Next Meeting: Preparing for Newark Book Festival 2018, with Sara Bullimore

First of all, we would like to thank Richard Berry for giving a great workshop at the beginning of January. Richard had been working as a solicitor when he decided to take a course in creative writing and explained how he then grew to understand and appreciate different forms of literature (even if he still doesn’t actually enjoy some of them). He also brought along a range of different books that either broke new ground in writing, such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or attempted to do something different (with varying degrees of success).

Getting a wider perspective on books and styles is always good for a writer both in terms of an enhanced skill set and in respect of enhancing who we are as readers, as writers, as people. It’s often said that we are the sum total of our experiences. Books can give us new experiences, new worlds and new understanding. So perhaps 2018 is the year to read something out of your comfort zone, something that might just trigger a new direction in your writing.

Which brings us to the subject of the 2018 Newark Book Festival (wow, that segue was slicker than the One Show). We’re delighted to have the Festival’s Artistic Director, Sara Bullimore, come and talk about plans for this year’s Festival (14-15 July) and how Fosseway Writers will be involved. Over 2300 people visited the 2017 Festival and this year is set to be even bigger. As the official Festival website says, it aims “to celebrate books, authors and the word through an exciting, engaging programme from author events to panels, crime fiction, contemporary, history and a children’s programme. Taking place at venues across the town including Newark Castle, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Gannets Bistrot, The Secret Garden Cafe, Millgate Community Centre, River Cruises, National Civil War Museum and Newark Library. The festival will fire your imaginations, challenge and inspire you and present the very best in literature and the arts.”

If you want to hear more about the Festival (as a potential author, visitor or volunteer) or our plans for a new anthology to coincide with the Festival, then come along to Knights Court at 7 pm on Thursday 1 February.