welcome to swanwick

3

INSIDE FRONT

COVER

Welcome to SWANWICK

The 68th Writers’ Summer School

CONTENTS

SITE PLAN 4

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER 5

HOW TO FIND US 6

ACCOMMODATION 7

SCHOOL INFORMATION 10

PAGE TO STAGE 13

DAILY PROGRAMME GUIDE 14-28

AT A GLANCE TIMETABLE 24-25

LEARNING PROGRAMME 29-38

CRIME SPECIAL 39

SUPPORT SWANWICK 39

GUEST SPEAKERS 40

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT 41-43

AGM & COMMITTEE 44

4

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME LETTER

Welcome to Swanwick 2016

LET THE ENTERTAINMENT BEGIN!

One of the most rewarding and daunting things about being on the

committee is reading ‘the best Swanwick yet’ on some of the

feedback forms – rewarding in knowing that we have got it right again,

daunting in knowing how each year continually sets the bar for the

next one so high. We do take the feedback very seriously – in fact this

year we managed to find the money to add a specialist course on

poetry as a direct result of it – so please fill them in, and hand them in!

This the first year in which we benefit from the establishment of Friends

of Swanwick. Though this we have succeeded in increasing the

number of Top-writers and have enabled a number of people to come

to Swanwick who would not have otherwise been able to afford it.

Please consider supporting the school in this way.

This year we have a superb programme of courses, specialist and short

which appears to cover the whole gamut of anyone’s possible writing

interests. Swanwick’s strength and unique selling point is that all of the

courses are open to all of the delegates without pre-booking. You can

make up your mind which you wish to go to on the day – or whether or

not you would prefer to spend the time just writing.

We also have a particularly rich blend of speakers, our own John

Lamont on motivation; James Runcie, a veritable polymath of writing;

Kathryn Aalto, a ground-breaker in creative non-fiction; Michael Jecks

a prodigious writer of historical fiction; and Brendan Nolan, a great

Celtic storyteller – I need say no more.

Our entertainments range from the warm intimacy of the Icebreaker,

through the Open Mic Poetry, our glorious take on a Buskers Evening,

the Page to Stage competition and ending in Swanwick’s unique take

on the pantomime, all complemented by the Morning Meditation and

Unwind Your Minds sessions for those who find the pace hard to live

with.

A veritable cornucopia of confections!

If it is your first visit to Swanwick use the introductory sessions to ensure

that you get as much from the week in terms of courses and meeting

like-minded people. If you are a regular, then you’ll be only too aware

of the pleasures to come. Welcome Back!

Michael O’Byrne

CHAIRMAN

5

6 7

HOW TO FIND US

THE WRITERS SUMMER SCHOOL

The Hayes Conference Centre

Hayes Lane

SWANWICK

Alfreton

Derbyshire

DE55 1AU

01773 526 000

By ROAD The Hayes is approximately a ten minute drive from JUNCTION 28 off the M1.

Exit the motorway taking the A38 towards Derby, leave the A38 at the exit

marked A615/A61 Matlock & Chesterfield. Take the B6179 towards Swanwick

and Ripley. At the traffic lights/crossroads by the church turn LEFT towards

Somercotes – there is a sign saying CONFERENCE CENTRE. After approx 500

yards, turn RIGHT into Hayes Lane. The conference centre is straight ahead.

There is ample free parking available.

By RAIL The nearest station is ALFRETON on the Sheffield/Nottingham line. However,

trains are limited, so we recommend travelling to DERBY and then taking a taxi

or a bus from there. You can pre book a taxi by contacting the Hayes

conference centre directly or you can pre book our COACH PICK UP SERVICE

from DERBY station at 15:45 and 17:15 on Saturday. You must pre book & pay in

order to board the coach.

By BUS From DERBY take a 9.1 or 9.2 or 9.3 to MANSFIELD and ask to be let off at THE

GATE INN, Swanwick. The conference centre is a five minute walk from there.

By AIR East Midlands International: 01332 852 852

Birmingham International: 0871 222 0072

Manchester International: 0161 489 3000

By BOAT Not recommended.

The Summer School officially starts with Afternoon Tea on the lawn - weather

permitting - on Saturday.

PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 15:30!

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

On arrival, please go to the RECEPTION AREA in your chosen ACCOMMODATION

BLOCK, where you will be given your room number, your identification badge

and keys to your room. Please wear your badge at all times.

Accommodation is in the following areas:

LAKESIDE Ground Floor: Rooms 101 - 130

First floor: Rooms 201 - 254

Second Floor: Rooms 301 - 356

Third Floor: Rooms 401 - 425

ALAN BOOTH CENTRE Ground floor: Rooms 3 – 13

First Floor: Rooms 16 – 30

MAIN HOUSE Ground Floor: Rooms 3 – 9 & 17 – 27

First Floor: Rooms A - F

Rooms 35 – 44 & 57 – 63

Rooms 66 – 84

Second floor: Rooms H – T

All accommodation areas are served by lifts and/or stairs.

BAGGAGE HANDLING: Unfortunately, due to legislation, we are unable to provide a baggage handling

service. Delegates are advised to make their own arrangements.

ROOM FACILITIES: All rooms in Lakeside & Alan Booth Centre and most rooms in the Main House

have private en-suite facilities with soap and towels provided. All rooms are

also equipped with complimentary tea & coffee making facilities and a

hairdryer. If you run out of anything or would like extra bedding or pillows etc.,

please see a member of the Hayes housekeeping staff. There is also free Wi-Fi in

all rooms and a daily maid service.

To activate the electricity in your room (ABC & Lakeside), place your key fob in

the wall pocket. Please keep your keys safe!

SECURITY Please wear your name badge at all times. Due to Health & Safety Regulations

we are obliged to give The Hayes a daily list of all residents, so please inform us if

you are going ‘off-site’ for any reason.

9 8

VALUABLES Please do not leave valuables unattended in your room – even if it is locked.

The Summer School and The Hayes are not liable for any losses. If you are not

able to keep them with you, please ask about using the safe in the Conference

Office.

WI-FI There is FREE Wi-Fi available throughout the conference centre including all the

bedrooms. You will need to ‘log-in’ with your email address to access the Wi-Fi.

COMPUTERS/LAPTOPS We suggest that you bring an extension lead for your laptop for use in your room

and if you need to charge your laptop during sessions. There will be a laptop

and printer in the Main House Reception for the exclusive use of delegates.

There is also a collection box for your donations to pay for paper and ink.

CHECK OUT TIME IS 10:00 on FRIDAY MORNING BREAKFAST on Friday is 07:30 and coaches depart at 08:30 for Derby Station.

PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE! The coaches will not wait for you.

Please would you strip your bed and place used linen and towels outside your

room in the corridor. Don’t forget to drop your keys into the boxes in the

reception areas.

Any room telephone calls or bar tabs must be paid directly to The Hayes before

you depart.

HAYES ADMINISTRATION OFFICE If you have any complaints regarding the facilities - rooms/food etc - these

should be reported directly to the Hayes Admin Office, which is located on the

first floor of the Main House.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS The School’s Conference Office: 01773 526 011

The Hayes Administration Office: 01773 526 000

CASH MACHINES Unfortunately, there are no cash machines available at The Hayes. The nearest

cash machines are located in the village. The bar does not take credit/debit

cards. However, if you urgently require cash, we are pleased to announce that

we now offer a cheque/BACS ‘cash-back’ facility through the school

conference office.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES The public telephones are located in the Pillar Hall, next to the VINERY. (see

map on page 4)

MAIL There is a post box located in the Reception area of the Main House. Mail is

collected daily. The address for in-coming mail is:

The Writers Summer School

Hayes Conference Centre

SWANWICK

Derbyshire

DE55 1AU

Any incoming mail is placed on the tables outside the SCHOOL CONFERENCE

OFFICE for collection.

ROOM TELEPHONES Please note that not all rooms have telephones. If you do have a telephone in

your room and wish to make calls, any charges must be paid directly to the

Hayes Administration Office before you leave.

