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The Writer's
Year 2005
Below are some dates
which writers might find useful,
featuring festivals and competitions you
might enjoy, special dates which
could inspire you to write a poem and
the themes we will be inviting poetry
for.
To skip to the
month you require click on a link
below:
January
Festivals
Whitbread Book Awards 2004
Annual prestigious awards ceremony featuring five categories: first novel, poetry, biography, novel and children's book. Overall Whitbread Book of the Year receives a further prize. Last year's overall winner was Mark Haddon for novel The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time.
Website: www.whitbread-bookawards.co.uk
Tel: Karen Earl Ltd 020 7202 2822
Email: johnnya@karen-earl.co.uk
Quentin Blake at Christmas
Exhibition of Blake's latest work at the Dulwich Picture Gallery.
Website: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Tel: 020 8299 8711
Literary Information
The TS Eliot Prize - Author Readings
Shortlisted poets read from their work before the winner of £10k annual prize is announced tomorrow.
Tel: 020 8870 8403
Email: info@poetrybooks.co.uk
The TS Eliot Prize, Lancaster House, London
Annual £10k literary award for the best poetry book published the previous year, awarded by the Poetry Book Society and named after its founder.
Contact Information:
Website: www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Tel: 020 8870 8403
Email: info@poetrybooks.co.uk
 
Submissions Invited
New Year’s Day
To celebrate the New Year we are looking for poems on New Beginnings.
Submissions
Invited: New Beginnings
Submissions Deadline: 31/01/05
Submission
Guidelines 
New Fiction
Alternatively why not write a winter story? Our New Fiction imprint are looking to add to their collection of short stories, so if you’ve got a story to tell send it in to us.
Submissions
Invited: New Fiction - Winter
Submissions Deadline: 31/01/05
Submission
Guidelines
Top
February
Festivals
Wordsworth Winter School Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum
(running until February 11th)
Annual residential course of lectures, seminars, poetry readings, walks and excursions organised by the Wordsworth Trust.
Website: www.wordsworth.org.uk
Tel: 01539 435 544
Email: w.carr@wordsworth.org.uk
Literary Information
Pan African Film & Arts Festival
(running until February 21st)
Annual non-profit event dedicated to promoting cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression. Features over 100 international films, a fine art exhibition, spoken word poetry, musicians and storytellers and a student festival.
Website: www.paff.org
Tel: 00 1 323 295 1706
Email: info@paff.org
Submissions Invited
Valentines Day
To celebrate the most romantic day of the year we’re looking for Love Poems.
Submissions
Invited: Valentines Day
Deadline: February 28th 2005
New Fiction
If love poetry is not your thing, how about trying your hand at a Love Story for our New Fiction imprint?
Submissions
Invited: New Fiction - Love
Deadline: February 28th 2005
March
Festivals
Soho Writers Festival
(running until February 21st)
Festival for established and up and coming writers featuring workshops, readings, performances, poetry and comedy (and a very late bar).
Website: www.sohotheatre.com
Tel:
020 7478 0142
Email: nancy@sohotheatre.com
Submissions Invited
Mother’s Day
To commemorate Mother’s Day, we’re looking for poems Dedicated to Mum.
Submissions
Invited: Mother's Day
Deadline: March 31st 2005
Springtime Begins
As we look forward to the first day of spring, we’re looking for your poems celebrating this fresh, new season.
Submissions
Invited: Spring
Deadline: March 31st 2005
April
Festivals
Oxford Literary Festival
(running until April 17th)
Annual festival featuring speakers, Q&As, interactive events, Irish music and poetry, as well as children's events. High profile literary figures expected, including a number of Oxford's famous alumni. Around 19,500 visitors attend. 2004 authors included Alexei Sayle, Clive James, Joanna Trollope, Julian Barnes and Seamus Heaney.
Website: www.sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
Tel: 020 8964 5289
Email: artsmarketing@btconnect.com
Respect Slam 2005 Quarter finals
(running until April 17th)
Annual competition displaying the competitive art of performance poetry. Participants aged 12-18 perform their original poems in front of an audience, and are judged by a panel from within that audience. Quarter finals sees those who have been put forward after winning slams in their schools, youth clubs and organisations battle for a place in the semis and ultimately a performance spot in the Respect Slam Showcase at the Respect Festival. Supported by the Mayor of London.
