is definitely one for the future with his relaxed, yet poignant style. Local author Sarah Hiorn read a characterful short story from a recent publication and poet, Vincent De Souza read from his new collection of hard-hitting experimental poetry Resurrecting Knives, which is due to be launched in March 2009.

The competition is open to everyone who lives, works or studies in Newham and it is designed to reach everybody. Posters and leaflets will be displayed in all Newham's libraries and front offices as well as in various community and resource centres.

There are cash prizes and book tokens as well as writing development and mentoring support from Spread the Word, London's leading writer development agency on offer to winners and commendable entrants with the chance of being published in an anthology.

I'm also very pleased to reiterate the competition's aims to reach as many people as possible by offering additional award categories such as for Schoolchildren, Under 21's, Over 60's and for those who speak English with a 2nd language.

Furthermore the winning three plays in the short play section will each receive public rehearsed readings performed by professional actors and directors at our partner organisation Theatre Royal Stratford East as well as qualifying for dramaturgical support in their writing from Spread the Word.

Don't be coy if you've never written before because Spread the Word will be hosting a series of FREE creative writing workshops across Newham's libraries starting with the Beckton Globe on Saturday 31st January. The workshop is being tutored by playwright and published novelist, Laura Bridgeman who boasts a Phd. in Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia. So pick up a leaflet from any library in Newham and book yourself a place.

For further information check out the Newham website on http://www.newham.gv.uk/ or email writingcompetition@newham.gov.uk

While the competition is running its easy to forget the other work taking place almost simultaneously, such as the 'Picture Paints a Thousand Words'. Working in partnership with Age Concern Newham, this project will work with residents aged over 60, collating their work into an exhibition this autumn. There is also the added possibility of publishing some of the work and I am really excited about the outcome.

Veering tangentially, I went to an event on 28th January hosted by Salt Publishing at Borders Bookshop in Oxford Street, called Ride the Word. Poets and novelists give readings of some of their work. On this particular night they had poetry readings from Vincent de Sousa (who'll be working with us on the writing competition as a tutor), Kathryn Simmons and Chris McCabe reading poetry which was at once electrifying, political and then winced with acerbic humour. We also had readings from their short fiction works by Chrissie Gittens and a cutting and colourful reading from Jay Merrill. I thouroughly recommend this as an evening and hopefully I'll be trying to attempt Ride the Word to come to Newham... watch this space.

Remember, keep your eyes on the prize and I look forward to receiving your entries...

Regards

Hey, it's CHRISTMAS!

OK, so there's a credit crisis, wars in Iraq, Afghanistan; political unrest in Greece, Somali pirates on the high seas; Zimbabwe... and some guy's been shifting 50 Billion dollars from company to company, bank account to bank account for ten years and nobody knows about it? Yeah, right! It's Christmas not April Fools!

And now we have all the multi-national corporations seizing the opportunity to balance their books and settle old scores, sacking staff and writing off billions of dollars from world money markets. Even the residents of Sark, the tiny little island off the English coast have gone all militant. It might seem as if all hell's breaking loose all over the world, and perhaps it is, but hey, it's Christmas!

Even those who don't celebrate Christmas recognise it as a wonderful time to re-charge the batteries. One can look forward to starting all over again... the grindstone, the recession, the electric bill up again, speeding tickets, or worse, parking tickets, newspapers with no news, the smell of napalm in the afternoon...

Righteo, now that's off the phlegmatic chest... hosted a couple of great events during November, the exceptionally warm and erudite poet, novelist and playwright Maureen Duffy and the equally brilliant playwright Georgia Fitch.

Maureen read from Family Values, her much vaunted recently published collection of poems at Stratford Library. She talked about her family connections to Newham and Stratford in particular and built up a beautiful mosiac of what it must have been like to live in Newham just after the war with her incredibly revealing reading style. She followed this by reading from her first novel That's How It Was - brilliant.

It was very exciting hearing her talking with the audience about the tremendous change taking place in the borough. Largely in favour of the massive investment and new opportunities in the area, I wondered if there was a tinge of regret lurking in the back of her mind about the diminishing indiginous culture. But hey, it's Christmas!