SMOKING

The Hayes has a STRICT NO SMOKING POLICY throughout the whole

conference centre. This includes the bar, the conference halls and meeting

rooms, all accommodation blocks and the bedrooms. There are however,

designated smoking areas located outside, with shelter provided, for those that

wish to smoke.

Please note that this policy includes E-cigarettes.

MEALS & SNACKS & DRINKS

BREAKFAST 08:30 (Friday: 07:30) Served in the CHATSWORTH DINING ROOM.

MORNING COFFEE 10:40 - 11:10 Served in the BAR/LOUNGE area.

LUNCH 13:00 Served in the CHATSWORTH DINING ROOM

AFTERNOON TEA 15:15 – 15:45 Served in the BAR/LOUNGE area

DINNER 19:00 Served in the CHATSWORTH DINING ROOM

BAR Lunch: Open from 12:15 – 13:00

Dinner: Open from 18:00 – 19:00

Evening: Open from 21:00 – 23:00 - Last orders are at 22:50

10 11

SPECIAL DIETS If you have requested a special diet, you will be given a DIET TICKET on arrival.

Please show it to a member of the Hayes dining staff at mealtimes. PLEASE do

not change your diet preferences during your stay as this can cause problems

for the catering staff! There is ample food plus plenty of fresh fruit available, as

well as hot/cold water. You won’t go hungry!

DINING ROOM & SEATING ARRANGEMENTS On SATURDAY evening there will be several tables specially reserved for WHITE

BADGERS (first timers) each hosted by a Swanwick member. If this is your first

visit to Swanwick we are sure you have lots of questions about the week ahead.

Please join us on one of these tables and take the opportunity to ask away and

get to meet other new Swannickers too.

Apart from the above, there is no ‘pre-arranged’ seating in the dining rooms

(with the exception of the CHAIRMAN’S TABLE). You may sit wherever you like!

Breakfast is served buffet style. All other meals are placed on the tables by the

dining staff, so if you are seated at the top end of the table – you will be

expected to ‘serve up’ the food. Please stack your used plates etc., at the end

of the table once you have finished eating, so that they can be cleared away

easily.

CORKAGE The Hayes is happy to allow delegates to bring their own alcohol, and we pay a

corkage fee to cover this. However, the bar is reasonably priced and we

encourage you to purchase at least some of your alcohol from the bar.

SCHOOL INFORMATION

DRESS CODE Swanwick is proud of its relaxed and friendly atmosphere and there is no

‘formal’ dress code. Please wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Some of

our delegates like to ‘dress for dinner’, but this is not compulsory.

Typical English summer weather can range from very hot and humid, to a bit

chilly (especially in the evenings) and of course, there is always the possibility of

rain – we suggest you pack accordingly!

SCHOOL CONFERENCE OFFICE The Summer School Conference office is located in the reception area of the

Main House. Please note the opening times on the door. If you have any

problems or need assistance, please come and see us during opening times.

When the office is closed, please contact a member of the Committee or one

of our Stewards, who will be happy to try and help you.

The School’s Conference Office: 01773 526 011

CONFERENCE ROOMS Sessions are held in one of the following rooms:

Main Conference Hall MCH

Butterley Hall 1 BLY1

Butterley Hall 2 BLY2

Derbyshire Suite DS

Tissington Room TR

Main Lounge ML

Chapel C

Book Room BR

See site MAP on page 4 (not to scale)

INFORMATION ROOM If you want to know more about any of the courses, tutors, sessions etc, then

please visit the INFORMATION ROOM where you will find leaflets, brochures and

magazines with information and material of interest. Please feel free to help

yourself.

COURSE HANDOUTS

All course handouts will be available to download the week following the

Summer School. To access downloads from this year's courses and workshops

visit: www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk/downloads

The password will be announced at Swanwick.

BOOK ROOM Open Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday. Please see the DAILY

PROGRAMME GUIDE for times. Only members are allowed to sell their books.

Please come along to browse & buy! Credit/debit cards accepted.

BOOK ROOM - AUTHORS ONLY The Book Room will be open from 15:30 – 18:00 on SATURDAY afternoon for

registration of books for sale. Please ensure that each book has a detailed card

inside and your list is ready before you take your books to the Book Room. Don’t

forget your SAE for payment cheques. We are now able to collect credit/debit

card payments. On THURSDAY morning between 10:30 – 11:00 please would all

authors remember to collect any unsold books.

NOTICE BOARD There’s always lots’ going on at Swanwick! The Notice Board is located in

THE VINERY (next to the Lounge Bar) and is available for all school-related

business. This includes lost items and last minute changes to the programme

etc,. If you wish to meet other delegates with similar interests, you can also use

the Notice Board to arrange a group meeting. The Vice Chairman will

announce any changes and notices during meals, but please check the board

regularly if you wish to be kept up-to-date. The Discos are also held in the

Vinery.

http://www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk/downloads

12 13

RAFFLE Every year we hold a raffle to win a FREE PLACE at the following years’ Summer

School. Raffle tickets are on sale all week and are £1 each. If you’re not

approached by one of our Ticket Sellers sometime during the week and you

would like to buy tickets, please come and see us in the SCHOOL CONFERENCE

OFFICE. The draw takes place at the FAREWELL MEETING on Thursday evening

and you must be present at the meeting to collect your prize.

SWANWICK FACEBOOK GROUP All members of the Summer School Facebook group are invited to an informal

gathering during SUNDAY afternoon tea. Come along to the MAIN LOUNGE

and say hello to your fellow FACEBOOKERS!

MORNING MEDITATION BY THE LAKE Swanwick is famous for its beautiful, tranquil surroundings. The lake is particularly

lovely, especially first thing in the morning. Why not come and join us at 08:00

for this short meditation session designed to focus and align your thoughts for

the day?

Led by Katherine Bolton

LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS Every morning at 08:00 (except Sunday) you can share 15 minutes of relaxed,

non-denominational reflection that takes place in The CHAPEL. Each day is

hosted by a different Swanwick member and can be anything from traditional

hymns and readings to sharing a particular poem, prayer or piece of music.

New members are especially welcome. The Chapel remains open throughout

the day for private prayer.

Co-ordinator: Christina Heaton

LIFT UP YOUR PENS Lift Up Your Pens consists of five pre-breakfast sessions and it’s aimed at anyone

who enjoys – or even relishes – early morning writing. The sessions will be in the

general areas of creative expression, writing development, personal

empowerment, sheer inspiration and fun! Come and join us in the Tissington

Room for an uplifting writing exercise at 8am Monday – Thursday.

Co-ordinator: Tarja Moles

UNWIND YOUR MIND Just as the morning meditation can set you up for the day, this relaxing

afternoon session can help you relax and unwind from all the workshops and

courses of the day. Listen to some music, join in with some gentle stretching

movements and replenish your mind, body and soul ready for the evening. The

sessions are held every evening at 17:15 in the CHAPEL.

Led by Zana Lamont

PROCRASTINATION FREE DAY - TUESDAY An ideal opportunity to start on something new or concentrate on an existing

piece of work - in a supportive and distraction free environment.

There are two groups to choose from, one for those who like to work on

laptops/computers and one for those who prefer the more traditional pen &

paper approach. Spaces for either are limited, so it’s advisable to sign up as

soon as possible. There will be a sign up sheet on the NOTICE BOARD in THE

VINERY. Refreshments will be provided and we will break for lunch. No mobile

phones allowed! Sessions held in BLY1 or BLY2.

PAGE TO STAGE – SUNDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY Calling all budding actors/actresses and directors! You are invited to take part

in our hugely popular PAGE TO STAGE Scriptwriting Workshop, which is held on

Tuesday afternoon in the MAIN CONFERENCE HALL with performances on

Wednesday evening.

There will be a one hour briefing on SUNDAY afternoon after tea in the Main

Conference Hall where you can find out more about Page to Stage. If you

would like to be considered for an acting or directing part, just turn up Tuesday

afternoon in the MAIN CONFERENCE HALL for the main session. Beginners are

welcome! You do not need any previous acting or directing experience.

