Saturday 28 September 2013

The George Garrett Archive Course

Module One, Workshop One.


The George Garrett archive Course got off to an excellent on Monday for the first workshop of the opening module, A Stoker With Punch. The room was packed, with 17 people attending; a diverse group of participants with all age groups represented and an almost 50/50 split of men and women. We were also pleased to welcome four members of the Garrett family on to the course. Mike Morris, WoW’s project manager introduced the session by explaining how the project began when George’s Grandson, Michael, brought along a suitcase full of George’s belongings, including original manuscripts of his short stories, his discharge papers and birth and marriage certificates. The tutor, historian, academic and writer, Tony Wailey, introduced the workshop, taking the group through a brief history of George’s early life; being educated at St Vincent’s RC school after his catholic mother won out over his Orange Order supporting father; his radical ‘christening’ when he was on the end of a baton charge at the Bloody Sunday demonstration during the 1911 General Strike, and his first experience of being at sea when he stowed aboard a ship bound for Argentina in 1913 at the age of 17. Why did George Garrett ‘disappear’?, was the first question out of the bag. As Tony explained, this is something the course, and the whole project, is designed to answer, and to also try and redress, bringing to George’s life and work the recognition we feel it deserves.

It was the sea that shaped George’s life from the outset, but there are clear hints in one of the extracts from his work we discussed, The Apostate, that give a clue to the strong sense of social and personal justice that was constantly demonstrated in his personal activities and within his writing. A young boy, ‘Cuff’, forced to wear ‘Dees clothes’, the Police issue hand-outs reserved for the poor, finally plants a detested clog in the face of the priest who is threatening to beat him and his aid the teacher. He escapes to the sound of the other boy’s cheers and the futile threats of the adults. A short extract from his fragmentary biography, Ten Years on the Parish’, reflects on his own escape to sea as a stowaway, and gives a glimpse of the world opening before him as he stealthily boards on of the many ships that lie along Liverpool’s seven mile dock-road, ‘ships whose ports of call touched every one of the seven oceans’. Each one of the groups that we broke into to discuss the handbook questions seemed fascinated by the extract from his short story, Letter Unsigned. A ship is sinking (something George Garrett experienced on more than one occasion), and, the narrator, much to the astonishment and even annoyance of his shipmates who are also drowning in their bunks, strives to write, to get his thoughts down on paper. He states that he ‘belongs entirely’ to the letter he writes, feeling that it is keeping both him and his fellow sufferers alive. With little hope of rescue his asks, ‘…what else can I do but what I am doing: write on?’. He imagines his writing, set to sea in a ‘dixie’, being found one day by some swimming boys upon a shore. ‘What a find for them!’ he exclaims, and what a find for us this has been, and with so much more to come last night’s session really did feel as though we have become those on the shore, discovering his work for the first time and taking the story forward for others to hear.

The workshops are free and open to all. We meet every Monday, 6-8pm in Liverpool John Moores University’s Aldham Robarts Library, Maryland Street, L1 9DE (off Hope Street).

Tuesday 24 September 2013

What's Your Story? Feedback

What's Your Story? 

As you know, we are launching two new What's Your Story? workshops this month. 
We thought it was important for you to hear from someone who has taken part in the course...

"Attending the What’s My Story project gave me the incentive to attempt something I’d always wanted to do – write.  Active and constructive criticism from tutors, Paula and Colin along with course peer members’ supportive feedback inspired me to challenge myself to start writing a novel I’d always carried in my heart and wanted to put into words – my parents’ life story.
Having started the novel and completed half a dozen chapters, I wanted to learn more about creative writing and with this in mind I applied for a place on the MA Writing course at Liverpool John Moore’s University. I was delighted to be offered a place and am looking forward to starting it in October.  For me, writing involves one part experience, one part research and one part imagination and if I can improve my writing skills by using these to their utmost degree I may be able to attain my ambition to finish my novel and be able to take pride in completing a novel about which readers will say captured their interest so much so that they couldn’t wait to see what happened next and didn’t want to put it down. Then I will be satisfied that I have completed my goal."
Anne Pritchard

Anne's story is published in our What's Your Story? book and is available on kindle. At the celebration event at the Town Hall Anne was awarded a copy of the book and a certificate by Lord Mayor, Gary Millar. 




Monday 16 September 2013

What's Your Story? and Refugee Action


Writing on the Wall and Refugee Action are proud to announce they are launching a new creative writing project for refugees and asylum seekers in Merseyside. The workshops will be led by award winning author, Helen Walsh.

