Annual Festival of Writing
We'll be running something similar to the timetable of workshops/tutors/presentations shown below.
This was how 2023 NAWGfest looked :-
(example) FRIDAY Day SESSIONS
A. 24 Hour Flash Fiction
A competition running from 12 Noon until 12 Noon on Saturday.
B. 24 Hour Flash Poetry
A competition running from 12 Noon until 12 Noon on Saturday.
WORKSHOP SESSIONS:
C. 18:00 Early Bird Workshop
with Jennifer Margrave (One Hour)
Join this entertaining session to get your writing juices flowing!
D. 19:15 WELCOME!
with Chris Huck (Half Hour)
A short welcome meeting to bring us all together for NAWGfest
E. 20:00 Open Mic
with Henry Curry (One Hour +)
Join this popular session to read or just listen to contributions from NAWG members - make sure to email and let us know what you'd like to read or perform
Jennifer Margrave (writing as Jay Margrave) is a writer, of novels, poems and plays, and also was part of a group that ran a small publishing house from 2004 to 2022, (a victim of Covid and, sadly, co-directors dying). She is convenor of Guildford Writers and also runs workshops.
Kris Johnson: the power of imagery. Imagery is at the heart of poetry. In this session we'll explore how poets create images that are resonant and powerful. We'll consider the range of devices and tools we have at our disposal and explore how we can use them in our own writing.
Ellie Stevenson: crafting your memoir. In this workshop you will examine the difference between memoir and autobiography; discover your purpose and what you want to share in your book; understand the considerations which make memoir writing different from other types of book including motive, truth and compassion; gain insight into using photos and illustrations and develop a timescale with action points
Steve Bowkett: genre fiction will look at the basic elements and structure of narrative and these ideas will apply across the range of genres. I intend then to take a look at a few specific genres. My favourites and the ones I write in are Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror (including ghost stories) and, latterly, supernatural thrillers.
Simon Whaley: how to win competitions. You can’t guarantee winning a writing competition, but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of success. This workshop will examine what a writing competition is, how to research the competition and judge to assess what sort of material they like, how to get your entry drafted, edited, and submitted on time, and how to ensure your entry gets through to the judging process.
Helen Corner-Bryant: Q&A session discussing literary agents.Helen Corner-Bryant spent several years in editorial at Penguin before setting up Cornerstones Literary Consultancy in 1998. In 2016, she opened Cornerstones US, creating the world’s first transatlantic literary consultancy. Cornerstones is known for teaching self-editing techniques, providing editorial feedback on all genres, scouting for agents, and launching many writers published by global industry giants including: HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Bloomsbury, Bonnier Books, Chicken House Books, Picador (Pan Macmillan), Faber & Faber, Macmillan USA, Amazon Publishing, and more. Helen is a guest lecturer and Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Publishing, Department of Information Studies at UCL. She is the co-author of On Editing: How to Edit Your Novel the Professional Way (John Murray, 2018) and director of the Cornerstones/PWA online course, Edit Your Novel the Professional Way.
(example)
SATURDAY Day SESSIONS
A.M. WORKSHOP SESSIONS:
(Repeated at 14:30)
F1. 10:00 Poetry Workshop
with Kris Johnson (1.5 Hours)
The Power of Imagery
G1. 10:00 Memoir Workshop
with Ellie Stevenson (1.5 Hours)
Crafting Your Memoir - the Essentials
H1. 10:00 Fiction Workshop
Steve Bowkett (1.5 Hours)
managed by Henry Curry
Genre Fiction
X. 12:00 Noon AGM
with the Committee (1.0 Hour)
Annual General Meeting
P.M. WORKSHOP SESSIONS:
F2. 14:30 Poetry Workshop
with Kris Johnson (1.5 Hours)
The Power of Imagery
G2. 14:30 Memoir Workshop
with Ellie Stevenson (1.5 Hours)
Crafting Your Memoir - the Essentials
H2. 14:30 Fiction Workshop
Steve Bowkett (1.5 Hours)
managed by Henry Curry
Genre Fiction
(example)
Saturday : Evening SESSIONS
J. 18.00 Awards Ceremony
with Chris Huck (1 hour)
X. 19.00 Keynote Speaker
with Helen Corner-Bryant (1 hour)
(Literary Agent)
K. 20.00 Quiz Nite
with John Grieve (1.5 hours)
(example)
SUNDAY : SESSIONS
PRESENTATIONS:
(Repeated at 11:30 am)
L1. 10:00 Presentation
with Jennifer Margrave (One Hour) Five (or more) stages to editing your work
M1. 10:00 Presentation
with Simon Whaley (One Hour)
How to Win Competitions
L2. 11:30 Presentation
with Jennifer Margrave (One Hour)
Five (or more) stages to editing your work
M2. 11:30 Presentation
with Simon Whaley (One Hour)
How to Win Competitions
N. 13:00 Wind Up & Farewell
with Chris Huck (Half Hour +)
For Members only, sign up for your e-newsletter for all the latest information on competitions & events. Go to the
Membership page here. Not a member? Join us and get the free e-news!
National Association of Writers and Groups,
Old Vicarage, Scammonden, Huddersfield,
UNITED KINGDOM