Website: www.poetrysociety.org.uk
www.respectfestival.com
Tel: 020 7420 9892
Email: jtaylor@poetrysociety.org.uk
Literary Information
David St John Thomas Charitable Trust Competitions & Awards
(running until April 17th)
Annual prizegiving featuring the ghost story award, love story award and an open poetry competition. Winning entries are guaranteed publication in Writers' News / Writing Magazine (WM) and a share of the £30k prize fund.
Website: www.writersnews.co.uk
Tel: 01667 453 351
Email: charity@ledwardson.freeserve.co.uk
Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition
(running until April 17th)
Annual £5k competition, open to anyone. Winner announced in The Poetry Review, on the society's website and in The Independent on Sunday, which sponsors the event.
Contact Information:
Website: www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Tel: 020 7420 9880
Email: info@poetrysociety.org.uk
Submissions Invited
April Fools Day
To celebrate April Fools day, make us laugh with your Humour Poetry.
Submissions
Invited: Fool's Day Poems
Deadline: April 30th 2005
May
Festivals
Hampstead & Highgate Festival
(running until May 27th)
Annual music and arts festival kicks off at Kenwood with music, dancing, a programme of poetry, lectures, walks, exhibitions and other events. Last year's event focused on Sir Edward Elgar. Around 2500 visitors attend.
Website: www.hamandhighfest.co.uk
Tel: 020 7722 1414
Email: info@hamandhighfest.co.uk
Respect Slam 200
(running until May 27th)
Annual competition displaying the competitive art of performance poetry. Participants aged 12-18 perform their original poems in front of an audience, and are judged by a panel from within that audience. Semi finalists battle for the chance to perform in the Respect Slam Showcase at the Respect Festival in July. Supported by the Mayor of London.
Website: www.respectfestival.com
Tel: 020 7420 9892
Email: jtaylor@poetrysociety.org.uk
Literary Information
Her Majesty's Gold Medal for Poetry
Instituted by King George V in 1933, at the behest of Dr John Masefield (the then Poet Laureate), the medal is awarded to a book of verse by a writer from the UK or Commonwealth. The 2004 award went to Hugo Williams.
Website: www.royal.gov.uk
Tel: Buckingham Palace 020 7930 4832
The Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize
(running until May 27th)
£1k award for work by an author under the age of 40. Presented in alternate years to either a work of prose or poetry. This year's award is for prose.
Website: www.faber.co.uk
Tel: 020 7465 7553
Email: rachel.alexander@faber.co.uk
June
Festivals
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
(running until July 3rd)
Mixed arts festival featuring music, poetry and comedy performances. Around 10,000 visitors attend.
Website: www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival
Tel: 01422 842 684
Email: hbartsfestival@hotmail.com
Ludlow Festival
(running until July 10th)
Huge combined arts festival featuring theatre, fireworks, classical concerts, poetry recitals, street entertainment, world music and dance.
Website: www.ludlowfestival.co.uk
Tel: 01584 875 070
Email: admin@ludlowfestival.co.uk
Literary Information
Book of the Year
(running until July 10th)
Annual Welsh literary awards. All shortlisted entries receive £1k, with the two winners (Welsh & English language) being awarded an additional £2k each. Categories include Poetry, Fiction, Biography and Literary Criticism. An audience of around 400 attends.
Website: www.artswales.org.uk
Tel: 029 2037 6500
Email: info@artswales.org.uk
Royal Society of Literature Awards
Ceremony for the £5k WH Heinemann Award, a prize aimed at encouraging works of poetry, biography, philosophy and history. Also includes the presentation of the VS Pritchet Memorial Prize for a previously unpublished short story.
Website: www.rslit.org
Tel: 020 7845 4676
Email: info@rslit.org
Submissions Invited
National Childcare Month
To celebrate National Childcare Month in June, we are looking to add to our collection of Children’s Poems. If you see yourself as the next A A Milne or Roald Dahl, send your entries in to us.
