Greetings people,

I'm Oliver Bayliss (The_O on here) and I'll be joining the illimitable Dave Ewer on the new BrumWords editorial team.

Coming soon, expect ch-ch-changes worthy of Bowie as we expand and modify this community and work toward restoring Birmingham as the UK's cultural second city.

In the meantime, any suggestions or inklings would be welcome.

Plus, Birmingham Words can now be followed on Twitter and Facebook.

The National Academy of Writing was set up in 2000 to create a school for aspiring writers with demonstrable talent based on the ‘conservatoire’ approach adopted in the performing arts. The current programme, hosted at Birmingham City University, allows participants to develop their skills as novelists, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, and non-fiction writers, supported by the active involvement of the Academy’s Patrons (a substantial body of internationally renowned authors) and Partners (publishers, agents, and other relevant media participants).

This event will showcase some of the best work of the students from the two years the course has been running.

Tickets are free but please reserve a place with the box office 0121 303 2323

When: 15.10.2008 20.00 h - 21.30 h

Where: Birmingham Conservatoire
Paradise Place
Birmingham
B3 3HG
UK

www.birminghambookfestival.org

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What has happened to the art since the collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1989? How do artists, poets and writers respond to the political, social and economic changes?

17 works by 10 artists from across the EU give us an insight into processes of mourning, remembering and overcoming the past. This exhibition will be opened by a conference exploring the roles of the visual in overcoming dictatorships

The exhibition and conference is part of the EU-funded project 'Overcoming Dictatorships - the Encounter of Poets, Artists and Writers' (principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Besier, Professor of European Studies, Technische Universität, Dresden).

Exhibition (9 October - 9 November 2008, weekdays, 10-5) and conference (9 October 2008, 9-4), Aston Webb Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

http://www.overcomings.blogspot.com
http://lehrstuhl-europastudien.eu/eu

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The Eccentric Auction & The International Prize Draw will be taking place at the Anchor Pub in Digbeth, Birmingham on Tuesday 23rd September 2008, 7.30pm.

For those that made the Eccentric Auction last December will be familiar with the format. A cross between Ebay and a CarBoot, we sell items ranging from 3p to a little bit more ---- it all depends on the crowd and what we have in our eccentric goodie bag!

If you feel generous and eccentric enough to bring an item for the auction and to help us raise much needed funds for our free emotional newspaper, then please bring them along on the night!

Thanks to Gerry at the Anchor Pub once more. He is also honouring us with another Eccentric Ale – The Butler and Lord Mayor Eccentric City beer. Come and sample a little bit if you like!?

The International Prize Draw:

Costing £1 per raffle ticket, this is the chance for one winner to have the opportunity to have a tabloid size page in the next issue of The Eccentric City newspaper. Come along to the Eccentric Auction and buy a raffle ticket. The winner is announced on the night! Full details and terms and conditions (and if you can't make it - you can buy a ticket online): www.eccentriccity.co.uk

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Prose and Poetry Prizes 2008 - major annual international competition for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles; offers cash prizes from a total fund above £2,000 as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July. 
Closing date 30 November 2008.

Further information including guidelines, entry form and fees at http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm

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The Traditional Arts Team have some upcoming storytelling events in Birmingham. Here are the details:

Wed 17 Sep: East of Birmingham

Join us for an intimate evening as American Storyteller Sam Cannarozzi tells stories. Lend him your ears and he promises to hand them back full to overflowing and embellished.
www.storytelling.uk.net/cafe/events/sep08bham.html

Wed 15 Oct: Chalk and Cheese

Relax for a night with two of London's most entertaining storytellers - Alma Simpson and Nell Phoenix - both passionate, sassy and bursting with life. Hot from storytelling sessions at Camden's Tarriano they are on a mission to repopulate the world of stories with tales of heroines - their trials and their triumphs - which will speak to the people of the 21st century.
www.storytelling.uk.net/cafe/events/oct08bham.html

Wed 19 Nov: The Milky Way - Stories of Nordic Nights

Storyteller Mats Rehnman brings you on a journey t to the heart of Lapland where heathen gods still swarm beyond the churches and where giants, witches and ghosts are hiding in endless forests. So far North that you can touch heaven from a fishing boat and find the secret of Time in a kitchen garden. So far North that we reach beyond what is true and what is a lie.
www.storytelling.uk.net/cafe/events/nov08bham.html

Wed 17 Dec: Christmas storytelling at Kitchen Garden Café

Get into the traditional swing of Christmas with music, songs and of course, stories. You will find tonight fittingly festive so eat, drink and be merry. Delve deep into the Christmas spirit with the Storytelling Cafe regulars and guests.
www.storytelling.uk.net/cafe/events/dec08bham.html

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Venue: Kitchen Garden Café, York Road, Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7SA
Start time: 7:30 pm (food served from 6:30)
Tickets: £7 from the Kitchen Garden shop or phone 0121 443 4725

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People in Action, a Leeds-based charity working with people with learning disabilities and difficulties are running their First Short Story Competition The Silver Thread - to celebrate 25 years of People in Action – and hopefully raise some money too. Prizes are:

First prize £250 plus a years subscription to Writing Magazine and Writers News
Second prize - £100
Third prize £50
10 runners-up prizes of £10

Winners will be published on our web-site

Entry forms can be downloaded at http://www.peopleinaction.org.uk under the 'News' section or send a sae to:

Silver Thread Short Story Competition,
Oxford Chambers,
Oxford Place,
Leeds,
LS1 3AX

Any queries, please call us on 01132470411 or 07948167677 or email silverthreadstory@live.com

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For anyone who's interested in publishing this is worth checking out...