Developing Your Craft with SBWN

Developing Your Craft
SBWN's February Programme

5 Feb | Hybrid & Fiction Writing craft sessions (online)
These online 90-minute craft sessions invite creative writers to think more deeply and deliberately about the craft techniques in their work. Though they may include generative writing exercises, the Developing Your Craft programme diverges from our general writing workshops as they will focus on close reading and discussion. Depending on the facilitator, these sessions may also touch on different theoretical approaches to your writing. For each session, you will receive resources including a pre-reading list a week in advance. Suggested donation of £10 or more (£5 concession). Facilitated by Andrés N Ordorica and Foday Mannah.

12 Feb | Develop Your Poetry Pamphlet session (online)
This online 90-minute craft session is particularly for poets who have a selection of poems ready, and who would like to put together a poetry pamphlet. The session will discuss sequencing a poetry pamphlet and what you might want to consider when putting together one of your own. It may also touch on different theoretical approaches to your writing. You will receive resources including a pre-reading list a week in advance of the session. Suggested donation of £10 or more (£5 concession).Facilitated by Zain Rishi.

21 & 22 Feb | Memoir Short Course (online)
This short course takes place over the weekend of 21st-22nd February. Join facilitators Shze-Hui Tjoa and Candice Chung as they take you through craft discussion and writing strategies that will help you develop your memoir. Each day will include a variety of sessions each with a different focus, such as theoretical approaches, experimentation with structure, generative writing and more. We suggest coming to both days of the short course, as the sessions are a collaboration between our facilitators and it's the best way to get the most out of the short course format. We'll begin with a welcome session on Saturday and close with a sharing session on Sunday. Suggested £20 or more per day (£10 concession).

27 Feb | Keynote and reception (in-person - open to everyone)
The keynote is open to both BPOC and non-BPOC writers and audiences. Our Developing your Craft programme will culminate in an in-person Keynote by the award-winning author Anthony Capildeo. We will follow Anthony's keynote with a short open-mic and a catered reception. Join us for a wonderful evening of craft discussion, readings, small bites, and drinks at Augustine United Church. This session is open to everyone - you do not have to be a writer of colour to attend. Suggested donation £10 or more (£5 concession).

Session dates and times

• 5th February, 6-7.30pm: on Hybrid Writing with Andrés N Ordorica (online) 
• 12th February, 6-7.30pm: on Fiction with Foday Mannah (online) 
• 15th February, 6-7.30pm: on Poetry Pamphlets with Zain Rishi (online) 
• 21st Feb: Memoir Short Course I, 10am - 3pm: with Shze-Hui Tjoa (online) 
• 22nd Feb: Memoir Short Course II, 10am - 3pm: with Candice Chung (online) 
• 27th Feb: Keynote, 7-9pm – Anthony Capildeo + open mic and reception (in person at Augustine United Church, Edinburgh) 

Before you book:

• The Developing Your Craft programme is for writers of colour based in the UK (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales)
• All online sessions will be held over Zoom with a maximum of 30 participants.
• The keynote will be in-person and open to everyone (ie. not exclusive to writers of colour).
• Sessions longer than an hour will include a comfort break.
• Each session has a suggested donation amount, but please register for free or for a smaller amount if that suits your needs. No questions asked.
• Registering for this course means you agree to our safer spaces policy.
• Live captions provided by Otter.