Events

National Academy of Writing

National Academy of Writing - Masterclass

11 October - 13 October 2005

National Academy of Writing Masterclass – Jonathan Coe on Writing Fiction
Tuesday 11 October
7.30pm – 9.00pm

The Orange Studio, Cannon Street, off New Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP The author of The Rotters’ Club (recently filmed by the BBC), The Closed Circle and What A Carve Up! offers a rare insight into how he writes. Jonathan Coe, who has won many prizes as well as a devoted and ever-growing following, has been called “the funniest serious novelist practising in this country”. This is a chance to hear him talk in depth about his working methods. He will be in-conversation with Hepzibah Anderson of The Observer
about his inspiration and the themes that fascinate him; how he plans his stories and develops his characters and their narrative voices. He will reveal the challenges he has faced in writing his novels, and the techniques that have proved most valuable. Audience questions will be welcomed.
Presented in partnership with the National Academy of Writing
Funded by Urban Fusion
Tickets: £7 (£5.50 Concessions) School students will receive free entry.
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 / www.orangebirminghambookfestival.org

National Academy of Writing Masterclass – Frank Cottrell Boyce on Writing for the Screen
Thursday 13 October
7.30pm – 9pm
The Library Theatre, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square,
Birmingham, B3 3HQ
Frank Cottrell Boyce is an established screenwriter whose credits include Welcome to Sarajevo, Hilary and Jackie and 24 Hour Party People. In-conversation with independent producer Roger Shannon, he will talk about his working methods and what it takes to succeed as a screenwriter, using film clips to illustrate the conversation. Frank’s most recent film, Millions, is also a best-selling children’s book and winner of the 2005 Carnegie Medal and was written alongside the making of the film. Frank’s second children’s novel, Framed, has just been published and he will also expand on the challenges of working as a writer for children. Audience questions will be welcome.
Funded by Urban Fusion
Presented in partnership with the National Academy of Writing
Tickets: £7 (£5.50 Concessions) School students will receive free entry.
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 / www.orangebirminghambookfestival.org

National Academy of Writing Masterclass: Maura Dooley and Dennis O’Driscoll on Writing Poetry
Friday 14 October
8pm – 9.30pm
The Orange Studio, Cannon Street, off New Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP
Maura Dooley’s collected poems, Sound Barrier was published in 2002 and showed her to be a poet who combined a lyrical gift with sharp intelligence. Dennis O’Driscoll’s New and Selected Poems has been widely praised for its ability to transform our appreciation of daily life. Each poet will give a short reading and will then each discuss in detail a single poem, analysing its genesis and the creative process that lead to its completion. They will also be in-conversation with Roz Goddard (Birmingham Poet Laureate 2003/04), discussing the reality of working as a poet and the range of skills necessary for today’s writers.
Presented in partnership with the National Academy of Writing
Funded by Urban Fusion
Tickets: £7 (£5.50 Concessions) School students will receive free entry.
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 / www.orangebirminghambookfestival.org