Seven pre-submitted plays are cast and rehearsed during the afternoon and

are then performed on Wednesday evening as part of the evening

entertainment programme. There are prizes and certificates for BEST ACTOR,

BEST ACTRESS and BEST WRITER.

Page To Stage is organised and run by award winning scriptwriter, Katie White,

and is one of our most popular features during the week.

14 15

DAILY PROGRAMME GUIDE

SATURDAY

15:30 WELCOME TO SWANWICK

Please go to the Reception Area in your chosen accommodation

block to register, collect your room key and your identification

badge. Please wear your badge at all times.

16:30 AFTERNOON TEA

After you have dropped your bags in your room, join us for the

traditional Swanwick welcome with Afternoon Tea served in the

terrace overlooking the lawn in front of the Main House.

17:15 CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME MCH

Main Conference Hall

A warm welcome to everyone for the week ahead!

18:00 FIRST YEAR (WHITE BADGE) RECEPTION ML

If this is your first time at Swanwick, you are invited to join the

Committee & Course Tutors in the Main Lounge for an informal

chat and a glass of wine.

18:00 BAR OPEN

The bar closes at 19:00 and re-opens at 21:30 after the

evening speaker.

19:00 DINNER

Served in the Chatsworth Dining Room

See pages 9 & 10

20:20 VC ANNOUCEMENTS MCH

20:30 GUEST SPEAKER MCH

John Lamont – see page 40

21:30 BAR OPEN

22:00 WHAT ARE YOU WRITING NOW? TR

An informal session held in the Tissington Room

where you are invited to share what you’re currently

writing or working on. Hosted by Lois Maddox

See page 41

22:00 ICE BREAKER - Alternative Fairy Tales MCH

Come along to the Main Conference Hall and

let out your inner child! A fun interactive workshop –

no experience needed! Hosted by Julia Pattison

See page 41

22:50 LAST ORDERS AT THE BAR!

16 17

SUNDAY

08:00 MORNING MEDITATION / LIFT UP YOUR PENS/HEARTS

See page 12

08:30 BREAKFAST

09:30 SPECIALIST COURSES PART 1 of 4

Creative Non-Fiction - Kathryn Aalto MCH

Journalism – Simon Hall DS

Short Stories – Linda Lewis BLY2

Character Psychology – Steve Hartley DS

Writing Original Poetry – Alison Chisholm TR

10:30 BOOK ROOM OPEN BR

10:40 MORNING COFFEE

11:15 SHORT COURSES PART 1 of 2

Self Publishing – Helen Barbour MCH

Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Fiona Samuels DS

Writing Picture Books For Children - Pat Belford BLY2

Connecting With An Audience – Joy France TR

12:20 SUNDAY WORSHIP IN THE CHAPEL C

A non-denominational service. All welcome.

12:15 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN

13:00 LUNCH

14:15 SHORT COURSES PART 2 of 2

15:15 AFTERNOON TEA

16:00 WORKSHOPS

Flash Fiction – Veronica Bright BLY2

Page to Stage Briefing - see page 13 MCH

17:15 UNWIND YOUR MIND C

See page 12

18:00 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN BR

19:00 DINNER

20:20 VC ANNOUNCEMENTS MCH

20:30 EVENING SPEAKER MCH

James Runcie – see page 40

21:15 BAR OPEN

22:00 WRITERS QUIZ - see page 41 MCH

22:00 POETRY OPEN MIC – see page 41 ML


18 19

MONDAY


See page 12

08:30 BREAKFAST



Journalism – Simon Hall BLY1






11:15 SHORT COURSES PART I of 2

Song Writing – Barbara J Hunt MCH

Non-fiction – Jacqueline Jeynes BLY1

The Trickier Side of Fiction - Sue Moorcroft BLY2

Fantasy Fiction – Ruth DeHaas TR

12:15 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN

13:00 LUNCH

14:15 SHORT COURSES – PART 2 of 2

15:15 AFTERNOON TEA

16:00 WORKSHOPS

The Idea Generator – Ian Martin MCH

Poetry from Dreams – Joan Harthan BLY1


See page 12

18:00 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN BR

19:00 DINNER



Kathryn Aalto – see page 40

21:15 BAR OPEN

22:00 25 YEARS OF SWANWICK TR

See page 42

22:00 FANCY DRESS DISCO VIN

See page 42


20 21

TUESDAY


See page 12

08:30 BREAKFAST

09:30 CRIME SPECIAL MCH

Michael O’Byrne, Simon Hall & Kate Bendelow

See page 39

09:30 PROCRASTINATION FREE DAY BLY1/2

See page 13



11:15 CRIME PANEL MCH

See page 39

11:15 PROCRASTINATION FREE DAY BLY1/2

12:15 BAR OPEN

13:00 LUNCH

14:15 SWANWICK PAGE TO STAGE MCH

See page 13

14:15 PROCASTINATION FREE DAY BLY1/2

15:15 AFTERNOON TEA

16:00 FREE TIME

18:00 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN BR

19:00 DINNER



Michael Jecks – see page 41

21:15 BAR OPEN

21:30 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ MCH

See page 42

22:00 BUSKERS NIGHT ML

See page 42

22:50 LAST ORDERS AT THE BAR!COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the Committee MUST be handed in to the School

Conference Office today before 14:00. See page 44 for more information.

22 23

WEDNESDAY


See page 12

08:30 BREAKFAST










Endings & Agents – Erin Kelly MCH

Plotting & Stratagem – Michael Jecks BLY1

Cover Design & Marketing - Troubador BLY2

Poetry – Sarah Dixon TR

12:15 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN

13:00 LUNCH


15:15 AFTERNOON TEA

16:00 WORKSHOPS

Unforgettable Episodes – Maggie Cobbett BLY1

Hybrid Authors – Chris Browne BLY2


See page 12

18:00 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN BR

Last chance to buy books!

19:00 DINNER



Brendan Nolan – see page 41

21:15 BAR OPEN

22:00 PAGE TO STAGE PERFORMANCES MCH

See pages 13 & 42


KEY TO VENUES: MCH = Main Conference Hall BLY = Butterley Hall (1 & 2) TR = Tissington

Room DS = Derbyshire Suite C = Chapel ML = Main Lounge VIN = Vinery

TIME SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY M

OR

NIN

G

8:00

LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS [C] / LIFT UP YOUR PENS [TR] / MEDITATION by the LAKE

8:30 BREAKFAST

9:30-10:30

SPECIALIST COURSES (1 & 2) Creative non-fiction [MCH]

Journalism [DS] *[BLY1 Mon] Short Stories [BLY2]

Character Psychology [DS] Writing Original Poetry [TR]

PFD

Crime Special [MCH]

SPECIALIST COURSES (3 & 4) Creative non-fiction [MCH]

Journalism [BLY1] Short Stories [BLY2]

Character Psychology [DS] Writing Original Poetry [TR]

10:30-11:00 BOOK ROOM OPEN

10:40-11:10 COFFEE

11:15-12:15

SHORT COURSES (1/2) Self Publishing [MCH]

Eats Shoots & Leaves [DS] Writing Picture Books [BLY2] Connecting with an audience

[TR]

SHORT COURSES (1/2) Song Writing [MCH] Non Fiction [BLY1]

Trickier Side of Fiction[BLY2] Fantasy Fiction [TR]

PFD

Crime Panel [MCH]

SHORT COURSES (1/2) Endings & Agents [MCH]

Plotting &Stratagem[ BLY1] Cover Design [BLY2]

Poetry [TR]

SHORT COURSES (2/2) How to eat an elephant

[MCH] Lyrical Challenge [BLY1]

Comedy Sketch [BLY2] Family History [TR]

AF

TE

RN

OO

N

12:15-1:00 BAR OPEN

12:20-12:50 BOOK ROOM OPEN

1:00 LUNCH

2:15-3:15

FROM 3:30 WELCOME TO

SWANWICK

SHORT COURSES (2/2) As 11:15-12:15

PFD

2:15-4:30 Swanwick Page...

