Following on from the successful inaugural event in 2019 the NI Festival of Writing is launching an online programme of content to once again encourage and support writers who want to start or develop their skills.
Throughout November and December the free online content will include interviews with local writers and content creators, panel events, workshops and masterclasses.
Director of the festival, James Murphy, said that the festival intends to become even more successful in encouraging local talent.
“While we cannot repeat last year we have worked hard to make sure we have a rich programme that aims to help develop participant’s confidence,” he said.
“We hope that what we have planned will educate, empower and improve literacy and communications skills.”
The 2020 NI Festival of Writing which has been developed in partnership with Belfast City Council, has launched a Crowdfunding campaign.
“Whilst the events will be free, in order to increase the number and variety of events held throughout the remainder of the year, Belfast City Council have kindly offered to match-fund us to a maximum of £5,000 if we undertake a crowdfunding campaign,” James explained.
“We have designed a range of opportunities from donations from as little as £5 through to sponsorship opportunities from £100. We have currently raised just over £1,000 and we hope to double that by the end of the crowdfunder this week.
“We know that what we will be providing will make a real impact on participant’s lives through participation, learning and even the opportunity to showcase their work.”
The 2020 programme will include in-depth interviews with local, national and international writers; a range of practical writing and creative writing workshops, online book club and reading recommendations; panel discussions; and, a regular online writing retreat.
This year the festival has joined forces with local public service television channel NVTV to make the festival more accessible to people across the country.
Simon Wood, Chairperson at NVTV said: “Northern Visions is excited to be a partner in the Northern Ireland Festival of Writing this year. One of the pleasures for many of us during these challenging times, especially during lockdown, has been being able to get lost in a book and become acquainted with books we have forgotten we actually own.
“What’s so interesting about the Festival of Writing is that it is writing in all its forms so this is a real voyage of discovery.”
Fans of the festival can see the main NVTV broadcast on Friday November 27 broadcasting on Freeview 7 (greater Belfast) and Virgin Media 159 (across Northern Ireland).
The festival will also be streaming sessions on Facebook and running a series of online workshop sessions as well as a range of other interactive events throughout November and December.
“In addition we will launch NI Festival of Writing’s very own podcast as well as interactive advice sessions with writers, agents and publishers,” said Festival co-founder Tina Calder.
“With the support of all including our festival partners NVTV, Oranga Creative, BAM magazine, The Secret Bookshelf and my own company Excalibur Press we will make this a success and look forward to having a further programme planned for the time when safer social gatherings can take place.”
To help support the festival the Crowd Funder page can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-northern-ireland-festival-of-writing
To find out more at http://festivalofwriting.org
NI Festival of Writing events
Starting Your Crime Fiction Novel: An Online Workshop with James Murphy
Friday 4th December, 6.30pm
In this session attendees will learn everything about the crime genre from what makes a good crime novel, developing a successful premise and plotting your novel to giving you insights into narrative style and creating believable characters as well as writing and editing techniques. James Murphy will also touch on things such as routes to publication, techniques for submitting to agents and publishers as well as promoting and marketing yourself and your work.
A Kids Guide To Creating An Awesome Comic Book With Tina Calder
Saturday 5th December, 3pm
Aimed at ages 7-14 this workshop will take your child through the basics of creating their own comic book. We’ll also chat about your ideas and discuss how you can improve your comic and why collaboration can be a powerful tool to creating successful comics.
A Guide To Creating An eBook For Your Business with Tina Calder
Thursday 10th December, 3pm
In this session attendees will find out how creating an ebook for their business, brand or service can help increase customer lead generation as well as sales conversions. We’ll look at how to plan, create and write an eBook quickly and effectively with minimal hassle.
Men & Journaling: How To Support Your Mental Health Through Writing with James Murphy
Friday 11th December, 7pm
In this session attendees will learn how society as well as personal and professional relationships impact mental health. James Murphy will also discuss the relationship between mental wellness and physical wellness and the importance of communication. This session will also show attendees how to use writing to improve your ability to communicate, to evaluate your mental wellness and the role of writing whilst supporting others.
A Quick & Easy Guide To Finishing Your Fiction Novel with Tina Calder
Saturday 12th December, 3pm
Publisher and author Tina Calder will show attendees how to rid yourself of that niggling doubt that ‘sure nobody would buy it anyway’.
Tina is going to show you how to rid yourself of that niggling doubt in your mind, and turn all that passion for your story and negativity about your ability into a positive force that will help you create the building blocks to what will become a novel that you can be proud of.
About The Northern Ireland Festival of Writing
The inaugural Northern Ireland Festival of Writing took place in April & May of 2019.
In launching the festival it was our aim to bring together a range of local writers and content creators from across the wide spectrum of talents that we have in Northern Ireland, to run a series of events and workshops wherein those aspiring and emerging in their chosen creative field would have the opportunity to learn from those who had successfully carved a path for them to follow, as well as providing a platform for local writers at all points in their writing journey, to showcase their achievements.
The Festival was a huge success, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt to us, that not only was there a wealth of writing talent in Northern Ireland, keen to be tapped, developed, promoted and celebrated, but also, that the work of The Merlin Project was much needed and appreciated in our current climate.
We had a level of support that went well beyond our expectations, with established artists and organisations willing to give up their time and expertise to help others develop their craft, as well as our database of people wishing to take part in and develop from the festival, reaching numbers of mind-blowing proportions.
About The Merlin Project
At The Merlin Project, we seek to educate, empower and encourage people to use to use the power of their words to help them develop their confidence, enhance and improve their communication skills and overcome personal and societal issues in order to improve the quality of their lives, their relationships, their mental and physical health, as well as their employability.
We also aim to provide opportunities for aspiring and emerging writers and content creators, to develop and hone their craft as well as providing them with a platform to showcase and celebrate their works.
