If you’ve been following me on social media and reading what I’ve been saying, you’ll know I’ve spent loads of time shifting workshops and sessions I was going to do in front of people online. I know it’s a tricky thing finding things for children to do, especially as no one was able to plan so here’s something I do in schools with great success. It’s fun. It’s words. It’s making stuff up. It’s literacy. It’s easy – anyone can do it. It’s definitely worth a try.
PUSH PLAY POETRY – two online, video courses (with worksheets and some pretty cool content/poems/speeches) IS AVAILABLE. It’s free. It’s for NEVER SUCH INNOCENCE, a brilliant charity I’ve done a fair bit of work with and loved every moment.
There are two courses – one for 9-12s, the other for 12-18s (but there’s really no reason mums and dads, carers, or friends can’t get involved too).
So, let the kids have a try. If they fancy it, they can enter it into the competition. One of the reasons I’m super excited about this is how many people we can reach – usually we’re limited to my schedule and how many young people we can fit into a classroom or school hall – this way everyone who’d like to have a go can!. Please share it as widely as you can. Teachers, TAs, mums, dads, grandparents, carers. Home schooling groups. It’s there for everyone.
COMPETITIONS!
The brilliant folk at Sheffield Libraries and Hive South Yorkshire have been rushing around like you wouldn’t believe to bring forward a whole bunch of exciting things from my role as Writer in Residence for their Year of Reading to look forward to and keep you occupied.
More of that to come but first… drum roll please…
It’s competition time. The Love Sheffield, Luv, comps will be open from April 1st so get cracking. These competitions are for everyone – keep your eyes peeled for some tips (coming soon) – it doesn’t matter if you’ve not written anything creative since primary school – or if you didn’t even then – WE WANT YOUR STORIES – and we want you to write about whatever you fancy writing about.
Prizes included £100 book vouchers, the chance to work one-2-one with me, publication in Hive’a anthology, and the Year of Reading anthology.
Here are the details – for more, and to enter, go here.
LOVE SHEFFIELD, LUV
You might want to write about a place that only you know about. Something you’re proud of. Maybe you’d like to show aliens around our city. If you’re in Sheffield it could be anything about you! Or a memory you cherish. Maybe you’d like to make up a story set in Sheffield, past, present, or somewhere in the distant future.
‘The best thing about being a writer is we can write about whatever we want. We make things up! No-one needs to know if it’s true or not!’ – Nik Perring (author).
Poems, script, and stories are all welcome.
PRIZES will include £100 in book tokens for each category, publication in the Year of Reading Anthology, or Children’s Anthology, with winners invited to perform at a special event.
Age categories
Children’s Year of Reading Explorer Prize – Up to 13 years
Entrants, or teachers and guardians, are invited to submit young people’s best work using the theme of Exploration to spark ideas.
Up to 400 words or up to 2 poems
Hive New Writer Prize – 14-19 years
Open to 14-19 year olds who aren’t currently accessing Hive groups and workshops.
As part of Year of Reading, Hive are looking to discover and showcase new talent.
If you’re a secret scribbler, part-time poet, closet novelist, or someone who fancies giving writing a go, we want to read your stuff! More info: www.hivesouthyorkshire.com/yearofreading
Up to 800 words or 3 poems
In addition to publication in the Year of Reading Anthology, winners will also receive a one to one guidance session with Nik.
Sheffield Year of Reading Writing Prize – 20 years & above
Up to 1000 words or 3 poems on the theme of Exploration.
No upper age limit.
Opens: April 1st
Deadline: July 31st 2020
Please submit your entries to yearofreading@sheffield.gov.uk
Ready? Set? Write!