Hear Me Now is a six-month creative writing project for LGBTQ+ people and allies; Isle of Wight writers of all abilities are welcome and encouraged to take part in this new series of free writing workshops, inspiring walks and inclusive talks organised to grow a supportive Isle of Wight writing community.
Funded by Arts Council England, Hear Me Now is hosted by Anmarie Bowler Editor/Founder of Brevity, The Isle of Wight’s Literary Handbill, in collaboration with StoneCrabs Theatre. Brevity, is a six-times yearly literary zine that features submissions of 500-words or less from Island writers.
The project aims to inspire local writers, urging them to find and celebrate their unique writers’ voices within the safe, welcoming spaces of the workshops, walks and talks.
An introduction to short-form fiction
Learning from a variety of diverse writers and creatives, Hear Me Now seeks to introduce participants to short-form fiction, while inspiring them with compelling, inclusive and bold points of view.
Along with one-to-one mentoring, participants will also have a chance to connect as a writing community. Short work created by participants will be considered for publication in the print edition of Brevity or on the Brevity website.
Writing workshops, inspiring walks, inclusive talks
Anmarie Bowler and award-winning short story writer, novelist and lecturer Emily Bullock will lead the first workshop in Ryde on 30th April, 6-8pm.
George Budden, London-based LGBTQ+ photographer who recently completed a creative residency at Dimbola House will lead an inspirational walk on the West Wight on 25th May 12.30-2.30pm.
Author of the queer Age of Sail Leeward and The Devil to Pay Katie Daysh will lead a “Writing Historical Fiction” workshop in Newport on 8th June, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Hands-on print workshop
On 13th July, from 11am to 2pm Island creatives Tracy Mikich and Teresa Grimaldi will lead a hands-on print workshop at Boojum & Snark in Sandown.
Participants will design and print a one-off Hear Me Now broadsheet featuring short-form work they’ve written for the project. The unique publication will be made available to the public during Pride, 19th-21st July 2024.
Fringe Festival
Later in July, Niall Moorjanni, a non-binary, neurodiverse Scottish-Indian writer and storyteller will give a Hear Me Now talk and perform at the Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Mottistone Manor and Gardens
There are also plans for a walk/talk at The National Trust’s Mottistone Manor and Gardens where participants will be inspired by the lives of mid-20th century architects and partners Paul Paget and John Seely who worked together to restore Mottistone Manor.
The Hear Me Now project will wrap up with StoneCrabs Theatre co-producing a public performance of selected short stories, as well as audio recordings that will feature on Brevity’s website.
Find out more
If you would like to learn more about the Hear Me Now project, email Caroline Diamond at [email protected] or you can register for the free workshops/walks/talks via the Brevity website.
You can learn more about StoneCrabs Theatre by visiting the website.
News shared by Caroline on behalf of StoneCrabs Theatre. Ed