SHORT COURSES (2/2) As 11:15-12:15

3:15-3:45 TEA

4:00-5:00 4:30 Afternoon Tea

WORKSHOPS Flash Fiction [BLY 2]

Page to Stage Briefing [MCH]

WORKSHOPS The Idea Generator [MCH]

Poetry From Dreams[BLY1]

PFD

...To Stage [MCH] WORKSHOPS Unforgettable Episodes

[BLY1] Hybrid Authors [BLY2]

A.G.M. [MCH]

Time for You

5:15-6:00 CHAIRMAN’S

WELCOME [MCH] Unwind Your Mind [C] Unwind Your Mind [C] Time for You

EV

EN

ING

6:00-7:00 6:00-6:30

FIRST YEAR RECEPTION [ML]

6:00 BAR OPEN

BOOK ROOM OPEN Dregs Party [lawn/TR]

7:00 DINNER

7:20 VC ANNOUNCEMENTS

8:30 [MCH]

John Lamont James Runcie Kathryn Aalto Michael Jecks Brendan Nolan Pantomime

9:15-11:00 BAR OPEN

10:00-12:00

What Are You Writing Now? [TR]

ICEBREAKER Alternative Fairy Tales

[MCH]

Writers’ Quiz [MCH]

Poetry Open Mic [ML]

25 Years of Swanwick [TR]

Fancy Dress Disco [VIN]

*9:30 General Knowledge Quiz

[MCH]

Buskers Night [ML]

Page to Stage Performances

[MCH]

Traditional Swanwick Farewell

[MCH]

Last Night Disco [VIN]

24 25

26 27

THURSDAY


See page 12

08:30 BREAKFAST









How to Eat an Elephant – Bridget Holding MCH

A Lyrical Challenge – Maria Hennings Hunt BLY1

Comedy Sketch Writing – Andrew Ings BLY2

Researching Your Family History – Roy Devereux TR

12:15 BAR OPEN

13:00 LUNCH


15:15 AFTERNOON TEA

16:00 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MCH

See page 44

18:00 DREGS PARTY TR

See page 43

18:00 BAR OPEN

19:00 DINNER


20:30 PANTOMIME

A Swanwick Special. See page 43 MCH

21:00 FAREWELL

A traditional Swanwick Farewell MCH

See page 43

21:15 BAR OPEN

22:00 LAST NIGHT DISCO VIN


29

FRIDAY

07:30 EARLY BREAKFAST

08.20 ON THE BUSES!

If you’re travelling on the bus, please ensure that you are ready

outside the MAIN HOUSE reception by this time. If you’re not

travelling by bus – come down and wave off your new Swanwick

friends!

08:30 BUSES DEPART FOR DERBY STATION

Please note that the buses WILL depart on time! Many members

have ongoing train connections. PLEASE don’t be late.

10:00 CHECK OUT TIME

Please strip your bed and put the used linen and towels outside

your room in the corridor.

Check that you have not left any valuables in your room.

Please pay your telephone bill (if you have one) directly with the

Hayes Office before you leave.

Don’t forget to leave your ROOM KEY in the reception area of

your accommodation block – or at the front desk in the Main

House.

HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY HOME & SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

LEARNING PROGRAMME

More information on any of these courses/workshops & their tutors can be found

in the INFORMATION ROOM.

SPECIALIST COURSES (4 PARTS) 09:30 – 10:30

Our Specialist Courses form the backbone of the learning programme. There

are FIVE SPECIALIST COURSES to choose from. The SPECIALIST COURSES are

every morning, except Tuesday. Choices this year include:

CREATIVE NON FICTION Course Tutor: KATHRYN AALTO Main Conference Hall (MCH)

Creative Non Fiction - aka Literary Journalism - is the fastest-growing area in

publishing — a genre in which writers use literary devices and techniques to

make factually-accurate non fiction come alive.

This course will cover the four cornerstones of the craft which include:

Documentation, research, scene development and literary craft to convey

information and meaning about real people and events, in a vivid and

compelling manner. You will learn how to capture dialogue, bring settings to life

and place yourself in the writing for a first-person narrative. An overview of

creative non fiction, ample examples, personal critiques, work-shopping and

practical writing exercises will be featured.

Kathryn Aalto is an American landscape designer, historian and lecturer living in

Exeter. For the past twenty-five years, her focus has been on places where

nature and culture intersect: teaching literature of nature and place, designing

gardens, and writing about the natural world. She is the author of the

bestselling The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: A Walk Through the Forest that

Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood (2015) and Nature and Human

Intervention (2011). A sought-after speaker, her work has been featured in

many places including the BBC, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The

Wall Street Journal and People magazine.

GETTING SHORT STORIES PUBLISHED Course Tutor: LINDA LEWIS Butterley Hall 2 (BLY2)

Not all stories published in women’s magazines are romantic in nature. On this

course you can find out what else you can get away with and also why male

writers can have an advantage! Each session will be a mix of discussion and

exercises.

Session 1 – Your TEN STEP guide to getting published in your chosen market or

winning a prize in a short story competition.

Session 2 - How to get stories published in The People’s Friend.

Includes how to write for the reader, instead of yourself.

Session 3 - How to get stories published in Woman’s Weekly. 28

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This will include the importance of titles, and how to use emotions to add depth

to a story.

Session 4 - How to get stories published in Take a Break’s Fiction Feast.

Linda Lewis is based in Leeds. A successful short story writer by trade, she sells her

work to various magazines including Woman’s Weekly and the People’s Friend.

Linda has also worked as a tutor for the Writers’ Bureau.

Her book, the Writer’s Treasury of Ideas, aimed at helping people to find ideas

for stories, was published in 2012 by Filament. Since then she has published five

other books designed to help writers improve their skills and achieve

publication. The latest guide looks at stories with twist endings. She has also

written a novel which she doesn’t talk about!

JOURNALISM Course Tutor: SIMON HALL Butterley Hall 1 (BLY1)

This course will cover all you need to know to write and sell articles to

newspapers, magazines and other media outlets. The course includes:

1. How to find a story, what you need to cover, and then the way to

structure writing it.

2. The all-important angle to take.

3. The need for a compelling opening line.

4. Teasing out powerful quotes from interviewees.

5. How to maximize the impact of your story, by taking photographs and

recording interviews to accompany it.

We will also look at how writers can use the media to promote their work, by

placing articles about themselves in newspapers, magazines and online. At the

end of the course, we’ll produce our own newspaper, The Swanwick Standard,

full of stories, written by you, all about the summer school.

Simon Hall is an author of detective fiction and a BBC Television News

Correspondent.

His books - the tvdetective series - are about a television reporter who covers

crimes and gets so involved in the cases he helps the police to solve them.

Seven have been published. Simon has also contributed short stories to a range

of magazines.

Alongside his novels and stories, Simon is also a tutor in creative writing,

teaching at popular Writers’ Summer Schools, on cruise ships and across

Europe. He also regularly contributes articles to publications such as Writing

Magazine.

He is only available for pantomime once a year, solely at Swanwick.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SIMON’S SUNDAY SESSION WILL BE HELD IN THE DERBYSHIRE

SUITE DUE TO THE BUTTERLEY HALL 1 NOT BEING AVAILABLE. MON/WED/THURS

SESSIONS WILL BE HELD IN BUTTERLEY HALL 1 (BLY1).

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHARACTERS Course Tutor: STEVE HARTLEY Derbyshire Suite (DS)

The best stories are almost always character-driven. It’s only when you get

under the skin of your characters and understand what really makes them tick

will they step off the page and become real. As well as giving a few simple

tricks for building characters, this course will look at:

1. Public lives, private lives and secret lives.

2. What motivates your characters: back-story, significant events, values.

3. How characters interact: how perception, status and prejudice can

4. change behaviour.

5. What makes a good baddie? What makes a good goodie?

Before you attend the course, choose two of your favourite fictional characters,

goodie or baddie, and make a list of what traits you like and dislike about them,

and why they do what they do.