The following night saw the extraordinary talented Georgia Fitch at The Gate Library in Forest Gate. Completely at ease in home territory, so to speak, it was fascinating to witness her warm relationship with the audience and her natural ability to engage them with her ideas of what theatre means to her. Georgia regaled the standing-room-only audience with the story of her career from actor to producer to writer and certainly inspired a number of the people there who were keen to write plays for the stage and I have since heard from two of them who are indeed stepping onto that treadmill. There are plans to bring Georgia back to Newham to host a practical workshop for which you'll have to watch this space. Hey, it's Christmas!

Talking about Christmas, I went along to the press night of Theatre Royal Stratford East's panto Hansel & Gretel which I thought was wonderful. The music was great with some really energetic performances and a lovely panto-damish turn from Marcus Powell as Delberta. So, I 'm recommending this show to everyone, the kids are going to love it.

Looking ahead, 2009 is going to be an exciting year for creative writing in Newham, not least because at some point in January we launch a creative writing competition. What I like about this proposed competition is that it will be all inclusive, that means everyone has the chance to enter and perhaps win a prize with publishing opportunities. I'm not going to pre-empt the announcement of the event but again I say, watch this space.

I'm also going to be working on a unique event with young people and film and another event which I'm really excited about is a creative arts project with the Over 60's. In this youth-orientated world I hunger to hear the stories, the thoughts and opinions of the elder generation who have lived through some of the fastest technological advances since Man first picked up a rock and split the atom... well he didn't know he was splitting an atom- to him it was a walnut, but hey, it's Christmas!

It's been a great 2008, but 2009's gonna be greater!

All the best

Peace.

GUY FAWKES AND ALL THAT...

So Guy Fawkes had his day... well, he didn't really. And we spend a lot of time and effort celebrating the fact that he crashed and burned on his big day out.

Right, October seemed to sail past very quickly. We had some terrific events, not least the visit of author Candace Allen. Her insight into Barack Obama and the possibilities for election night in the Presidential race was very enlightening and so proved to be 100% accurate in the turnout, the suspected queues, the poise of the man... even her assessment of John McCain was bang on the ball... i.e, "... an OK politician, but it's Barack time!"

November also saw the London Film Festival's annual feast of silver dreams come to an end. I only managed to catch The Baader Meinhof Complex and 1, 2, 3, 4; the former, brilliantly realised by German director Uli Edel, wonderful art direction and performances, though the movie, overlong, ran out of steam towards the end, leaving you with questions such as 'Ok, I know what they did, but why? A bunch of middle class rich kids becoming terrorists... what's the director's take on it? It's not suffice to say, "We are the Children of the Nazi generation and we won't let Government do that again... so we'll go out and kill innocent people."'

The other film 1, 2, 3, 4 directed by Giles Borg left me with a question too, 'Why?'

Only kidding. Well, only slightly. The performances were great, the film was....

I guess I should intercede here and let you all know that my film Crossing Bridges was in competition in Greece at the Corinthian International Film Festival at the tail-end of October. It was a fantastic festival, I met some great filmmakers and the Greek hosts were brilliant. And the audience turned out for my film and we won the Audience Award which was great. The fact that we can't get any kind of theatrical distribution in the UK where the film was made speaks volumes... however upon my return to these damp shores, enquiries were made of me while I was away and tere is a slim chance that.... [oops! Don't wanna jinx it, do I?]

Now then, we've got a couple of great free workshops in store this month in Newham. On Wednesday 19th at 7pm accomplished poet, novelist and playwright, Maureen Duffy comes to Stratford Library, where she will read some of her prose and from her latest poetry collection. Maureen lived and spent a lot of time in Stratford over the years and much of this time has influenced her work. I for one am looking forward to welcoming her back to the borough and hearing her thoughts.

And then at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th November at The Gate Library in Forest Gate, sees compelling contemporary playwright Georgia Fitch discussing her work on radio, stage and television.

