Writing & Book Events

Creative Writing Workshop with Peter Jukes

Sunday 26 May 10am – 4pm

Why Lying Around is Important: Visualising your Story

This workshop will concentrate on that under-represented part of the writing process - thinking and visualisation time - which should precede putting pen to paper. Using his many years experience as a TV screenwriter and dramatist, Peter will look at the larger structures of narrative, and how to give the larger structure - the mythic structure of a piece of fiction or prose - the same twists and turns and dynamics as a sentence or paragraph. The workshop is practical and will involve a group brainstorm on a novel, screenplay and piece of reportage based on the newspaper and media stories of the day.

For more information, please click here.

£28 (includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea)

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

An Evening with Katrina Naomi

Tuesday 4 June 8pm

Poetry Reading and Q&A

£7 includes a Hendrick's Gin and Tonic.

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Writing from Nature

Aberystwyth University Lifelong Learning – courses for all

Aberystwyth University Thursday 6th June - Sunday 9th June

Code: HL303W

How does the natural world inspire and inform creative writing? How can writing about your natural surroundings enrich your writing, as well as your relationship with nature? This course, suitable for both beginners and experienced writers, will seek inspiration from the scenic, wooded surroundings of Gladstone’s Country park in Hawarden. Students will be granted a permit to explore those peaceful areas of the park not normally open to the public.

Tutor Chris Kinsey was BBC Wildlife Poet of the Year in 2008. She received an Arts Council of Wales Writer’s Bursary in 2000 and has had three collections of poetry published: Kung Fu Lullabies, and Cure for a Crooked Smile by Ragged Raven Press, and, most recently, Swarf by Smokestack Books in 2011. She also writes a regular Nature Diary for Cambria.

Aberystwyth University has chosen Gladstone’s Library as the venue for its programme of residential creative writing courses this summer.

For more information on this course, please click here.

£90 (excluding accommodation), £80 concessions. Special rate for accommodation at Gladstone's Library, ask for details.

Note - Please book accommodation for this course with Gladstone's Library but the course itself should be booked through the School Of Education and Lifelong Learning at Aberystwyth University at learning@aber.ac.uk or on 01970 621580

Creative Writing Workshop with Katrina Naomi

Sunday 16 June 10am – 4pm

Going Public with your Poetry - This workshop is ideal for anyone who has been writing for a while who would like to begin sending out their poems or would like to try reading their work in public. The session will focus on researching poetry magazines, and consider the merits of poetry magazines v poetry competitions. Katrina will offer tips on writing covering letters to editors, and will run a practical session on reading/performing your poetry in a supportive atmosphere. She will also discuss the value of blogs, websites, self-publishing, Facebook and Twitter for poets.

£28 (includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea)

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Exploring Creative Writing

Aberystwyth University Lifelong Learning – courses for all

Thursday, 11 July - Sunday, 14 July

Code: HL304W

Would you like to explore the many exciting possibilities of creative writing? Want to experiment with style and technique? Do you want to write more boldly? Or simply write more often? This course - suitable for new writers as well as those with some experience – is designed to get you writing, and keep you writing. In a supportive, fun environment, you will be encouraged to explore different writing techniques. Let Lara guide you through a range of stimulating, thought-provoking exercises – all designed to kindle – or rekindle – a passion for writing.

Tutor Lara Clough, is a published novelist and playwright, her novel Facing into the West Wind was reviewed in the Guardian as “a tender and perceptive tale of secrets”, 2006. She has been teaching a wide range of courses for the last five years and finds poetry and script writing especially stimulating and thought provoking for all. Students enjoy the supportive and encouraging environment she provides in her classes. Two active poetry groups have grown up from her classes and several students have gone onto MA Creative Writing courses.

Aberystwyth University has chosen Gladstone’s Library as the venue for its programme of residential creative writing courses this summer.

For more information on this course, please click here.

£90 (excluding accommodation), £80 concessions. Special rate for accommodation at Gladstone's Library, ask for details.

Scriptwriting: An Introduction

Aberystwyth University Lifelong Learning – courses for all

Thursday, 18 July - Sunday, 21 July

Code: HL305W

Have you ever had an idea that you thought would make a great film or television script? Industry professional, Jane McNulty, will introduce you, step-by-step, to the process of professional scriptwriting. Designed to help you turn your idea into a viable script, this course will guide your through writing the story outline, creating believable characters and structuring scenes.

Jane McNulty worked for several years as a television scriptwriter with screen credits for episodes of various long-running series including EastEnders, Doctors, Crossroads, Heartbeat and Peak Practice, plus a short film for BBC2. She is now focusing on writing for the theatre: her play Our Lady of the Goldfinches - www.smallmerciesproductions.co.uk - recently toured the North West. Her work - drama, short stories, poetry - has won awards. Jane has over twenty years of experience teaching creative writing to adults and young people. She tutors at Edge Hill and Salford universities.

Aberystwyth University has chosen Gladstone’s Library as the venue for its programme of residential creative writing courses this summer.

For more information on this course, please click here.

£90 (excluding accommodation), £80 concessions. Special rate for accommodation at Gladstone's Library, ask for details.

An Evening with Greg Garrett

Thursday 18 July 8pm

Greg will talk about his writing and latest projects including giving readings from 'Movieland' a novel about and for movie lovers.

£7 includes a Hendrick's Gin and Tonic.

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Creative Writing Workshop with Greg Garrett

Saturday 27th July 10am - 4pm

Writing Funny: A Short Course in Humour

"Dying is easy. Comedy is hard." So goes the old Hollywood saying. But the truth is, we can study comedy and actually learn structures, language, and characters from writers who have employed tried and true ways to bring humour into their pieces. Join award winning writer, Greg Garrett, as he explores how you can liven your story with humour.

£28 (includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea)

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Damian Barr Interviews Vanessa Gebbie

Saturday 7th September - 11:30 am

Vanessa Gebbie is a novelist and award-winning short story writer. Author of two collections: Words from a Glass Bubble and Storm Warning (Salt Modern Fiction), her novel The Coward’s Tale (Bloomsbury UK/US) was selected as a UK Financial Times Book of the Year and Guardian readers’ book of the year.

Recipient of an Arts Council Grant for the Arts and a Hawthornden Fellowship, her short stories have been commissioned by literary journals, the British Council, for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4, and are widely anthologised. She also writes poetry and is a freelance writing tutor.

Vanessa will be talking about her writing life with Damian Barr at 11.30am on Saturday 7^th September.

For tickets, please contact reception on 01244 532350 or email enquiries@gladlib.org.

Creative Writing Workshop with Vanessa Gebbie

Sunday 22 September 10am – 4pm

Getting to grips with flash fiction

Flash is both a technique and a product. The technique is excellent for coping with writers' block, and the product is perfect for today's publications. A very creative, informal workshop.

£28 (includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea)

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Readings from Angela Topping

Thursday 10 October

Angela will give readings of her work followed by a Q&A session.

Free event

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

Creative Writing Workshop with Angela Topping

Saturday 12 October 10am – 4pm

Writing Poetry for Children

Interested in writing children's poetry? Come and learn some techniques and ways in with Angela Topping, and go home with some new poems. This workshop is also suitable for anyone wishing to find some new angles. Angela will dispel some myths and discuss how to stimulate children to write.

£28 (includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea)

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org

An Evening with Angela Topping

Thursday 17 October 8pm

£7 includes a Hendrick's Gin and Tonic.

To book, call 01244 532350 or e-mail enquiries@gladlib.org