Submissions
Invited: Children's Poems
Deadline: June 30th 2005
Fathers’ Day
To commemorate Father’s Day, we are looking for poems Dedicated to Dad.
Submissions
Invited: Poems for Dad
Deadline: June 30th 2005
July
Festivals
Ledbury Poetry Festival
(runs until July 31st)
Last year's visiting writers included Pam Ayres, Jill Balcon, Mark Doty, Germain Greer, Roger McGough, Adrian Mitchell and Nick Yapp. Sponsors include Arts Council England.
Website: www.poetry-festival.com
Tel: 01531 634 156
Email: admin@ledburypoetryfestival.org.uk
Respect Slam Showcase 2005
(running until July 31st)
Annual competition displaying the competitive art of performance poetry. Participants aged 12-18 perform their original poems, raps or freestyle pieces. Performers have already passed group stages, quarter finals and semi finals to appear at this event. A Judges Choice Prize and an Audience Choice Prize are awarded. Supported by the Mayor of London.
Website: www.poetrysociety.org.uk or
www.respectfestival.com
Tel: 020 7420 9892
Email: jtaylor@poetrysociety.org.uk
Literary Information
Glastonbury Goddess Conference
(running until July 31st)
Event celebrating Bridie, the maiden goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft. Includes ceremonies, pilgrimage, praise songs, talks, workshops, Womanspirit exhibitions, performances, music and dance. Up to 500 people attend.
Website: www.goddessconference.com
Tel: 01458 831 518
Email: goddessconference@ukonline.co.uk
Spitalfields Community Festival and Eco Fun Fair
(running until July 31st)
Multicultural celebration with music, dance, poetry and plays performed by a wide range of local groups. Around 5,000 visitors attend.
Website: www.alternativearts.co.uk
Tel: 020 7375 0441
Email: info@alternativearts.co.uk
Submissions Invited
Anniversary of Women
Gaining the Vote
To celebrate the anniversary of women gaining the vote on July 2nd, we are looking for poems for our Women’s Words imprint; poetry purely by women.
Submissions Invited: Women's Words
Deadline: July 31st 2005
National Kissing Day
We are looking for Love Poetry to celebrate National Kissing Day on July 6th.
Submissions Invited: National
Kissing Day
Deadline: July 31st 2005
August
Festivals
Ross International Festival
Annual music, dance, theatre and poetry festival. Attracts up to 40,000 visitors. Last year's programme included performances from The Levellers, Amy Winehouse and The Stranglers, a horror film series, Berlin Circus Cabaret Night and a fireworks finale.
Website: www.rossonwye-intfestival.co.uk
Tel: 01989 565 760
Email: tara@rossonwye-intfestival.co.uk
The Edinburgh International Book Festival
This festival began in 1983 and is now a key event in the August festival season, celebrated annually in Scotland's capital city. Biennial at first, the Book Festival became a yearly celebration in 1997. Running alongside the general programme is the highly regarded Lloyds TSB Scotland Children's Programme, which has grown to become a leading showcase for children's writers and illustrators. Incorporating workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings, the children's programme is popular with both the public and schools alike.
Submissions Invited
Cats Protection Week
(starting Monday 4th August)
We are looking for your Pet Poetry to commemorate Cats Protection Week which starts this month.
Website: www.cats.org.uk
Submissions Invited: Pet Poetry
Deadline: August 31st 2005
Greenbelt 2005
Greenbelt 2005 is an international event to promote the well being of the environment, to celebrate this we are looking for poems about Nature.
Website: www.greenbelt.org.uk
Submissions Invited:
Nature Poems
Deadline: August 31st 2005
September
Festivals
St Ives September Fringe Festival
(running until August 21st)
Annual two-week festival of music and the arts featuring performances of folk, blues, jazz, classical and world music as well as literature and poetry readings, open artists' studios, tours, exhibitions, theatre, street performances and film. Around 12,000 visitors attend.
Website: www.stivesfringefestival.co.uk
Tel: 01736 794 622
Literary Information
International Literacy Day
In 1965, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated September 8th as International Literacy Day. Each year, the UNESCO Secretary-General issues a statement and four prizes are awarded.
