The Catch-22 of Review Requests
1 year ago
Monday, October 10, 2011
MAHUBE 2012- Call for Submissions
Dear Members of the Writers Association of Botswana,
WABO is calling for submissions from members only for the third edition of our literary journal, Mahube. The theme is WATER.
What we’re looking for:
- poems (maximum of 3) 40 lines maximum
-short stories (maximum of 2) under 1000 words
- creative non-fiction under 1000 words
The deadline for submissions is the 31st December 2011. Email all submissions to botswanawriters@gmail.com.
Submission guidelines:
1. On the first page of your submission include: the title of your piece, your name, postal address, email address, telephone number, and the date on which your membership was paid and membership number.
2. Please write MAHUBE 2012 in the subject line of your email
3. Send as an attachment.
4. Submissions can be in English or Setswana.
5. Writing previously published in other countries is allowed. Please give the publishing history of the piece.
6. Only emailed, typed submissions will be allowed.
All submissions must be accompanied by a letter declaring that the submitted works are the original work of the author who retains the copyright. Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
All decisions regarding acceptances will be communicated by 1st February 2012. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Contributors whose work is published will receive one free copy of Mahube.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Changes at the Commonwealth Prize
Commonwealth Writers - A World of New Fiction at www.commonwealthwriters.org Commonwealth Writers will include a new website, on-the-ground creative writing activities within regional communities, increased prize money, and the publication of an anthology of the winning short stories. Commonwealth Writers aims to unearth, promote and connect new writing talent across the fifty four countries of the Commonwealth. It will do this in two ways: Prizes We’ve preserved the strongest elements of the Commonwealth Foundation’s existing prizes, while at the same time putting them on the contemporary map of international new fiction:
Commonwealth Book Prize
Awarded for best first book, this prize is open to writers who have had their first novel (full length work of fiction) published between 1 January and 31 December 2011. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £10,000. N.B. there will no longer be a Best Book award.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000- 5,000 words). Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000. For each prize we award four regional winners and one overall winner. The regions are Africa; Asia; Canada and Europe; Caribbean; and the Pacific. Both prizes are open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over. Rules and eligibility information for both prizes, as well as the online entry forms, will be available at www.commonwealthwriters.org from 18 October 2011. The closing date for entries for the Commonwealth Book Prize is 9 December 2011 with last receipt of books by post no later than 16 December; and the closing date for entries for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is 30 November 2011.
OpportunitiesCommonwealth Writers is on the lookout for fresh, new, talented writers from all parts of the Commonwealth. It aims to unearth those writers with talent, an original voice, and stories to tell. We’ll be working in partnership with international writers’ organisations, the wider cultural industries, and civil society to help new writers develop their craft. The prizes and outreach activities act as catalysts to target and identify talented writers from different regions who will go on to inspire and inform their local communities. Meanwhile, www.commonwealthwriters.org will be an online hub to inspire, inform and motivate distinctive new voices.
Please visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you at writers@commonwealth.int
Commonwealth Book Prize
Awarded for best first book, this prize is open to writers who have had their first novel (full length work of fiction) published between 1 January and 31 December 2011. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £10,000. N.B. there will no longer be a Best Book award.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000- 5,000 words). Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000. For each prize we award four regional winners and one overall winner. The regions are Africa; Asia; Canada and Europe; Caribbean; and the Pacific. Both prizes are open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over. Rules and eligibility information for both prizes, as well as the online entry forms, will be available at www.commonwealthwriters.org from 18 October 2011. The closing date for entries for the Commonwealth Book Prize is 9 December 2011 with last receipt of books by post no later than 16 December; and the closing date for entries for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is 30 November 2011.
OpportunitiesCommonwealth Writers is on the lookout for fresh, new, talented writers from all parts of the Commonwealth. It aims to unearth those writers with talent, an original voice, and stories to tell. We’ll be working in partnership with international writers’ organisations, the wider cultural industries, and civil society to help new writers develop their craft. The prizes and outreach activities act as catalysts to target and identify talented writers from different regions who will go on to inspire and inform their local communities. Meanwhile, www.commonwealthwriters.org will be an online hub to inspire, inform and motivate distinctive new voices.
