Poetry is having a bit of a moment. I know! I am pleasantly shocked and surprised too.
1). The Edwin Morgan International Poetry Competition is accepting entries. This prestigious award is in its fourth year, and this year will be something of a memorial event, as it will mark the 1st anniversary of his death. The winners will be able to read their work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and there is money to be won. Vicky Feaver and Kona McPhee will be judging. The deadline for submissions is 10/6/11. For more information, please see: <http://www.edwinmorganpoetrycompetition.co.uk>
2). Jim Carruth and Mirrorball are once again encouraging Glasgow-based poets to apply for 'Clydebuilt 5: the verse apprentices scheme'. I'll let Jim explain it (see below), but applications can be submitted by 24/6/11, and you can contact him with any questions via jim@carruth.freeserve.co.uk
Programme
This is an innovative programme which looks at addressing in part one of the issues raised during The Glasgow Report Card and City of Dreams consultative exercise. That is the further developing of poets with potential. It provides a more intensive support and one which involves encouraging a greater dialogue between new developing poets and experienced poets.
It has two elements to it.
The first part is mentoring of no more than four local poets who have yet to have a first full collection published( though could have brought out a pamphlet) and are not currently receiving any support with their development. This mentoring will be given by an experienced poet/ tutor over the course of 12 months and will consist of 5 group tutorials and 2 sets of one to one sessions which will be free to the participants. At these tutorials there will be a discussion of pre-submitted work and this will lead to a mix of peer and tutor feedback. This will encourage participants to develop not only their own writing style but their ability to critique others. Over the year the participants will develop a portfolio of poems.
The second part will be the provision of a matching support fund to help the experienced poet/mentor to develop their own work during the same 12 month period. The poet will in turn share their work in progress with the group if they feel that would be useful for the group.
Recruitment
The scheme has been set up to support Glasgow based writers and it is imagined that both mentors and apprentices will be recruited through the existing poetry networks, course programmes and writing networks across the city.
A panel will review the applications and agree the appropriate decisions. They will also decide whether any interviews are necessary. The chosen tutor/mentor will be involved in the final decision on the apprentices for their group.
Participants will give a reading of some of their resulting work along with their tutor at the end of the 12 months at a dedicated St Mungos Mirrorball event.
Reference should be made to support offered by St Mungo’s Mirrorball and Glasgow Life in future publications and collections.
Clydebuilt Verse Apprenticeship Scheme – Submission guidelines
Mentee/Apprentice
To be eligible to be an apprentice you cannot be involved in any other writing course or receiving any other structured writing support as of September 2011 and you should not yet have brought out a full length poetry collection.
If you are interested in applying to be one of the four apprentices what we would like from you is the following
- full contact details
- A brief biography of your writing career to date
- 5 poems as typical examples of your work
- A statement of your short term and long term poetry goals
- An outline of what you hope to achieve from the support over the next 12 months
- A clear indication of the time commitment you are able to give both in terms of writing and attendance at the tutorial programme
Then send the submission to Clydebuilt – The Verse Apprenticeship Scheme, Heathfield, Horsewood Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire PA11 3AU or e-mail it to jim@carruth.freeserve.co.uk by Friday 24th June 2011.