Georgia was born and brought up in Newham and her work has always fascinated me. There is an earthiness laced with a strong and incisive psychological aspect to her narratives which lifts her work above the norm.

so, that's November, but that's not all. You've got to keep your eyes on the prize as we've a whole series of other workshops coming over the next few weeks and months and of course, there's going to be the announcment of an all new creative writing initiative in the borough for 2009.

So for now it's adieu, until we meet again!

Peace

October is Black History Month, but then there's November...

Last week I was fortunate to go on a Newham Olympic Regeneration tour with the St Luke's Over 60's Club. Standing 21 floors up in the air seeing the vast expanse of construction work taking place below me was awe inspiring. It looks like they're building a brand new city!

It was great hearing opposing views from members of the group: some lamented on the amount of money being spent and the numbers of people forced to move from their homes or lose their business until it was pointed out that nigh on all the work is being carried out on what was contaminated wasteland. I was amazed seeing the giant washing machines... huge machines used to wash the earth during its decontamination. To say I was impressed was an understatement.
The whole trip also left me in no doubt as to whether the 2012 Olympics will be a success. I'm really looking forward to it... and to all the doubters out there - do you remember the Manchester Commonwealth Games?
In the months preceding the opening ceremony there were cries of discord coming from the doubters and cynics saying, "It'll never open on time"... "The stadiums won't be ready"... "It's going to make Britain a laughing stock"... "It's cost too much money"... "What about the local people after the Games are finished?"
I've got 2 words: Manchester City.


Right, back to business. Had a great time hosting a writing career workshop at Green Street Library last week. There was a nice group of writers in attendance and before I knew it, we quickly ran out of time and found ourselves being ushered out through the door, as like Tuesday 14th at The Gate...

However next week the gloves come off. Tuesday 21st October sees erudite novelist and screenwriter, Candace Allen as our guest at Stratford Library at 7pm.

This is just 2 weeks before the US Presidential elections and Candace, a former representative for Barack Obama, scrutinises the chances of him becoming the first black man to hold the keys to the White House. Candace will also discuss her own writing, reading from her novel, Valaida, as she explores her inspirations and motivations in a fascinating look at the late-starting author.

In November we have 2 events to look forward to.

On Wednesday 19th November at 7pm Stratford Library hosts poet, novelist and playwright, Maureen Duffy reading some of her prose as well as poems from her latest collection, Family Values, which is published by Enitharmon Press. Family Values is Maureen's 30th publication and her first poetry collection in over twenty years.

The very next evening, 6.30pm Thursday 20th November, prolific Newham born playwright, Georgia Fitch comes to The Gate Library to talk about writing plays. She will talk about her introduction into the world of theatre and how playwrights maintain their equilibrium in a fast changing landscape.

As I write I'm building up for a major announcement towards the end of the year but right now, hold your horses and don't forget to keep tabs on the blog.

Adios

Autumn in Newham

Autumn's come, although it seems as though it's been with us for many months, perhaps since last autumn!

But hey, lets not let the weather get us down, eh, especially as I've got some exciting events coming up as part of my residency here in Newham in association with Spread the Word.

Firstly though, I managed to attend the launch of the 52nd London Film Festival. I attend the festival each year to write about and see what's smoking on the silver screen, and just as the smoke signals had been saying for much of the year, no bonfires combusted under my seat when I saw what was on offer.

However a couple of films did catch my eye and I'll be looking forward to catching them: from the UK, Nick Moran's Telstar, adapted from a play seen here in London (but not by me... busy, you know what I mean?) and artist Steve McQueen's directorial debut about Bobby Sands' hunger strike in the Maze Prison in the 80's, poignantly called Hunger.

I also wanna catch Tyson, the much vaunted documentary about the troubled pugilist which made an impact in Cannes earlier this year (probably because the over-painted bruiser mooched around the Croisette wearing his scowl and penal history firmly tatted on his character) and one can't not see a Steven Soderbergh picture, Che... even though this one's about Che Guevara (a not too underdone screen icon) it's apparently produced in an interesting way (split in 2 halves) and features Benicio del Toro as the iconographic/photographic/legendary lead.