Steve Hartley is the author of the popular Danny Baker Record

Breaker and Oliver Fibbs series of books, published by Macmillan Children’s

Books. Oliver Fibbs: Attack of the Alien Brain won the 2014 Surrey Libraries

Children’s Book of the Year. He’s currently writing the first book in a new series,

featuring a new hero. He lives in Lancashire, shoots arrows for fun, and is rarely

happier than when someone buys him a beer.

WRITING ORIGINAL POETRY Course Tutor: ALISON CHISHOLM Tissington Room (TR)

This course is not just about how to write good poetry, but how to write good

ORIGINAL poetry - and keep renewing that fresh voice. We'll consider:

1. The weight of history, and how poems of the past can inspire new

material.

2. The arithmetic of poetry - the value of addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division.

3. Patterns of poetry, revisiting some forms, discovering others and

inventing our own.

4. Widening horizons, networking, sharing ideas and techniques to fuel

new work.

5. Hopefully everyone attending will produce at least four new poems

during the course, and leave with a wealth of ideas for writing many

more.

Alison Chisholm is a regular contributor to Writing Magazine and Springboard,

and has written various textbooks and a correspondence course on poetry. She

is a very popular tutor and teaches regularly for Swanwick. Her poems have

appeared in magazines, anthologies and eleven collections, and have been

broadcast on TV and radio. She gives talks, readings, courses and workshops

around Britain and overseas, and adjudicates poetry competitions.

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SHORT COURSES (2 PARTS) 11:15 – 12:15 & 14:15 – 15:15

There are 16 Short Courses to choose from during the week, with a choice of

four each day (except Tuesday). More information on the SHORT COURSES can

be found in the INFORMATION ROOM or on the website.

SUNDAY

SELF PUBLISHING Main Conference Hall (MCH)

Tutor: Helen Barbour

The course will examine the pros, cons and practicalities of ‘doing it yourself’.

Independent author Helen Barbour will draw on her experience of

self-publishing her debut novel to provide an overview of the process for

beginners, including:

How to determine if self-publishing is for you: are you at the right point in your

writing, will it enable you to meet your goals, and how much time and money

will it take?

How to decide which route best suits your needs: 100% do-it-yourself, a

self-publishing provider package, or something in between?

How to choose your self-publishing provider: determining your criteria and

avoiding the pitfalls.

The relationship between author, provider and retailer: how this works in

self-publishing, including pricing and distribution.

Post-production, what comes next: a whistle-stop guide to marketing and

promotion.

EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES Derbyshire Suite (DS)

Tutor: Fiona Samuels If, like me, you were of the generation that wasn’t explicitly taught grammar in

school, or you never really ‘got it’, or you never paid any attention in class and

you don’t feel confident about your grammar, then this is the course for you.

Aimed at ‘novice’ level, this will be an informal two-parter on how to feel more

confident about how grammar and punctuation are used. We will be looking at

common misconceptions and errors, and providing you with a variety of

strategies to help you in your writing.

So, if you want to know whether it’s should of or should have, to really own your

apostrophe use, or whether or not to boldly go with split infinitives, then this is the

course for you! The course will be interactive, light-hearted and hopefully fun.

WRITING PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Butterley Hall 2 (BLY2)

Tutor: Pat Belford

A typical picture book has lavish illustrations on every page and a short word

count. However, writing a story which resonates with young children and which

they will want to have read to them time and time again, is not an easy option.

In addition, publishers are looking for stories which will appeal not only to the

reader but also to the international market.

In the first session we will be looking at a selection of picture books and

considering the elements which make them successful. We will be also be

creating our own characters and devising plots.

The second session will focus on writing the text so that it has the maximum

appeal, as well as setting it out in a picture book format.

CONNECTING WITH AN AUDIENCE Tissington Room (TR)

Tutor: Joy France

What it’s not … “How to be a Performance Poet”

What it is … “How to Read Your Words & Connect with Impact”

There is a constant debate about the difference between “page” and “spoken

word” poetry. I challenge the notion that it’s all “black and white” Even the

most reluctant writers sometimes find themselves having to read their words

aloud. Whether 1:1 or at a wedding or a book launch, their carefully honed

words can be delivered with the respect they deserve!

This session is aimed at the most reluctant as well as the most confident.

Expect the unexpected and expect some FUN!

MONDAY

THE ART & HEART OF SONGWRITING Main Conference Hall (MCH)

Tutor: Barbara J Hunt

Session 1

What are all the different elements that need to come together to write a song

How and where to get started

How to express the heart of your song

Session 2

How to develop your ideas

How you know when your song is finished

Tips and tricks for writing for TV and Movies

If you have any half-written songs or lyrics ideas you would like to work on,

please bring them along. If you play an instrument, please feel free to bring that

along too – although this is not essential. Don’t forget that Swanwick also holds

a Buskers Night on Tuesday as part of the evening entertainment programme –

maybe you’ll be able to showcase your song!

NON FICTION Butterley Hall 1 (BLY1) Tutor: Jacqueline Jeynes

This is an opportunity to think about using your personal experiences as the basis

of a non-fiction piece of writing. This can be aimed at publication, as an article

in a magazine or full length book for instance, or just for the benefit of family

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and friends. Whatever the outcome, it will give an insight into the process of

researching and presenting information on a range of topics that you might

choose to take forward to publication.

Topics covered include: attraction of non-fiction over fiction/ Choosing a topic/

Researching markets for non-fiction, both books and magazines/ Getting

started/ Aims and objectives for each piece of writing/ Gathering information,

researching the topic/ Structuring the piece – back to researching the markets!

Options for getting work published.

THE TRICKIER BITS OF FICTION Butterley Hall 2 (BLY2)

Tutor: Sue Moorcroft

Move your work up a level by examining the common pitfalls of fiction writing

and learn how to avoid them.

Session 1:

Understand the importance of viewpoint and master its techniques. Editors and

agents say an issue with viewpoint is a common reason to reject work.

Decide when a flashback is the best way to show your back-story and learn

how to construct one. Look at other ways of telling the back-story.

How to show, rather than tell. Make characters act/react/interact.

Session 2:

Mastering the 'spoken page'. Breathe life into your characters by putting words

into their mouths.

How to make your work sparkle with successful self-editing. Learn how to

‘tighten’ your work.

Vivid verbs: how and why to use them. The use of imagery. Momentum. What’s

static? What moves a story forward?

GETTING STARTED - FANTASY FICTION Tissington Room (TR)

Tutor: Ruth De Haas

This course will introduce you to the world of fantasy writing and publishing, and

help you plan, construct, write and market your own fantasy fiction.

Session 1 - Getting Going

An overview of the market for fantasy fiction, including mainstream publishers

and self-publishing. We’ll look at the different fantasy sub-genres such as YA,

urban fantasy, heroic fantasy, alternate history. We’ll then explore possible

sources of inspiration eg. mythology, culture, history, biology etc, and sketch out

some ideas. We’ll look at some good ways to get going in fantasy, and some

common pitfalls to avoid.

Session 2: Getting Stuck In

This session will take you through how to write your own fantasy fiction in some

more detail, with plenty of interactive exercises, including:

World-building

Plotting

Characterisation

Planning - including whether to plan for 1 book or a series

And we’ll look at some problems you may encounter, and how to deal with

them.

WEDNESDAY

ENDING & AGENTS Main Conference Hall (MCH)

Tutor: Erin Kelly

Session one: Endings

If your first chapter is there to draw readers in, your last chapter should make

them want to read your next one. Bestselling author Erin Kelly takes you through

what makes a satisfying ending.

Pacing: how to avoid a pile-up of action in the last few pages.

Character: bringing your hero’s journey to its natural end.

Editing: Have the confidence to know when to stop. How to create a final

scene that will linger in your reader’s mind long after they have finished the

book.

Session two: How to pitch to agents

Behind every successful author there is an agent, but these crucial figures in the

publishing industry can seem shrouded in mystery. This course will tell you exactly

what agents do and some golden rules for pitching your work. Do authors still

need agents in the age of self-publishing? How do you choose an agent? How

many should you write to? What should you send them? What shouldn’t you

do? Just how do they earn their 15%?

