Artswords News March 2016

Dear Writers and Readers

Here are March offerings for you from Artswords and local partners in Literature. 

Mum’s the Word meets on Tuesday 1st March at 7.30pm at Lower Shaw Farm. A friendly, informal group for mothers interested in writing. For further information, please contact Monica at montimms@waitrose.com

There is something exciting, colourful, and creative happening in the Central Library in the second week of this month, to coincide with the Localities meeting, and in preparation for a significant launch on 17th March!

If you want to know more, or even take part, see here or telephone the Library on 01793 463238 and ask for details about The Butterflies Project!

At 12 noon on Thursday 17th March, the brand-new 40-page full-colour programme for the Swindon Festival of Literature will be unveiled, hot off the press, at Swindon’s prize-winning Central Library.

We would like to invite you to join us for this little launch and to be among the first to see the brand new programme for Swindon’s twenty-third Festival of Literature, which takes place 2nd – 14th May 2016.

The Artswords Reading Group meets at 7.30pm Tuesday 22nd March – The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch. A central story, about an ageing author who falls in love, bookended by a forward and a postscript. There’s jealousy, intrigue, and lots of ideas about writing and relationships. Further details from artswords@lowershawfarm.co.uk

Poetry Swindon’s Open Mic takes place at 8pm on Sunday 20th March at the Sun Inn Pub in Coate, Swindon SN3 6AA. This month, it’s all about bright prospects: both our own and those of our guests.

Two students, taught by Carrie Etter on the Bath Spa MA programme, Nick Compton and Sean Martin, join two poets selected by Angela France from the University of Cheltenham programme for our guest readings.

To embrace this potential, we would like to hear the oldest poem you have you feel comfortable reading. Which poem was the first one you looked at and said "poetry is for me!". We'd like to hear it too! Tickets HERE

Artswords Writers' Café & Kitchen takes place on Thursday 31st March, 6pm – 10pm. A meeting place for new writers, experienced writers, and anyone interested in writing to meet, greet, and connect.

The Cafe starts with pot-luck supper from 6pm. If you can, please bring something to nibble or drink, and to share with others. Following acclimatisation with food, drink, and friendly chat, we take time to look at our writing, hear it, and comment where wanted.

You may simply read your work, prose or poetry, for up to 5 minutes; or, if you have a story, to tell, not read, and ideally a story from your life, please bring it along and tell it; or, if you’d like your work to be the subject of helpful comments and discussion, and this is the ‘Kitchen’ part of the Café, bring 10 copies of one piece of writing to pass around and read out. This should amount to no more than 500 words of prose or 40 lines of poetry.

For further information, contact artswords@lowershawfarm.co.uk or call 01793 771080

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If you have any news or events for April and you would like us to mention them in the next Artswords Newsletter, please let us know by the middle of this month.

Happy reading and writing! 

Matt Holland & Annie Vickers
SWINDON ARTSWORDS 
LOVE LITERATURE! LOVE LIFE!