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Yes! We now have a Write On Essex website: http://www.writeonessex.co.uk/
Not much there at the moment, but more coming soon!

The Essex Book Festival

The 2012 Essex Book Festival will be taking place this March. Events are lined up across a variety of locations (not least our beloved University of Essex campus) and undoubted highlights include talks from Alexander McCall Smith, Jodi Picoult, Marina Lewycka, former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and Essex’s own Marina Warner. I’ll also be hoping to make it down to the Lakeside Theatre at the University for the Writers’ Showcase on 2 March, a reading of work-in-progress from the theatre’s resident writing group, if only to see how they do things at the other end of the campus.

I do love to hear how other writers work, and hearing a favourite author speak about a much-loved book is a rare treat. Naturally there are nerdy thrills to be had from the “backstage” gossip and the possibility of sharing your humble musings on the story with the creative force behind it. There’s also something reassuring in hearing how a respected author overcame his or her struggles, and how with the right routine writing success can be possible. I attended a talk with Sarah Waters a couple of years ago and it was a fantastic opportunity to find out more about how she created one of my favourite books, her thoughts about the layers of the story and to hear other readers reactions to it. In the last few months I’ve had several opportunities to hear authors talk about their writing and each time I’ve come away eager to read what they’ve spoken about so passionately but also with a renewed work ethic for my own scribblings.

So if you’ve never attended a talk with an author, whether a favourite or someone you’ve never read or even heard of before, I highly recommend it – and with such a great set of writers on the bill at the Essex Book Festival you don’t even have to venture far from home to do so.

Pens* Win Prizes!

*When those pens have been put to excellent use in the creation of the finest, award-winning literature.

Entry is now open to the 2012 Bristol Short Story Prize. Stories on any theme are welcome and a top prize of £1000 is up for grabs. Entries must be no longer than 3000 words and the closing date is 31 March 2012.

For more info see the website - http://www.bristolprize.co.uk/