PLOTTING & STRATEGM Butterley Hall 1 (BLY1)

Tutor: Michael Jecks Michael Jecks is one of the country’s most prolific crime and historical writers.

Over two decades he has devoted his time to working efficiently in a rapidly

changing environment .

This workshop will look at two aspects of writing that often give aspiring writers

the most difficulties: plotting a story and using time most efficiently to get the

words down on paper as quickly as possible.

In the morning, Plotting will consider different approaches to freeing the mind to

be able to invent a new plot and develop a straight-line story. This will involve

audience participation to take a simple concept and expand upon it. Then,

after populating the plot with characters, the workshop will develop the theme

and see how to create subplots that give life to the story.

After lunch, during Stratagems, students will learn the methods that professional

authors use to avoid hitting the wall of creativity. To remain fresh and clear,

there are some basic principles that all authors can use to keep their creativity

alive. In this session authors will learn how to avoid writer’s block, how to get the

most from the working day, and how to exercise the mental muscles that will let

your writing flow.

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COVER DESIGN & MARKETING Butterley Hall 2 (BLY2) Tutor: Troubadour & Writing Magazine

This is a practical cover design workshop that goes beyond just the front cover

and examines the book jacket as a whole – including the front, spine and back

cover – and will also look at the blurb, using endorsements on the cover and the

book trade conventions of barcodes, ISBN use and price to maximize

opportunities for book sales. The workshop will also cover:

Picking the right front cover image for your genre

Picking the right fonts for the book cover

Choosing the right materials for your book cover (hardback, paperback,

lamination, endpapers, dust jacket, ribbons)

How to design an eye-catching spine

Why the back cover matters

When and how to use an illustrator

How to write a book blurb, the importance of tag lines and why the cover is so

important from a marketing perspective

What else do you need on the cover and why – ISBN, price, barcode

We’ll also introduce you to other cover options to make beautiful books such as

different types of cover enhancements – like metallic foil, embossing, spot UV

POETRY - FINDING THE EXTRAORDINARY IN EVERYDAY (TR)

Tutor: Sarah Dixon

Session 1: See the detail, imagine the hidden, construct new worlds from words.

Session 2: The attendees have been out of the course space and applied the

thinking of first session to the outside environment and other spaces. Again, see

the detail, imagine the hidden, construct new worlds from words.

THURSDAY

HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT Tutor: Bridget Holding Main Conference Hall (MCH)

The writing process can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here, you’ll learn a

system for chunking down any project into bite-size, do-able pieces. After all,

you wouldn’t try and eat an elephant whole, would you?

In the first session we’ll look at the first draft process:

Creating a narrative structure

Connecting with emotion, and your ‘instinctual writer’

Negotiating stuckness and block

In the second session we’ll explore the second draft process:

Emotion

Sensory impressions

Bodily sensations

Character

Dialogue

Movement and Rhythm

Detail and Distance

We’ll also look at how to feel satisfied and invigorated by the process, so that

you build your confidence as a storyteller. This course is suitable for fledgling

and experienced writers, and writers of all types of fiction and non-fiction.

LYRICAL CHALLENGE (NOT ABOUT SONGWRITING!)

Tutor: Maria Hennings Hunt Butterley Hall 1 (BLY1)

Stuck for ideas? Need inspiration for your short story, novel or poem? Need a

setting? A plot line? A captivating character? Then look no further than a

humble song lyric… Hidden inside the average three and a half minute pop

song are brilliant story ideas, plot lines, characters, settings and even whole

stories – if you know where to look! Come along to this fun workshop – bring a

pen and a notebook and be prepared to be AMAZED!

HOW TO WRITE COMEDY SKETCHES Butterley Hall 2 (BLY2)

Tutor: Andrew Ings

Laughter is a breath of fresh air. This 2 part course will guide you into writing

comedy sketches and monologues for the stage.

Humour is a very personal thing but we all laugh at funny or sometimes

annoying things. The aim of the course is to discuss and jot things down about

situations that amuse or annoy us. Then think about people watching and start

imagining what they may say to each other. Also included will be information

about the practicalities of a stage production including details of cast and set.

Session One

Sketch or monologue

Subject and setting

Characters

PC or non PC

Length

RESEARCH & WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Tutor: Roy Devereux Tissington Room (TR)

Who do you think you are?

How far back can you trace your family history?

We will introduce many sources for you to explore including official record

offices, censuses and newspapers and we will go online live to demonstrate

some of the websites.

In the second session we will show how to organize your research and draw it

together into a publishable book.

Session Two

Re Cap

Write ideas

Analyse and rewrite

Perform

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HOUR SESSIONS 16:00 – 17:00

SUNDAY PAGE TO STAGE BRIEFING - Katie White MCH

See page 13.

FLASH FICTION – Veronica Bright BLY2

50 words or 1000? Easy or difficult?

Come along and find out what makes a very short story work well, and where

successful writers get their best ideas. We'll look at competitions with flash fiction

categories, too. My aim is for this course to inspire you to create your own pocket-

sized stories that stand out from the crowd.

MONDAY THE IDEA GENERATOR - Ian Martin MCH A fun workshop is designed to get you WRITING! (This is a writers’ conference, after

all) This session has a secret theme - you’ll have to come along to find out what it is –

aimed at firing up your imagination. You can write anything... from a short story

opening, some dialogue, a letter, a poem, a newspaper article or a memoir, it’s up

to you. Leave your work (under a pseudonym) with the Tutor and a winner will be

selected and presented with a special Writers Summer School Certificate on

Thursday evening, for the most engaging piece of writing.

POETRY FROM DREAMS – Joan Harthan BLY1

In this workshop you’ll be using shared dreams as the raw ingredients to cook up

your own unique gourmet dish. Be sure to bring a dream with you. Any dream will

do, but chose one with a vivid image or scene that can be described to the rest of

the group in a couple of minutes. We will share dreams in the first half hour,

depending on numbers. The workshop is based on one of the techniques described

in my book, ‘Working With Dreams’.

WEDNESDAY UNFORGETTABLE EPISODES – Maggie Cobbett BLY1

Which of us doesn’t have a period in our lives to which our thoughts return at the

oddest moments? In my case, a precious handful of black and white snapshots sent

me back through the years to the most unsettling summer of my teens. The result? A

chunky novel spanning three time periods but with the strange events of those few

weeks at its heart. What might ignite your own creative spark and how might you

expand it beyond a memoir? I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’ll

be happy to share with you how it has worked for me.

HYBRID AUTHORS – Chris Browne BLY2

Hybrid authors are authors either with both traditionally and independently

published books in their repertoire, or where the rights for one format go to the

publisher and the other to the author. This is not self publishing as the publisher

invests in bringing the book to market and provides professional editing,

proofreading and cover design, but the author is left to manage distribution and

marketing. Hybrid authors have greater flexibility and independence. Find out what

opportunities it offers, what can help the process go smoothly and what to avoid.

CRIME SPECIAL TUESDAY

Main Conference Hall (MCH)

On Tuesday morning we are delighted to invite you to our very special CRIME

SPECIAL for what promises to be a very interesting and enlightening session.

9:30 –10:30

Michael O’Byrne, retired chief constable and author of The Crime Writer’s Guide

to Police Practice and Procedure, Simon Hall BBC crime reporter and author of

the TV detective series and Kate Bendelow a forensics expert with Greater

Manchester Police take you on a light-hearted trip through the most easily

avoided and entertaining mistakes that writers make.

11:15 –12:15

Michael, Simon & Kate are joined by Ian Martin, a retired detective sergeant, on

a panel that will answer any of your questions about crime in all its aspects.

Between them, our panel will be able to answer any questions that you will want

to raise on the subject of crime for writers.

GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO SWANWICK

If you love Swanwick and would like to give something back to the school, there

are many ways in which you can support us:

COMMITTEE

Why not consider standing for election at the AGM? Ask any current

committee member during the week to explain what’s involved.

