The Writing Squad

AN INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL REWILDING with Katie Byford
2020-11-26 19:30 - 21:00 UTC
Open to grads of Squads 1-9, if you are Squad 10 and want a place should one become available then email steve@writingsquad.com
There are two workshops, one on 26th November the second at the same time, 19.30 on the 10th December, please don’t sign up unless you can make both.
This is an experimental workshop delivered as part of the development of a larger funding bid to carry on this work.
You will create works of text, image and/or audio to explore ways in which they can transform places important to you, with the aim to reclaim them through imagination.
There are two sessions.
In the first Katie will introduce the project and we will explore how creating a piece of text, audio or image can ‘rewild’ a place. We will talk about notions of nature, wilderness/wildness & ‘rewilding’; ecology; and creativity as a tool of empowerment at a granular local level
Then you will have two weeks to go away, think about the brief and make some work.
The second session will be a discussion and a sharing of both the process of making and the work made.
We hope that if the funding bid is successful, work produced in this workshop will inform and maybe feature on what will become the Digital Rewilding Project’s website, with work throughout the UK accessible through an interactive map.
Katie is a poet, filmmaker and arts facilitator, and a former Writing Squad member. She has performed poetry across the UK, including at the Houses of Parliament and in tandem with a live orchestra at Durham Castle. Her poetry has been published in Magma, Popshot and anthologies by Bloodaxe (Hallelujah for 50ft Women) and Macmillan (She is Fierce: Brave, Bold & Beautiful Poems by Women). Katie is a Barbican Young Poet alum, and her work with the Barbican has included workshops and commissions, most recently for major exhibitions AI: More than Human and Lee Krasner: Living Colour. In 2015 Katie founded Thorn, a grassroots arts collective based in Durham which continues to provide space for young people across all art forms.

THE SPACE
2020-11-25 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-11-11 19:30 - 21:00
OPEN TO ALL SQUADS
The Space, a dedicated (virtual) space for us to write alone, together.
Think of it as your favourite library, a coffee shop, or a co-working space. It’s a room full of writers at work, and it’s a way of making a commitment to yourself to show up and write. Pop in to The Space to work on any writing project that you like – and in case you need inspiration, an optional writing prompt will be emailed in advance, for you to use, adapt or ignore.
Come and go as your please, and feel free to make yourself a cuppa. We’ll work in silence (don’t forget to mute yourself!), but halfway through there’ll be the option of joining small-group break-out rooms for 5 minutes, for a quick chat (but if you’re on a roll and don’t want to stop working, just drop Francesca a line in the ‘chat’ box and you can remain in the main room.)
We will send you a Zoom link before the day.

Our Space
2020-11-23 12:15 - 14:00, 2020-11-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-11-16 12:15 - 14:00, 2020-11-09 12:15 - 14:00, 2020-11-04 19:30 - 21:00
HOSTED BY SQUAD GRAD HANNAH HODGSON – OUR SPACE
A dedicated (virtual) space for us to write alone, together.
Think of it as your favourite library, a coffee shop, or a co-working space. It’s a room full of writers at work, and it’s a way of making a commitment to yourself to show up and write. Pop in to The Space to work on any writing project that you like – and in case you need inspiration, an optional writing prompt will be emailed in advance, for you to use, adapt or ignore.
Come and go as your please, and feel free to make yourself a cuppa.
The Zoom link will be posted to the Squad Facebook group just before kickoff.

DRAMATURGY AND SCRIPT EDITING SKILLS 2/2
2020-11-14 14:00 - 16:00
A limited pilot of for Squad grad playwrights and scriptwriters.
If you are interested in taking part if we develop this further, please let Steve or Emma know.

