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The Writing Platform event – 8th November

The Writing Platform invites published and self-published writers, publishers and others interested in finding out more about digital publishing to an informal networking day, designed to offer affordable, practical advice and take-away information, to be held at Rich Mix on Thursday 8th November from 11-5pm. The event is open to anyone looking to find out more about the digital publishing process, the pros and cons of using social media to reach readers, how to develop and nurture online reader audiences and learn more about some of the most innovative projects coming out.

Featuring Wattpad, Arts Council England, Copyright Licencing Agency, The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, The Literary Platform, Words of Colour Productions, The Curved House, The Literary Consultancy, if:book and more….

At The Writing Platform, attendees can pre-arrange one-to-one sessions with a range of different organisations who work at different stages of the digital publishing life-cycle; editorial consultancy for writers, advice and ideas around e-book and digital project production, distribution, copyright, marketing, PR and developing audiences online.

The host for the day will be author and Professor of Creative Writing and Digital Media at Bath Spa University, Kate Pullinger, who will give an opening speech, introduce proceedings and panel events and will share her experience with other writers.

A number of talks will introduce and inform writers on the issues and opportunities surrounding digital publishing. These include:

11.00h: Welcome and introduction from writer Kate Pullinger – how the day works

11.10h: Introduction from The Literary Platform team – housekeeping, etc

11.15h – 11.45h: Support for digital literature projects – Gemma Seltzer, Arts Council England (Main Stage)

Are you thinking about the future of storytelling online? Are you an organisation hoping to develop an innovative way for audiences and readers to engage with literature? Are you experimenting with new forms of writing that make use of digital technology? Gemma Seltzer from Arts Council England will talk through the process of applying for funding through Grants for the Arts, as well as other opportunities, which can help writers and arts organisations realise their ideas.

11.45 – 12.15h: How the CLA supports writers working on digital platforms (Main stage)

The Copyright Licencing Agency will be speaking about how they assist writers working on digital platforms. Joanna Ellis, Associate Director from The Literary Platform, will ask the CLA about how digital has changed the way the world approaches copyright and the services it offers to writers working on digital platforms.

12.15h – 13.00h: Digital publishing and the writer’s identity (Main stage)

Panel discussion with Kerry Young (author of Pao / Bloomsbury), literary agent Susan Yearwood (SYLA) and Jacob Sam-La Rose, writer, editor (flipped eye publishing) and self confessed web-geek. The event will be chaired by Andrea Enisuoh, Words of Colour’s creative programmes manager.

14.00h: Which Writing Platform? (Main stage)

Three writers talk about their experiences of using different platforms to bring their work to an audience. The panel will cover traditional publishing, innovative publishing models like Unbound and online writing platforms such as Wattpad and Firsty. Lisa Gee, Gavin Wilson, Wattpad ambassador and Rohan Quine will discuss their experiences of digital publishing, looking at the challenges and advantages to using different platforms to reach their audience. Hosted by The Literary Platform

14.00h – 14.45h: e-publishing coffee talk for writers with Rosemarie Hudson (Words of Colour Stand)

Come to the Words of Colour stall and chat with the founder of e-publisher HopeRoad (which publishes authors such as Alex Wheatle MBE) and the former owner of prize winning publisher Black Amber Books about how e-publishing can benefit your work, the best way to prepare your copy and the possibility of being published by HopeRoad. Hosted by Words of Colour Productions

15.00h – 15.45h: Race and class in publishing (Main Stage)

Will the digital revolution help break down cultural barriers? This panel discussion, which includes publishers and award winning authors such as Courttia Newland, will be chaired by Joy Francis of Words of Colour Productions. Hosted by Words of Colour Productions

16.00h – 16.45h : Writing beyond the page: how authors can create work across spheres (Main Stage)

Join poet and literature producer Tom Chivers and author Gemma Seltzer to discuss the opportunities available to writers to present work for page, screen, live environments and everything in between. Gemma has developed a series of digital writing projects including daily fiction blog Speak to Strangers, later published as a book and translated into a range of live settings.  ADRIFT is Tom’s interrogation of the urban environment through poetry, which exists online and in performance, using social media to connect to audiences. The event will be chaired by Joanna Ellis, Associate Director of The Literary Platform.