Two other films really grab my attention: The Baader Meinhof Complex directed by Uli Edel, especially because the recent crop of German soul-searching films (Downfall, The lives Of Others) have been so gooood! And Italian film Il Divo which looks a fascinating study of the topsy-turvy world of Italian politics. [I might also go and check out 1 2 3 4 directed by Giles Borg... only cos my mate's an agent and one of his clients is the lead]

Now what's happening in the east of The Smoke you may ask? Well, American author, Candace Allen, eloquent writer of the book, Valaida, will be leading a fascinating event which not only looks at her own work as novelist and screenwriter, but also explores the phenomenon of Barack Obama's race for the US Presidency. Prior to Obama's nomination Candace was in effect his UK representative for his candidacy. This event will take place in October literally 2 weeks before the US elections.

Then a few weeks later, I'm awaiting confirmation on a well known poet launching the publication of a new collection on poetry influenced by her stay in Stratford.

Then in December there is a confirmed "Meet the Author" event with Newham born playwright Georgia Fitch. Georgia has worked with the Royal Court Theatre, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company as well as broadcast media with brilliant original works exploring society today and I'm relishing hearing her discuss her motivations and process.

Another project I'm really looking forward to is taking a group of elderly Newham residents on a tour of the Olympic site and the Newham Regeneration area with a view to eventually launching a writing project- am I gung-ho for this one?- and early next year I will also be working with some young folk on a film project in Canning Town alongside international organisation LIFT as well as putting together a 'Writers and the Community' event.

Recently met up with a Newham based BBC producer and discussed her popping over to Newham one afternoon to give advice to people interested in finding out more about the organisation... and it looks like we might also add to the mix by getting someone over at the competition [ITV] to come as well, which
1) is great
2) shows I'm not biased and
3) the more the merrier.

Watch this space for further details! There are tons of other things in the pipeline/planning stage which will involve authors, film, TV and poetry, especially a major writing competition but for now you'll just have to keep your ears to the ground and your eyes on the prize... or keep checking in to this blog for further updates.

Don't forget, if you're a Newham based writer you can check me out at The Gate, or if you're looking for development do check out Spread the Word, London's leading writer development agency website at http://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/


see ya soon

Mark Norfolk
Writer in Residence
Newham Libraries and Arts Service


ps. One other thing before I go, any Cineastes out there, here's a clip from my first feature film, Love Is Not Enough http://www.pruzz.com/l2d051/love_is_not_enough_clip.html

Greetings all!

I began my stint as writer in res in the London Borough of Newham in July, courtesy of Newham Borough Libraries and Arts Service & writing organisation Spread The Word and spent the first 3 weeks travelling on buses checking out the locale, a very interesting exercise as one normally jumps on the very impressive DLR or the tube. Travelling on buses really gives you a feel of the environment, the people and of an area going through massive change.

For example, did you know that in the late 1800's the people of Forest Gate petitioned and delayed the building of Forest Gate Train Station? It was a well-to-do area in those days and they didn't want the iron horse bringing in the riff raff! Well, what can I say...?

Also in the past, parts of the east end basin (Canning Town, Plaistow, Poplar etc) was a wasteland, being utilised for factories and shipping ports during the war before settling into under-use (short for underinvestment). However a small, somewhat insular community grew and sustained itself within it, a close-knit, multicultural community bound together by the shared struggle against poverty.

But now change is afoot... not just because of the 2012 Olympics. The proximity of Newham to the overflowing city means it is prime for development. But what does this mean for the existing communities, their aspirations, their customs and way of life? And what about current credit crunch mongering? How will this affect the growth of the area?

As a writer this is prime creative landscape. More than ever it is important local people express their views. I, and future generations want to be able to understand their fears, their passions, their hates and loves. By recording this information communities live forever.

So I'm encouraging the people of Newham, those who've lived here for years, newcomers, workers, prospectors, business people, old, young and inbetweeners, everyone with a connection to the borough to join in this venture.

And what better than an online blog... the most democratic forum in the history of literary culture?

I'll be updating this blog regularly so please feel free to interject.

Okay, I've said my piece... it's now over to you.

Mark Norfolk
Writer in Residence
Newham Borough Libraries & Spread the Word