TUTORS & COURSE LEADERS

Can you lead a course or a workshop? We are always looking for tutors and

course leaders. If you have the skills and expertise on any genre, we would like

to hear fro you! Please see the Vice Chairman or other Committee member or

let us have your contact details on the FEEDBACK FORM.

FRIENDS OF SWANWICK

Over the years we have supported thousands of writers on their writing journey

and we are always thrilled to hear about everyone's achievements. Newly

formed last year, The Friends of Swanwick is for regular supporters who want to

help ensure the future of the Summer School through the TopWrite scheme for

young writers. See our website for details on how to become a ‘FRIEND’.

GIVE AS YOU LIVE

Help us raise money just by shopping online! Make sure you sign up with GIVE

AS YOU LIVE – and every time you shop a small percentage is donated to the

school – and it costs YOU nothing! More info: www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk

FACEBOOK & TWITTER

Don’t forget we have a FACEBOOK GROUP and a TWITTER account.... we hope

you’re following us!

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EVENING GUEST SPEAKERS

We ask that all delegates are seated in the Main Conference Hall at least TEN minutes BEFORE

the Guest Speaker arrives. The Vice Chairman will announce any programme

changes/notices during this time. Please do not be late! Once the Speaker has started

speaking, you will not be allowed in the hall – and we wouldn’t want you to miss out.

PLEASE SWITCH OFF YOUR MOBILE PHONE!

The last 10-15 minutes are normally reserved for questions and then the speaker is escorted out

of the hall by the Chairman. Please remain seated until the speaker has left the hall. Unless

invited, please do not approach speakers with samples of your work and do not make audio or

video recordings of the talks. Many speakers will go directly from the hall to the BOOK ROOM

for a short book signing session. If you want to purchase one of their books and have it signed,

please make you way to the BOOK ROOM as quickly as you can.

SATURDAY – John Lamont The human mind is the most complex entity in the known universe. How we use

our minds affects everything we do and achieve in life – including writing and

what we can get from a great week at Swanwick. John’s main interest in life

nowadays is motivating folk to understand and use their minds to achieve the

maximum in whatever they do or dream. John has had a varied background in

the worlds of research, engineering, science, corporate management,

coaching, lecturing and sports therapy. He is a popular after-dinner and

motivational speaker as well as a regular attendee and presenter at the Writers’

School. His course entitled ‘Succeeding on Purpose’ at last year’s school was

extremely well-received. www.westernschool.co.uk

SUNDAY – James Runcie James is the author of The Grantchester Mysteries, Visiting Professor at Bath Spa

University, and a fiction reviewer for The Independent. Beside the Grantchester

Mysteries his books include: The Discovery of Chocolate, The Colour of Heaven,

Canvey Island & East Fortune. The Grantchester Mysteries have recently been

adapted to become the ITV/PBS Masterpiece series GRANTCHESTER starring

James Norton, Robson Greene, Morven Christie, Pheline Roggan, Tessa Peake-

Jones and Al Weaver. James is a literary polymath, directing plays, dramatised

readings at the Southbank Centre e.g. tributes to Seamus Heaney and Maya

Angelou; and high-end documentaries on cultural subjects e.g. J.K. Rowling: A

Year in the Life; and interviews of leading writers e.g. Hilary Mantel, J.K.

Rowling. www.jamesruncie.com

MONDAY – Kathryn Aalto Kathryn Aalto is an American landscape designer, historian and lecturer living in

Exeter. For the past twenty-five years, her focus has been on places where

nature and culture intersect: teaching literature of nature and place, designing

gardens, and writing about the natural world. She is the author of the

bestselling The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: A Walk Through the Forest that

Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood (2015) and Nature and Human

Intervention (2011). A sought-after speaker, her work has been featured in

many places including the BBC, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The

Wall Street Journal and People magazine. She has Master's degrees in Garden

History and Creative Non-fiction and has a particular interest in literary

landscapes and the geography of childhood. www.kathrynaalto.com

TUESDAY – Michael Jecks Michael Jecks is the author of 36 novels with Headline, Harper Collins and Simon

and Schuster. The founder of Medieval Murderers, and past Chairman of the

Crime Writers' Association, Michael works with the Royal Literary Fund to help

students and aspiring authors and is a keen supporter of new writers. He is a

popular speaker at events all over the world. www.michaeljecks.co.uk

WEDNESDAY – Brendan Nolan Brendan has told stories at conferences in England, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Belgium,

Sweden, Austria, and Germany and to general audiences. In Toledo, Spain, he

participated in a 36-hour storytelling marathon with hundreds of other

storytellers to set a record for the Guinness Book of Records. He is an Advanced

Toastmaster and winner of numerous speech awards. His storytelling has been

broadcast on American radio stations and on the PBS TV system in the United

States and Ireland having been a featured guest on most Irish radio stations

discussing storytelling and writing. www.brendannolan.ie/

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT INFO

SATURDAY

WHAT ARE YOU WRITING NOW? 22:00 – 23:00 Everyone is welcome to join Lois Maddox in the TISSINGTON ROOM in Lakeside

to share what they are currently working on.

ICE BREAKER - Alternative Fairy Tales 22:00 - 23:00 Come along to the MAIN CONFERENCE HALL and let out your inner child!

A fun interactive workshop - no experience needed! Hosted by Julia Pattison.

SUNDAY

WRITERS QUIZ 22:00 - 23:00 We are looking for teams of four to join us for our WRITERS QUIZ and test their

knowledge of literature – old and new. Prizes for the best team! Held in the

MAIN CONFERENCE HALL (MCH) Hosted by Linda Lewis.

POETRY OPEN MIC 22:00 – 23:00 Calling all poets! Our ‘open mic’ session held in the MAIN LOUNGE is a fantastic

opportunity to share your work with other poets or, if you’re not a poet – this is

an ideal opportunity to be entertained. Bring a drink, find a seat and enjoy this

relaxed and informal read-around. If you would like to read, please put your

name down on the list in the VINERY. See Alison Chisholm or Les Baynton for

more information.

http://www.westernschool.co.uk/

http://www.jamesruncie.com/

http://www.kathrynaalto.com/

http://www.michaeljecks.co.uk/

http://www.brendannolan.ie/

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MONDAY

FANCY DRESS DISCO 22:00 – 00:00 We always hold a themed Fancy Dress Disco during the week and we

encourage everyone to get into the spirit, although you’re just as welcome to

join us for a boogie even if you don’t want to dress up! This year the theme is

HEROES & VILLAINS. There is a brilliant FANCY DRESS SHOP called Jolly Jesters

located in the local village who are happy to help with your costume. We have

negotiated special rates for delegates and if you book and pre-pay for your

costume, they will deliver it to the Hayes on Monday morning during coffee and

collect your costume the following morning at the same time. You can contact

Jolly Jesters on: 01773 609 616 or see their website: www.jollyjesters.co.uk.

Please quote ‘WRITING’ to get your special discount. Held in THE VINERY.

25 YEARS OF SWANWICK 22:00 – 23:00 Join Roy Devereux in THE TISSINGTON ROOM for a light-hearted and lavishly

illustrated talk, Roy will draw on a sackful of memories and pictures to recall the

highlights of a quarter of a century of the Writers’ Summer School. Not to missed!

TUESDAY

BUSKERS NIGHT 22:00 - 00:00 Another very popular evening event is our BUSKERS NIGHT, which is operated on

an OPEN MIC basis. There will be a list on the NOTICE BOARD in the VINERY

where you can put your name down if you would like to perform. A PA is

provided if you need one and we have a few talented ‘resident’

guitar/instrument players who would be happy to accompany you if you so

wish. If you’re not a performer, but like to watch – then bring a drink, find a seat

and come along and enjoy the show. Newcomers are most welcome! We will

be in the MAIN LOUNGE - right next to the bar. Led by Mark Iveson.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ 21:30 – 22:00 Come and test your General Knowledge! Teams of four – six are put to the

challenge in this fun and easy (well, relatively!) quiz night. Prizes for the best

team! Held in the MAIN CONFERENCE HALL, bring a drink and come and join in!