17.00h Drinks!

Tickets for The Writing Platform are £39, book here

Attendees who don’t have an online presence can pre-book gratis half-hour sessions to create a social media presence on the spot via Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, etc. (spaces for these sessions are limited and are offered on a first come, first serve basis).

http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-writing-platform/

Delegates wishing to pre-arrange one to one appointments with any of the organisations on the day should contact us here.

Organisations on hand to give advice include:

The Literary Platform : On the day we’ll be manning the Help! desk. We’re advising delegates to pre-book meetings with exhibitors on the day and we can help pull together a bespoke schedule which best meets individual needs. If you arrive on the day without making appointments then come to the Help! desk and we’ll find out more about you and point you in the right direction.

Former publisher at Penguin and HarperCollins, turned author, ghostwriter and editorial consultant, Martin Toseland can provide advice about how to get started with self-publishing and how to make the most from your writing. Martin will be available between 11.00h and 13.00h to speak to writers.

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities activities across the arts, museums and libraries. Gemma Seltzer (Relationship Manager, Literature) will be available for one-to-one sessions with writers and organisations that are interested in applying for ACE’s Grants for the Arts funding. Participants should come with a minimum of an outline of planned project and a preliminary budget with some specific information such as the amount of financial support requested from Arts Council England.

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) is dedicated to protecting & promoting authors’ rights: by encouraging the establishment of collective licensing schemes, where appropriate, and ensuring that fees resulting from such schemes are efficiently collected and distributed, and by building an understanding of the contribution writers make to the economy and society as a whole.

The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) aim to obtain fair reward for authors, visual creators and publishers for the copying of their work. By supporting them in this way CLA plays a part in maintaining the value of their work and helps to sustain creativity. CLA is non profit-making so all the money it collects in licence fees is distributed to the copyright owners after its costs have been deducted.

The Curved House : The Curved House is a creative agency working primarily for publishers and publishing-related businesses. They design and produce books, build and run websites and come up with great ideas to get your books noticed. They also run several voluntary projects that extend their passion for books and art.

The Literary Consultancy is the UK’s leading manuscript assessment and editorial advice service providing expert and market-aware editorial appraisal. It helps all writers understand the commercial literary market place and will be on hand to give general advice and explain more about its services. Limited one-to-one sessions will give more tailored advice but please note assessment of manuscripts is not available on the day. The Literary Consultancy runs the annual Writing in the Digital Age event.

if:book UK is the think and do tank exploring the future of the book and digital possibilities for readers and writers using new media to amplify and illuminate their words. if:book Director Chris Meade is currently Nearlywriter in Residence at Hornsey Library and launching ifsobooks, a collaborative writing studio working with authors including David Almond, Inua Ellams and Tim Wright. www.ifbook.co.uk

Wattpad is the world’s largest community for discovering and sharing stories. Everyday millions of people use Wattpad to read great fiction or share their own creative writing on the web and across all mobile devices. Most recently, Booker prize-winning author Margaret Atwood joined Wattpad to share an exclusive collection of poems. As the only place that offers a mobile, social, eReading experience, Wattpad boasts more than 5 million stories with another 500,000 being uploaded each month by our users. With one comment being posted every second, many popular titles on Wattpad have over 10 million reads and more than 10,000 comments.

Words of Colour Productions: Words of Colour Productions is a social enterprise which creates original and inclusive programmes for diverse writers of all genres. It campaigns for inclusion in writing industries, runs national events on industry-based concerns and regional projects to increase the skills base and marketability of diverse writers. On the day Words of Colour will be running specialist workshops and masterclasses. More information coming soon.

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Attendees without an online presence are also invited to pre-book gratis half-hour sessions to create a social media presence on the spot via Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, etc. (Limited spaces – first come, first serve basis)

Once booked, you can arrange a one-to-one appointment with any of the organisations on the day – please contact us at details below for more details. We’ll also create space for attendees to share experiences and network.

BOOK HERE – £39

All these organisations and more will be available to offer expertise and guidance at The Writing Platform on 8th November.

For more information please contact Laura Creyke at The Literary Platform on [email protected] / 07951 777 407

The Writing Platform at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green, London

Thursday 8th November, 11am-5pm, £39.00

http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-writing-platform/

 

 

 

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