NATURE WRITING WITHOUT THE GANNETS with Helen Bowell
2020-11-12 19:30 - 21:00
Helen thinks of two things: the apocalyptic poems that get shouted at climate protests and odes to birds she’s never heard of.
If you are interested in opening up a new world of eco-/nature poetry, that brings in voices other than the white dudes who seem to keep winning nature writing prizes, then this is the workshop for you. We will deconstruct these genres, write poems that bring in your family and friends, your identity and lived experience. We will not be writing lists of funky flower names, and you will not be allowed to write ‘Act Now!’, but we will be thinking about how we can write while the world is on fire.
Writers who have never written a poem about ‘nature’ are particularly welcome, and especially those of you who feel excluded from the climate movement, for whatever reason. Helen would like to have your voices in this conversation.
Helen is a poet and a co-founder of Dead [Women] Poets Society. She is a graduate of the London Library Emerging Writers scheme, London Writers Awards and The Writing Squad, and is a member of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective. In 2020, she was a Bronze winner of the Creative Future Writers’ Award. She works at The Poetry Society.

WRITING STOCKPORT
2020-11-09 10:30 - 12:00
If you are 50+, live in Stockport and enjoy writing, then join our fortnightly online workshop led by Lydia Allison of the Writing Squad.
We meet on a Monday morning 10.30-12.00 and play with different forms and techniques to make new work and refresh our writing.
You will also get the opportunity for an in depth one to one session on whatever you are writing, with Steve Dearden the Director of the Writing Squad.
Suitable for beginners and experienced writers the workshops take place on Zoom (all you need is a computer and a link which we will send you.)
We won’t ask you write about Stockport, but you will meet other writers who live here.
The first in our new series of workshops will be on Monday 9th November.
Book your place here or for more information email steve@writingsquad.com
Comments from previous participants:
“As a relative newcomer to writing, I am amazed how much I have enjoyed and benefitted from everyone’s input. To think we only met a few weeks ago, I feel we are a really strong group.”
“You have all inspired me and Lydia, you have caused me to write in different ways I would never have done before.”
“Thanks to all of you for a bit of sanity in this increasing madness. I am really enjoying listening to everyone else’s work.”
The workshop is being offered as part of Stockport’s Cultural Champions programme.
Lydia is a Squad grad, a poet, writing facilitator, creative mentor, and tutor. She lived in China for a year where she taught English, before coming back to do an MA in Poetry at Manchester Writing School. She has appeared, a number of times, in print and online. Lydia works closely with organisations like Grimm and Co, Virtual School Rotherham, and The People’s History Museum. lydiaallison.uk
Steve is Director of the Writing Squad and has been Writer in Residence at the Bluewater Shopping Centre and Wakefield Literature Festival who commissioned the online novella Wakelost/Wakefound. He short stories have been published in many magazine and journals and by Smith Doorstop. www.stevedearden.com
Comments from previous particpants:
“As a relative newcomer to writing, I am amazed how much I have enjoyed and benefitted from everyone’s input. To think we only met a few weeks ago, I feel we are a really strong group.”
“You have all inspired me and Lydia, you have caused me to write in different ways I would never have done before.”
“Thanks to all of you for a bit of sanity in this increasing madness. I am really enjoying listening to everyone else’s work.”

SQUAD 10: WORKSHOP WITH STEVIE (MANCHESTER)
2020-11-07 11:00 - 17:00 | Manchester, Manchester
INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS – SQUAD DAYS

We will slide from Zoom into this programme when it is possible.
If on Zoom they will stay at two hours starting at 14.00, if we are able to meet up face to face they will take place in the cities mentioned from 11.00-17.00. All Saturdays.
Put the dates on the next page in your diary. We will email you about these workshops nearer the time with a link to sign up for them on Eventbrite.

WRITE AND SHINE BREAKFAST with Gemma Seltzer
2020-11-06 07:30 - 09:00
Research shows we’re more creative in the morning. When we wake, we’re incredibly sensitive to the sights and sounds of our environment. It’s the best time to think, dream and imagine. Writing early captures all kinds of ideas before your inner critic rears its head.
Intrigued? Bring your coffee, toast and notebook and join Write & Shine for a 90-minute workshop on the theme of ‘breakfast.’ Writer Gemma Seltzer will guide the group through a range of inspiring exercises to prompt new writing and celebrate the best meal of the day!
Whether you love breakfast or not, if you have the same thing every day or take great pleasure in oat or quinoa porridge, avocado toast, omelettes and baked eggs, cereal, we hope you’ll join us for this fun and tasty morning of writing. In Write & Shine workshops, you won’t be expected to share your work, which offers great freedom and encourages all kinds of unexpected ideas to emerge.
Gemma Seltzer, an author & experienced workshop tutor and coach, founded Write & Shine in 2015 and facilitates sessions. Write and Shine workshops are unique, focusing on generating writing during the most creative time of day: the morning. We emphasise the value of tuning into the natural world and taking inspiration from our everyday lives.