The flagship Project, What’s Your Story? aims support new writers and to promote their work to new audiences. What’s Your Story? works with communities and groups across  Merseyside and provides the opportunities for self-expression, reflection and engagement with other writers. WoW is currently delivering What’s Your Story? in partnership with Merseyside Mental Health Consortium and is will embark on new partnership with The Stroke Association later in the month.

Writing on the Wall Festival Director, Madeline Heneghan says:

“We hosted an amazing story-telling event in The WoW festival in May, entitled Where are you from and what’s your story? with authors Karen Campbell and Helen Walsh. The turnout was phenomenal and demonstrated a real desire within the Refugee and Asylum Seeking communities to share personal stories in a creative and supportive environment. With the backing of the European Social Fund, we are now able to provide further opportunities for those stories to be told. By showcasing the work of the participants, this What’s Your Story?project aims to help counteract some of the negative perceptions of Refugees and Asylum Seekers that sadly persist in our society.”

Kevin Keech from Refugee Action:

“We are delighted that people will have the opportunity to hear from refugees and asylum seekers."
Helen Walsh - Course Tutor 


Helen Walsh published her acclaimed debut novel, Brass in 1984.  Her second novel, Once Upon a Time in England tells the story of a love that was doomed right from the start. The backdrop, an all white satellite estate in the North West of England, with the National Front a palpable presence. It was published in 2008 and won the 2009 Somerset Maugham Award. Her third novel, Go to Sleep was published in 2011.
www.helen-walsh.co.uk

The course begins on 23rd of September

For further information and /or details about applying for a place on the course, contact:

Writing on the Wall. 
E- info@writingonthewall.org.uk.
Tel: 0151 703 0020.
www.writingonthewall.org.uk

Refugee Action. 
E-kevink@refugee-action.org.uk
Tel - 01512143039
www.refugee-action.org.uk

For press enquires please contact Madeline Heneghan at
madeline@writingonthewall.org.uk0151 703 0020

Wednesday 11 September 2013

New What's Your Story? Writing Course


Writing on the wall and The Stroke Association are delighted to announce they are launching a new creative writing project for stroke survivors in Merseyside. The workshops will be led by spoken word artist and performer, Curtis Watt.



The aim of What’s Your Story? is to support personal development through creative writing and story-telling, with a view to overcoming personal isolation, increasing confidence and preparing learners for more formal learning, employment training and employment. The programme offers the opportunity to engage with others, as well creative activities for self-expression and reflection.

The Stroke Association is the leading charity in the UK changing the world for people affected by stroke.

Kate Charles, Stroke Association Coordinator says:
“The WoW What’s Your Story? project will enable stroke survivors to have a voice to tell their story about the impact of stroke. We have approx. 20 stroke survivors who are all looking forward to the opportunity to get creative and work together. The project is great for raising awareness and the hidden effects of stroke, including (emotional and cognitive) and also showing that there is ‘life after stroke’. The aim is to help stroke survivors increase their confidence and showcase the work to a wider audience that they achieve in this unique project.”
Curtis Watt – Performance Poet.
The workshops sessions will be led by performance artist Curtis Watt, a Liverpool born and based performance poet. Curtis has delivered rap sets and poetry performances at many city centre venues all over Merseyside over the last 13 years. International tours include South Africa, Germany, USA and Czechoslovakia.

Curtis’ Film and television credits for writing and performing song/rap include, ‘Who put the beat in Merseybeat’ and ‘STUSSH 2’, (Granada TV), and as an actor playing KC in ‘Supply & Demand’ (MerseyTV), Simon in ‘The League of Gentleman’ (BBC) plus more.

Writing on the Wall festival Director, Madeline Heneghan says:
"Writing on the Wall believes in the power of creative activity to have a positive effect upon people’s lives. Working with stroke survivors is a very exciting step for us, and with such great success from our previous What's Your Story? courses we are looking forward to what's to come from our newest collaboration with The Stroke Association."
To find out more visit our website


Tuesday 3 September 2013

Do You Have A Dream? Performances

Do You Have A Dream? 


WoW are very proud of the writers who took part in workshops led by Curtis Watt with Writing on the Wall and The International Museum of Slavery. Our artists performed their own poems, stories and songs created in response to MLK's I have a Dream speech in 1963. 
 
As they stood on the steps of the Dr Martin Luther King Juniour Building the sun came out and people gathered to hear the voices of our inspired writers. Each performance was individual and personal. We were also joined by the dancers from The Greenhouse Project who performed a moving dance peice at the event.
Brilliant, touching, performances all round. A fantastic event, thanks to everyone involved.