Website: www.un.org
Submissions Invited
Age Concern Week
To commemorate Age Concern Week this month we are looking for poems in the form of a Tribute or Dedication.
Website: www.ace.org.uk
Submissions Invited: Tributes and
Dedications
Deadline: September 30th 2005
National Grandparents Day
To celebrate National Grandparents day in September, we are looking for poems dedicated to these special people in our lives.
Submissions Invited: Grandparents
Poetry
Deadline: September 30th 2005
October
Festivals
Bristol Poetry Festival
(3rd October to 13th October)
Bristol Poetry Festival 2005 is the seventh annual festival run by Poetry Can, the poetry development organisation for the South West. ‘Unmissable’ is how The Guardian described 2001's festival, and 2005’s event will be equally memorable. As always local, national and international poetry will be showcased and explored in all its manifestations, with a wide variety of events including performances and workshops, competitions and commissions, public poetry interventions, community work and cross art form and digital projects.
Dylan Thomas Festival
(October 27th to November 9th)
A star-studded line-up pays tribute to Swansea's famous son and one of Wales' most celebrated poets in a series of exhibitions, talks, films, lectures and walks. Events will be held at various venues across Swansea Bay.
Website: www.dylanthomasfestival.com
Tel: 01792 463980
Literary Information
National Poetry Day
The UK celebrates National Poetry Day in October every year with numerous events all around the country. Alongside readings and writings are announcements of several important poetry awards, in order to fuel the UK's enthusiasm for verse and to provide a platform for poets and poetry of all kinds.
Frankfurt Book Fair
(19th October to 25th October)
Everyone who is anyone in the industry will be there: authors and publishers, booksellers and librarians, art dealers and illustrators, agents and journalists, information brokers and readers. Not only is the Frankfurt Book Fair the meeting point for the business, it is also the world's largest marketplace for trading in publishing rights and licenses.
Submissions Invited
Halloween
To celebrate this spooky time of year we are looking for poems on the subject of Halloween.
Submissions
Invited: Halloween
Deadline: October 31st 2005
New Fiction
Alternatively do you think you could write a Horror Story? Send you entries in to New Fiction.
Submissions
Invited: New Fiction - Horror
Deadline: October 31st 2005
November
Festivals
Hull Literature Festival
The Hull Literature Festival examines the dramatic influence of the city of Hull on writers, from Andrew Marvell to Philip Larkin and beyond.
Literary Information
Children’s Book Week
(running from 14th November to 20th November)
A celebration of the written word, Children's Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. Through Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.
Submissions Invited
Remembrance Sunday
To commemorate this very sad day in November, we are looking for poetry on the subject of Remembrance Day.
Website: www.royal.gov.uk.
Submissions
Invited: Remembrance Day Poetry
Deadline: November 30th 2005
Bonfire Night
We’re hoping our poets will have a ‘spark’ of inspiration and write a poem celebrating Bonfire Night.
Submissions
Invited: Bonfire Night
Deadline: November 30th 2005
December
Literary Information
Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
This is the 20th anniversary of the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, which celebrates the very best in children’s literature.
An estimated half a million schoolchildren have been involved in choosing over one hundred books which have been awarded prizes in one of the UK’s longest-running children’s book awards.
Website: www.booktrusted.com.
Submissions Invited
Human Rights Day
For Human Rights Day, we are looking for poetry for our Strong Words imprint. If you’ve got an opinion you want to share, share it in a poem.
Website: www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk.
Submissions
Invited: Strong Words
Deadline: December 31st 2005
Christmas Day
We are adding to our collection of Christmas poems to celebrate Christmas day.
Submissions
Invited: Christmas
Deadline: December 31st 2005
Submission
Guidelines
Top
Submission
Guidelines:
Send up to two poems, max 30 lines each on the theme(s) that interest you before the end of the month in which they appear. All poems published will be considered for the Forward Press
Top 100 Awards.
Send poems to: ‘Theme Name(s)’, Remus House, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9JX.
Alternatively,
you can email us your poems: inbox@forwardpress.co.uk
(Please include your name and postal
address.)
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