THE AWESOME PLAY TEXT / SCREENPLAY READING CLUB
2020-11-03 18:30 - 20:00
SIGN UP HERE, WITH MORE INFO ABOUT HOW THE BI-MONTHLY CLUB WILL OPERATE
OPEN TO ALL SQUADS
The 2nd meeting will be on Tuesday 3rd of November 2020 on zoom 6.30 – 8pm. During this meet up we will be discussing Sally Wainwright’s Historical / Bio Pic TV drama ‘To Walk Invisible’. The shooting script is available free to download from the bbc writersroom site.
https://www.bbc.com/writersroom/scripts/tv-drama/to-walk-invisible
Matthew Ingram and Emma Adams want to start thinking about how we can build our critical skills to help us develop as writers. We love watching work, but we think we need to spend more time with the words on the page, learning to ‘read as writers’ too. If you want to join us, then here’s what you need to know:
The first play we will be reading and talking about is: The 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Drama – FAIRVIEW by Jackie Sibblies Drury.
You can find a link for buying the text here 👉 https://www.oberonbooks.com/fairview.html
You need to buy the play and read it, we won’t remind you, the next thing you’ll hear from us is with a link shortly before the 3rd.

THE SPACE
2020-10-28 19:30 - 21:00
There’s something supportive and encouraging about having that screen full of faces, the tops of heads, shoulders, all concentrating on writing. So we have set up The Space, a dedicated (virtual) space for us to write alone, together.
Think of it as your favourite library, a coffee shop, or a co-working space. It’s a room full of writers at work, and it’s a way of making a commitment to yourself to show up and write. Pop in to The Space to work on any writing project that you like – and in case you need inspiration, an optional writing prompt from Francesca will be emailed in advance, for you to use, adapt or ignore. Or she can send you it when she welcomes you in.
Come and go as your please, and feel free to make yourself a cuppa. We’ll work in silence but halfway through there’ll be the option of joining small-group break-out rooms for 5 minutes, for a quick chat.

QUEER SHARE 5
2020-10-25 18:00 - 19:30
An informal and relaxed writing and discussion group for female-identifying and non-binary writers.

About this Event

If you are interested in exploring Queer writing, predominantly poetry, and the issues they raise, this is a space for you.
We’ll share work, writing we admire, ask questions, discuss and write together. Meetings monthly, led by Squad 8 grad, Louise Essex.

SIGN UP HERE

SQUAD 10: THE ART OF WRITING INTO THE SUBJECT WORKSHOP WITH MALIKA
2020-10-24 14:00 - 16:00
ZOOM SESSION, SIGN UP HERE

Do you sit down at the desk with an idea for a poem then get stuck?

About this Event

If we consider our subject matter as a room or space, as writers our instinct is to capture everything with that space, “while the poets gaze should scope the room to spot the butterfly fluttering in the corner just slightly hidden behind the couch.” But how do we work on the page so that we can approach the ordinary with fresh eyes?
We will use visual art, personal objects, music and items of clothing as stimuli for generating rich and unexpected poetic responses. This workshop will include some preparatory work. Come prepared to be challenged and have fun.