This event is earlier this year, so that everyone can also enjoy the BUSKERS NIGHT.

Hosted by Kate McCormick.

WEDNESDAY PAGE TO STAGE PERFORMANCES 21:30 ONWARDS The Page To Stage winning plays that were cast on Tuesday are performed on

Wednesday evening in the MAIN CONFERENCE HALL after the evening speaker

(you’ve got time to go to the bar first!) PAGE TO STAGE is, without doubt, one of

the highlights of the week..... so please come along and enjoy these very

special performances. At the end of the evening, you will be invited to vote for

your favourites: BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and BEST WRITER.

THURSDAY

DREGS PARTY 18:00 – 19:00 On Thursday evening we traditionally hold a DREGS PARTY on the lawn in front of

the main house (weather permitting!). If it’s raining, we hold it in the TISSINGTON

ROOM. Everyone is invited! Please bring any leftover alcohol (& snacks) that

you have and would like to share. You are also invited to ‘posh-up’ for this

event if you would like to. Clean socks are a must!

PANTOMIME & FAREWELL 20:30 – 21:15 A traditional Swanwick Farewell would not be complete without one of our

infamous Pantomimes. Everyone is welcome to join in and share this fitting end

to what we are sure has been a fantastic week. This year promises to be just as

entertaining as last year so be prepared to laugh your socks off (should you be

wearing any).

AULD LANG SYNE Another Swanwick tradition.

Here are the words for those who need a little memory booster!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!

and gie's a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll tak' a right gude-willie waught,

for auld lang syne

CHORUS

LAST NIGHT DISCO 22:00 – 00:00 Your very last chance to dance the night awaaaaay! VINERY

http://www.jollyjesters.co.uk/

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 68th WRITERS SUMMER SCHOOL

Held at The Hayes Conference Centre, SWANWICK

THURSDAY 16:00

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Introduction

2. Minutes of the 2015 AGM

3. Matters Arising (not arising elsewhere)

4. Election of Officers and Committee

5. Secretary’s Report

6. Adoption of Secretary’s Report

7. Treasurer’s Report

8. Adoption of Treasurer’s Report

9. The 69th Writers Summer School

10. Any Other Business

2015 COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN - Michael O’Byrne From the age of 19, Michael was a police officer and served in the Royal Hong Kong

Police, The Met, Surrey, Thames Valley and Bedfordshire, before retiring as chief

constable. Since then he has concentrated on writing. Changing Policing -

Revolution not Evolution was published in 2002 and the second edition of The Crime

Writer's Guide to Police Practice and Procedure (Robert Hale) came out in 2015. He

has written two crime thrillers which can be tasted on his website.

VICE CHAIRMAN - Maria Hennings Hunt Maria is both a successful published writer and a fully qualified dance teacher. She

worked in publishing for over 20 years, spending 13 years with Travel Trade

Gazette, the leading travel trade weekly newspaper in the UK before moving onto

the travel team at The Daily Express. Maria went freelance in 1999, specialising in

writing holiday brochures, copy for the travel industry and short stories for the

women’s press - whilst at the same time qualifying as a dance teacher. She now runs

her own SE London based dance school called Dance Generation.

Maria first came to Swanwick in 1992.

SECRETARY - Pauline Hallam Mason Pauline has had two careers: one in business in Nottingham and the other teaching

Women’s Studies and Feminist Theory for the University of Maine. The changeover

from business and academic writing to creative writing has been a long process of

education and Swanwick Writer’s Summer School has been her mentor, tutor and

inspiration for the past eight years. Her edited translation of Bird Cherries a memoir

by an Armenian woman of her sixteen years in Stalin’s Gulag was recently published

in the journal ‘Fundamental Armenology’. She has also edited her three novels

written during previous Nanowrimos.

TREASURER - Paul Budd Paul's interest in writing dates back to his teens, but it is only in the last five years that

he has been able to devote as much time as he would wish to develop the skill of

writing. Both he and his wife, Mary, completed a Master's degree in Creative writing

at Oxford Brookes in September 2014. Paul worked for over thirty years in

Accountancy and Banking.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Ian Martin Ian first attended Swanwick in 2008 and was immediately drawn by its unique

experience. A prototype TopWriter he won the Military Police writing prize at age 18.

Ian progressed through Northumbria Police, CID and Special Branch. A life-long dog

lover, breeding several German Shepherd champions, he became a regular

columnist for The German Shepherd Magazine. Ian combines his love of writing,

dogs and justice by designing and delivering Canine First Aid courses together with

carrying out investigations.

Katherine Bolton Katherine has just relocated back to Devon but still teaches at her own Residential

Writing Retreat in Brittany, France, and runs Creative Writing courses throughout

COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS Any delegate may stand for Committee if they meet the following criteria:

They must have attended the Summer School on at least FOUR occasions in

the preceding TEN years, including the School at which they have been

nominated and the IMMEDIATELY PRECEEDING school. Nominations must:

1. Be signed by the Nominee

2. Include the signatures of a Proposer and a Seconder

3. Be left at the CONFERENCE OFFICE before 14:00 on TUESDAY

Further information, minutes of the 2015 AGM, a copy of the School’s

Constitution and the balance sheet for the year ending 30th September 2015

will be posted on the NOTICE BOARD and in the INFORMATION ROOM.

http://www.thecrimewritersguide.co.uk/

http://www.dancegeneration.co.uk/

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Europe. She is also an experienced Meditation Teacher and organises the daily

‘morning meditation by the lake’ at Swanwick. Her committee role includes

Facebook Administration and Entertainment. Her passion is for inspiring writers to

write, although she admits that finding time for her own writing is always a juggle.

Phil Collins Phil has been coming to Swanwick since 2006 and is looking forward to celebrating

his tenth year as part of the committee. With a background in engineering and

technical writing, Swanwick has provided new opportunities to develop other writing

directions. He’s been a regular contributor to Page to Stage and the final night’s

entertainment over the past two years.

Cathy Grimmer Cathy’s day job is a tax consultant and she has been in the tax business since she

was 17. She joined Ripon Writers’ Group in 2007 and started writing short stories and

humorous poetry. Since writing her second play for Swanwick 2014 (her first ever play

having been co-written with Benjamin Scott whilst at Swanwick 2013), she has

developed a taste for play-writing. Cathy performs with her local musicals society

and enjoys walking in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. She first came to Swanwick

in 2008.

COMMITTEE ASSISTANTS

John & Zana Lamont Host & Hostess to the Speakers John and Zana Lamont have been coming to Swanwick as happy attendees for a

long time. Over the years John has been a committee member, workshop leader,

course leader and a main speaker (as he is this year!). While Zana has led

workshops, courses and many relaxation sessions, helping Swanickers keep their

excitement in check. Their day job is writing and running courses for therapists in

Scotland.

Lois Maddox Book Room Organiser A veteran of the school for 20 years, Lois’s main contribution is organising the Book

Room with her team of loyal helpers. She has also been a committee member and

has led various workshops and hosts the ‘What Are You Writing Now’ session on

Saturday evening. Lois has written columns for her local paper, articles, short stories

and interviews. She is bilingual in English/Spanish and has taught all levels for many

years.

Andrew Shephard Webmaster Our Webmaster Andrew Shephard, wants your feedback and contributions. The

excellent Summer School website created by Tarja Moles can be a Swanwick

writers’ resource throughout the year. Andrew graduated from the Tweet Team last

year to take up the role of webmaster. Having previously written non-fiction for

professional and lifestyle magazines, he caught the fiction bug three years ago and

now can't stop writing novels

Rachel Contini Newsletter Editor Rachel has spent a lifetime in various customer service roles and has learnt little bits

about lots of things, including the wonderful quirks and ticks of the Great British

Public which has given her a bottomless reservoir of material for writing. She is now a

qualified NLP practitioner and runs courses on manifesting and goal-setting.

INSIDE BACK

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