Illustration by Beverley Fry
‘The View From Out Here’ is a long term writing project which will be planned and organised by Bridgnorth Writers for the period September, 2008 to November, 2009.
( 1 ) There are two basic aims of the project:
To encourage fresh writing, which will reflect both the distinctiveness of the writing we produce as writers who live in a particular geographical area and the wealth of original, individual voices which exist within the area.
To develop the fresh writing for publication ( form to be decided on ) and work for a finale performance ( or other forms of final presentation which might grow from the work we carry out in the time of the project ).
( 2 ) The time scale of the project will be as follows:
PREPARATORY PHASE
( May to August 2008 )
LAUNCH
( early September 2008 )
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
(September 2008 to September 2009 )
PREPARING FINALE
( September 2009 to November 2009 )
FINALE
( November 2009 )
Where is ‘Out Here’?
‘Out Here’ refers to the area where our members live. Members live in an area which shaped like a bulbous crescent centred on Bridgnorth, and stretching from Roddington in the north to Kinver in the south and reaching out westwards to Burwarton.
We agreed that this area could be extended out to the west ( ie towards Church Stretton and Ludlow ) but not to the east ( ie into the West Midlands conurbation ).
What should we write about?
We want to leave writers to be as free as possible to write what they wish when inspired by this area.
But here are some suggestions for possible starting points for writing: personal observations and experiences of the area, biographical material about local people, modern rural life ( farming issues, incomers, isolation, rural slums, drugs, hunting, conservation, loss of post offices, etc ), history, mythology, nature, genre fiction using this area as a setting, media news stories / articles and many other ideas as yet not thought of.
What will we do?
We aim to plan a year’s activities to help to inspire writers in directions they may not have explored previously. These might include: a nature walk, visits ( to old churches, a museum, a stately home, etc ), river walk, guided heritage trail, farm visit, research days and writing workshops. These will be directed at enabling writers to see the potential of the area as a source for creativity.
We hope that individuals in the group can suggest other activities which would help to create a more varied programme.
The launch
We are launching the project at our regular Bridgnorth Writers’ meeting at the Cinnamon Bar on Tuesday, 16th September, 2008.
The final products
The end products of the year’s work will fall into two main categories: written and performance. The final form these will take will depend on what the group has produced over the period of the project. It is hoped that as many writers as possible will have their work published and / or performed before a live audience.
Finances
We will be investigating different ways of funding the project over the next couple of months. Any suggestions here would be most welcome!!!
Keeping in touch with the project.
It is hoped that we can keep everyone informed with the progress of the project through a blog / website and / or a newsletter.
Dave Bingham
Feel free to contact me:
Telephone - 01952 432112 e mail -
david.hodgebower@googlemail.com
