Workshops

Creative Writing: Write Your Own Story with Tutor Felicity Fair Thompson
Wednesdays 12 Sep - 17 Oct (6 weeks) 7 - 9pm £84 (concession £68) (Friends of Quay Arts £50)
Tue 25 Sep 8pm Doors 7pm £10 (Friends of Quay Arts £9)
Venue: Isle of Wight College www.learnwriting.co.uk 01983 535212

Want to tell your own story? Here’s your chance to explore how to record the thoughts, ideas and events of your own life and your experiences – perhaps including your family’s history, either as a memoir for publication, or simply for your own and/or your family’s satisfaction.

To apply for this course at The Isle of Wight College, Newport please call: 01983 535212 or email adulted@iwcollege.ac.uk.

Quay Writers @ Jubilee Stores
Wednesdays 12 Sep - 17 Oct (6 weeks) 2:30 - 5pm £55 / £50

Diamonds come in small parcels. Join creative writer Carol Jaye every week for sparkling ideas for short stories. We will share and encourage you on a voyage to discover your unique writer’s voice. Bring pen and paper.

Workshop for Writers: The Write Day
Fri 28 Sep 10am - 5pm £8
Venue: Quay Arts 01983 822490

Word workshop and seminars offering practical help and advice for experienced writers and those just starting out:

10:00am - Workshop: Bringing Characters to Life with Felicity Fair Thompson
11:30am - The Right Agent with Caroline Sheldon
2:00pm - Ideas and How to Explore Them with Alison Habens
3:45pm - Fiction, Fact, Biography – Writing Can Take You Far with Mieron Trow

Felicity Fair Thompson writes fiction, poetry, travel features, and scripts and directs film documentaries, three of which have been broadcast on South Australian TV. She teaches creative writing for Connexions, independent companies, community groups, and the Isle of Wight College, and the UK Film Council course An Introduction to Screenwriting for City Eye in Southampton.

Caroline Sheldon set up her own literary agency in 1985 after 12 years working in publishing. Her specialist areas are women’s fiction, and children’s books and she sells work by her clients to all the major publishers.

Alison Habens is the author of three novels Dreamhouse, Family Outing, and Lifestory and is senior lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth.

M J Trow is the author of over forty books, ranging from detective fiction through true crime to historical biography, the most recent being El Cid: The Making of a Legend. Amongst current works about to be completed are a history of crime during World War II and the latest in the Peter Maxwell series - Maxwell’s Chain. He has recently started lecturing on cruise ships and has been an invited speaker to mainland schools.

The Illustrated Island: A Book Project
Sat 29 & Sun 30 Sep 10am - 4pm £75 / £70 (Friends of Quay Arts £70)
Venue: Quay Arts (Jubilee Stores) 01983 822490

Southampton-based illustrator Jonny Hannah will give this two-day illustration and basic print workshop. You will draw inspiration from Isle of Wight history, dialect and folklore, and work together to create a limited edition book, with individual screenprinted cover. Bring some sketching paper or a sketch book and drawing materials - all other materials will be provided.

Taster Session: Writing Fiction for Publication
Fri 5 Oct 11am - 1pm £3 Booking Essential
Venue: Ventnor Community Projects, 1 Albert St. Ventnor 07976009414

A two hour introductory taster workshop with tutor Nina Cullinane on developing your fiction writing to a publishable standard and targeting your work to publishers, agents, magazines or competitions and other outlets. Suitable for experienced writers with a writing project underway, or an idea you’d like to take further. A ten week course will follow at the same venue in Ventnor, but numbers will be limited so please express interest early.

To enrol call Alison Knapman on 0797 600 9414
For more information call Nina Cullinane on 01983 823813

Storytelling: Try storytelling
Sat 6 Oct 2 - 4pm £3
Venue: Sandown Library

A workshop for anyone interested in having a go at storytelling. Suitable for families and individuals. Booking essential. Tel 01983 241095 to reserve your places.

Poetry Workshop with Jane Draycott
Wed 10 Oct 2 - 4pm £7.50 (Friends of Quay Arts £6.50)
Venue: Quay Arts 01983 822490

Take part in this watery workshop with poet Jane Draycott. Why not write a poem at this workshop then read it out at the Open Mic on Thu 11 Oct?

Don’t forget you have the opportunity to hear Jane Draycott perform her work including pieces from Tideway and from her forthcoming collection on Wed 10 Oct. For details click here.

...sensuous and crystalline David Morley - The Guardian