The Abergavenny Writing Festival, launched
in 2016, is back for its second year. Taking place at the Kings Arms Hotel and
Broadleaf Books in Abergavenny across three days and evenings 20th,
21st and 22nd April 2017.
The aim of the event is to get
people together to get writing, be inspired and have fun. The Aber Writing Fest
aims to cover as many areas of writing as possible: from writing a novel, a
diary, an article, a poem, a film, a speech, a song or a letter. There will be
workshops, talks and performances for all ages and interest groups. The
Abergavenny Writing Festival is sponsored for the second year by Abergavenny
estate agent Christie Residential and Literature Wales is also supporting the
event in 2017.
For the young ones children’s authors
Nicola Davies, Sarah Hill and Bev Carr will give talks and workshops and there
will be storytelling from Alison Newsam and Louby Lou’s Storytelling. The
eclectic 2017 programme includes a songwriting workshop from singer songwriter
Kizzy Crawford; a fantasy / science fiction writing workshop from Abergavenny
writer Stephanie Burgis and a Letterpress printing workshop from poet and
artist Francesca Kay. International bestselling author Julia Gregson (whose
novels include East of the Sun and Jasmine Nights) will talk about her writing
experiences.
For budding journalists the line-up
includes talks from BBC Countryfile magazine editor Fergus Collins and Guardian
and Observer arts journalist and Radio 4 documentary maker Jude Rogers. There will also be poetry, creative writing
and mindful writing workshops, so plenty of opportunities to put pen to paper
or just absorb the creativity in a relaxed environment.
The three evening events will be all about
kicking back and relaxing; listening to inspiring words and music. Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights at the Kings Arms Hotel will be packed full of
talks, music and readings, from poets Christopher Meredith, Phil Bowen and Paul
Henry; non-fiction writers Georgina Jones, Emma Bevan and Robert Penn and
bilingual musicians and writers Kizzy Crawford and Rufus Mufasa.
Abergavenny
Writing Festival organiser Lucie Parkin explains: “I want everyone to feel that
they can just come along and have a go, connect with people and be inspired by
what others are already doing. My view is that we are all ‘writers’, whether we
write professionally or privately. It’s really about communicating, connecting
and finding your own voice. ”
Abergavenny Writing Festival Events
Thursday 20th April
Sarah Hill,
‘Whimsy Woods’ children’s workshop and talk (10.00-11.00am)
Nigel Jarrett: Getting your work published in
literary magazines (10.30-11.15am)
Nicola Davies: A Whale in Words (11.30am-12.15pm) and Words
and Pictures (12.45-1.45pm)
Best-selling fiction writer Julia Gregson
talks about her writing experiences (2.00-3.00pm)
Pam Smail & Anna Goodson ‘Writing for Fun’
Workshop: Inspiring Creativity (3.30-5.00pm)
‘Stories to take away’ with Alison
Newsam (4.00-5.00pm) at Broadleaf Books
Phil Madden Haiku poetry workshop
(5.15pm-6.15pm)
An evening of inspiring talks from three non-fiction
writers: Robert Penn, Emma Bevan & Georgina Jones (7.30-10.30pm)
Friday 21st
April
Artist Catherine Wynne-Paton ‘in and out of
text’ talk and workshop (10.00-11.30am)
Bev Carr reading from her children’s
book
Oliver and the Missing Scientist (11.45am-12.30pm)
Marketing workshop with Abergavenny Chronicle
editor Liz Davies and Borough Theatre’s Linsey Wheeler (12.30-1.30pm) at the Chronicle Offices
Mindfulness Writing Workshop with Tom George (1.30-3.00pm)
me interested
in Buddhism and spirituality, with his work reflecting these perspectives. He
is currently working on writing projects with a number of wellbeing and mental
health organisations. "In Mindful Writing we look with a deep curiosity at
the world around us, finding a rich world of detail in the smallest things,
looking with the non-judgemental wonder of a child. We gain insight from
ancient Buddhist techniques that calm the mind and open up the senses.
In this session we will try out a range of creative writing techniques, do a
little meditation and discussion, and step outside to find inspiration in the
natural beauty of Abergavenny (weather permitting!)
Mindful writing is not about writing to impress. It is a self-compassionate and
non-critical practice where the process is as important as the result. The aim
is not to engage so much with personal stories or narratives but to be 'in the
moment', to be immersed in sensory stimulii and write from that place."
"In Mindful Writing we look with a deep curiosity at the world around us,
finding a rich world of detail in the smallest things, looking with the
non-judgemental wonder of a child. We gain insight from ancient Buddhist
techniques that calm the mind and open up the senses.
In this session we will try out a range of creative writing techniques, do a
little meditation and discussion, and step outside to find inspiration in the
natural beauty of Abergavenny (weather permitting!)
Mindful writing is not about writing to impress. It is a self-compassionate and
non-critical practice where the process is as important as the result. The aim
is not to engage so much with personal stories or narratives but to be 'in the
moment', to be immersed in sensory stimulii and write from that place."Fantasy / science fiction writing
workshop with Stephanie Burgis (3.30-4.30pm)
Create an artful story with Helen Cotterill
(4.00-5.30pm) Broadleaf Books
BBC Countryfile magazine editor Fergus
Collins – improving your writing skills (5.00-6.00pm)
A celebration of ‘Poetry Upstairs’ with
readings from Christopher Meredith & Phil Bowen (7.30-10.30pm)
Saturday 22nd
April
Louby Lou’s Storytelling (10.00-10.45am 0 to
3 Years and 11.30am-12.30pm for 4 to 11 Years)
Discussing the lyrics of Bob Dylan with John
Cranna (10.30-11.15am)
Letterpress printing workshop with artist and
poet Francesca Kay (1.00-2.00pm)
Talk from writer, speaker and social
entrepreneur Marie Yates (2.30-3.30pm)
How to write a Radio 4 documentary with journalist
Jude Rogers (3.45-4.45pm)
Create an artful story with Helen Cotterill
(4.00-5.30pm) Broadleaf Books
Songwriting workshop with singer and
songwriter Kizzy Crawford (5.00-6.00pm)
Writing Fest Finale: an evening of poetry,
songs and stories from Paul Henry, Rufus Mufasa and Kizzy Crawford
(7.30-11.30pm)