SQUAD 10: A MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORKSHOP WITH EMMA
2020-10-10 14:00 - 16:00
ZOOM SESSION, SIGN UP HERE

Stop for a second before you read any further and think of a story that you love…

About this Event

If you were going to describe it to others, would you start with what happens? Very often we do this. It’s natural.
By extension, we often have a big focus on the what of our own story’s when we’re developing them too. What happens next? What does that idea mean? What happens in the end? Etc etc etc… This stuff of course is crucial. Nonetheless, in reality, at least half of the pleasure of a story is to be found not in what happens but how.
How am I discovering the story’s events? How does that make me feel? These how questions form the glue that keeps a reader/audience member stuck in and engaged right through to the end. When we think back to a story we love, we might often remember the destination, but the journey of how we get there is crucial. So as writers, it’s really important that we don’t overlook this. All the stories we love have used mystery and suspense to hook us in and keep us questioning all the way to the end. As such, mystery and suspense are some of the most powerful tools a writer has in their armoury.
In this workshop we’re going to think about what mystery and suspense actually are, how they work and how we can use them to structure our stories to engage audiences. As ever this topic will start out from a play writing/ screen writing point of view, but everyone is welcome and the stuff we’ll cover will be useful for prose writers and poets too.
In terms of what to bring with you:
A favourite object (small enough to hold). A pen. A pad. You.

SQUAD 10: AN INTRODUCTION TO BOOKMAKING WORKSHOP WITH STEVIE
2020-09-26 14:00 - 16:00
ZOOM SESSION, SIGN UP HERE

Learn how to make simple books and playful paper objects incorporating words. No previous experience required!

About this Event

Stevie will send out a basic bookmaking kit to each participant ahead of the workshop. You could bring a short piece of writing to use as raw material for incorporating into your books though this is not essential.
After talking about books and alternative ways of presenting literature, we will make play around, make books and explore alternative book formats, self-publishing, how can the format of a book reflect its content and how to incorporate text into handmade paper objects.

DRAMATURGY & SCRIPT EDITING SKILLS PROGRAMME 1/2
2020-09-19 14:00 - 16:00

The Space
2020-09-16 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-09-12 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-09-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-09-05 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-09-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-08-29 19:30 - 21:00, 2020-08-25 10:00 - 12:00
There’s something supportive and encouraging about having that screen full of faces, the tops of heads, shoulders, all concentrating on writing. So we have set up The Space, a dedicated (virtual) space for us to write alone, together.
Think of it as your favourite library, a coffee shop, or a co-working space. It’s a room full of writers at work, and it’s a way of making a commitment to yourself to show up and write. Pop in to The Space to work on any writing project that you like – and in case you need inspiration, an optional writing prompt from Francesca will be emailed in advance, for you to use, adapt or ignore. Or she can send you it when she welcomes you in.
Come and go as your please, and feel free to make yourself a cuppa. We’ll work in silence but halfway through there’ll be the option of joining small-group break-out rooms for 5 minutes, for a quick chat.

Zoom Info will be posted to the Facebook Writing Squad group shortly before we kick off!

SQUAD 10: WORKSHOP WITH FRANCESCA
2020-09-12 14:00 - 16:00
ZOOM SESSION, SIGN UP HERE

CORE TEAM ‘SQUAD DAY’ WORKSHOPS
Obviously we don’t know how long we will be meeting on Zoom. At the moment we are planning on resuming face to face Squad Days in October but that may shift.
Initially we will meet on Zoom and these workshops will last two hours.
We will email you about these workshops nearer the time with a link to sign up for them on Eventbrite.
We expect that you will try and come to the ones led by the writer in your specialism or your Core Team member, but do feel free to sign up to any that you are interested in.
Emma Adams is our script specialist, Francesca Haig prose, Malika Booker poetry and Stevie Ronnie is a poet, artist and maker.
All will take place on Saturdays, all starting at 14.00.

THE AWESOME PLAY TEXT / SCREENPLAY READING CLUB
2020-09-03 18:30 - 20:00
SIGN UP HERE, WITH MORE INFO ABOUT HOW THE BI-MONTHLY CLUB WILL OPERATE
Matthew Ingram and Emma Adams want to start thinking about how we can build our critical skills to help us develop as writers. We love watching work, but we think we need to spend more time with the words on the page, learning to ‘read as writers’ too. If you want to join us, then here’s what you need to know:
The first play we will be reading and talking about is: The 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Drama – FAIRVIEW by Jackie Sibblies Drury.
You can find a link for buying the text here 👉 https://www.oberonbooks.com/fairview.html

THE SPACE 4
2020-08-26 12:00 - 13:30
