Last Chance to Submit Your Work to Shadows!

Hard as it may be to believe, today is the final opportunity to submit your drama, poetry, and prose to this year’s UoG Creative Writing anthology, Shadows: New Writing VI. The submission window closes tonight at midnight!  The editors have received numerous standout pieces so far but there is still room for more. So if you’ve been procrastinating it’s time to take the plunge and email your submission(s) to shadowsuog@gmail.com. Be sure to check the full guidelines before doing so. Good luck and see you in the slushpile!

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Shadows: New Writing VI Submission Call

An Army athlete prepares to throw a javelin at the Inter-Corps Athletics Competition, Tidworth Oval athletics stadium in Tidworth, Wiltshire.

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That’s right, folks: the 2017 UoG Creative Writing anthology is now open for submissions.  This year the title and theme is ‘shadows’, in all its various guises.  And get this: for the first time it’s open to Creative Writing single honours students, CW joint students, and also English Literature and Language students.  Our MA student editors have come up with their guidelines, and here’s what they’re looking for:

The Editors of Shadows are looking for high quality prose, poetry, drama, or artwork submissions for UoG’s sixth Creative Writing Anthology. This year, we’re interested in writing of all types and genres, and particularly pieces that engage, loosely or directly, with the theme ‘shadows’. This can be interpreted however the author likes, including the hidden and peripheral – the things in our lives and relationships we don’t acknowledge – as well as our shadow-selves and the darker side of human experience, such as the gothic or transgressive. On a wider scale, we’re interested in characters who live ‘in the shadows’ or on the margins of society: outsiders, outcasts, and the unseen. And of course, we’re also accepting work on any subject or style that demonstrates the talent on our course. 

You’ll be hearing more from the MA editors, who will be dropping in to classes in the coming weeks to spread the word and further explain their criteria.  In the meantime, take a look at their guidelines page and prepare to step into the shadows.  You’ll have over three weeks (and an entire activity week) to polish up a piece to submit, as the deadline is midnight on Saturday March 25th – the very end of Week 8.  Good luck!

Anthology Launch & 2016 UoG Novel Writing Contest Winners Announced!

On Tuesday the course celebrated the launch of this year’s paperback anthology of student work, Reflections: New Writing 5.  Attendees were treated to readings from contributors on campus, which was followed by an after-party at Tailor’s bar in town.  Excitingly, at the event the winners for this year’s UoG Novel Writing Contest were also announced.  3rd prize went to Mark Webber for his Mafioso crime novel, Mamma; 2nd prize went to Pamela Keevil for her drama-mystery, Mayflies; and the overall winner was Senja Andrejevic for her thriller, All The Things We Knew.  Each winner received a cash prize and professional critique from literary agent Becky Thomas, of Johnson and Alcock.  Thanks to all who came out to support such a great night, as well as all those who submitted work to the anthology and the novel writing contest.  Have a good break, and we’ll see you in the New Year!

Reflections Anthology Launch Event

Hot on the heels of our recent post about the 2016 UoG Novel Contest Shortlist, we’re pleased to announced that this year’s annual Creative Writing anthology, Reflections: New Writing 5, will be launched in just under three weeks time, on Tuesday December 13th, in just under three weeks time.  The doors open at 6.15 in TCoo2(A) for reflective fun and refreshments.  Then, at 7.00 p.m., we’ll move into the main lecture hall (TC001) for readings.  The paperback anthology retails for £6.99 but will be on sale for the discounted launch price of £5.  When we wrap up, there is an after-party in the private function room (downstairs) at Tailor’s.  Entry is free, so bring your friends and come along to what’s shaping up to be a great night!

Coming Soon: New Writing V

For those who don’t know (and who doesn’t?) one of the most exciting aspects of the UoG course is our annual paperback anthology.  Originally conceived by lecturers Mike ‘D.D.’ Johnstone, Tyler Keevil, and Lucy Tyler (alas!), who were the first editors, the anthology showcases the best prose, poetry, and drama by students on our programme, at every level: from 1st year to third year, MA students, and PhD research students.  In 2013, editing the anthology became part of our MA module, HM7106: The Creative Industries, and since the start of Semester 2 this year’s editorial team have been busy developing ideas for the latest edition.  The theme changes every year, so watch this space for our forthcoming announcement of the official title, submission guidelines, and deadline.  And in the meantime, start polishing your best work!

One Week To Compass Launch!

A week today, on Tuesday October 27th, the UoG Writing Programme will be launching Compass: New Writing IV, the latest anthology in the New Writing series, featuring the best prose, poetry, and drama by students on our course.  So navigate your way to TC002A at 6.45 p.m. and join us for snacks and beverages.  We will then adjust course and move into the main lecture theatre (TC001) for readings, before announcing the results of the second annual UoG Novel Writing Contest.  For the after-party, our hardy adventurers will make an epic trek to The Swan – a venue on the far side of the little world called Cheltenham, where we’ve booked a private function room.  The night is going to be one for the record books, or log books, so get your gear together and join the expedition!

Novel Writing Contest Shortlist!

This week, the much anticipated shortlist for the 2015 UoG Novel Writing Contest has been revealed.  It was a competitive field and the judges did not approach it lightly: it required much deliberating and soul-searching and debating before they eventually came to a decision.  But that moment has come.  Before pulling back the curtain, we would like to thank all those who entered – the standards were very high.  As with our inaugural competition, we have narrowed the field down to a shortlist of six to be sent on to literary agent Becky Thomas, who is our finals judge and will pick the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner (each of whom will receive a cash prize, and critique).  In alphabetical order by author, the shortlist of six is:

• Eva by Phil Bowne
• Year One by Heather Cripps
• The Masterpiece by Rod Griffiths
• Paper Boats by Keely O’Shaughnessy
• Claro by Meg Paul
• All the Things We Knew by Senja Andrejevic

Congratulations to all who entered, and in particular our shortlisted entrants.  The three winners will be announced at this year’s anthology launch, for Compass: New Writing IV, on Tuesday October 27th at 6.45 p.m. in TC001/TC002A.  So come along to what’s shaping up to be a brilliant event.