Please visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you at writers@commonwealth.int
Petlo Literary Trust to Hold Workshop
PRESS RELEASE
The Petlo Literary Arts Trust will host a workshop titled “Writing, Directing and Performing a One-Person, One-Act Play”.
The 5-day workshop will take place between the 26 and 30 October 2011 at the Oasis Motel. The writers from Petlo will work with actors to write, develop and rehearse a one-act play based on prominent female figures in Botswana’s history. The ultimate aim is to produce a complete manuscript of one-act plays for possible publication. Emphasis will be on writing and performance on stage.
The workshop will be facilitated by Cape Town-based actress, writer and director Mbali Kgosidintsi, who is originally from Botswana. She will use the five-day period to teach the participants the basic skills required to create, write, direct and act in a one-act, one-woman play. The workshop and all publications therefrom are sponsored by INVESTEC ASSET MANAGEMENT.
Mbali Kgosidintsi began facilitating and conducting workshops in 2005. Her self written one-woman show Tseleng: The Baggage of Bags was nominated for a Standard Bank Ovation award at the National Arts Festival 2010. She was one of four writers chosen to adapt The Magic Flute Impempe Yomlingo, directed by Mark Dornford May. After a run in the West End, it won the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical Revival.
At the end of 2008, she was awarded a writing residency on Sylt Island in North Germany where she worked on her auto-biographical novel with the working title Ntokozo: Happines is…She was one of the top four finalists for the Brett Golden Fund in Collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2007.
Any actors who are interested in participating in the workshop should contact the Trust at sls@poetic.com, sebonib@mopipi.ub.bw, 72498002 or 75028222.
The Petlo Literary Arts Trust will host a workshop titled “Writing, Directing and Performing a One-Person, One-Act Play”.
The 5-day workshop will take place between the 26 and 30 October 2011 at the Oasis Motel. The writers from Petlo will work with actors to write, develop and rehearse a one-act play based on prominent female figures in Botswana’s history. The ultimate aim is to produce a complete manuscript of one-act plays for possible publication. Emphasis will be on writing and performance on stage.
The workshop will be facilitated by Cape Town-based actress, writer and director Mbali Kgosidintsi, who is originally from Botswana. She will use the five-day period to teach the participants the basic skills required to create, write, direct and act in a one-act, one-woman play. The workshop and all publications therefrom are sponsored by INVESTEC ASSET MANAGEMENT.
Mbali Kgosidintsi began facilitating and conducting workshops in 2005. Her self written one-woman show Tseleng: The Baggage of Bags was nominated for a Standard Bank Ovation award at the National Arts Festival 2010. She was one of four writers chosen to adapt The Magic Flute Impempe Yomlingo, directed by Mark Dornford May. After a run in the West End, it won the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical Revival.
At the end of 2008, she was awarded a writing residency on Sylt Island in North Germany where she worked on her auto-biographical novel with the working title Ntokozo: Happines is…She was one of the top four finalists for the Brett Golden Fund in Collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2007.
Any actors who are interested in participating in the workshop should contact the Trust at sls@poetic.com, sebonib@mopipi.ub.bw, 72498002 or 75028222.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Members Don't Miss this Chance!!
Do you have books you're selling?
Let WABO sell for you at the Botswana Amateur Arts Festival on Saturday 24th September at Maru-a-Pula in Gaborone. Bring your books between 9 and 10am and collect remainders between 4 and by 5pm. Ask for the WABO stall/table or call 71822516 on the day. Please no more than 30 books per writer.
Note this opportunity is for members only. But, have no fear, if you're not a member you can also become one on that day as membership cards will be available. It is P100 for an annual membership. Membership includes free entrance to our monthly workshops, chance to have your work published in our literary journal, Mahube, as well as many other things.Don't miss out!
Let WABO sell for you at the Botswana Amateur Arts Festival on Saturday 24th September at Maru-a-Pula in Gaborone. Bring your books between 9 and 10am and collect remainders between 4 and by 5pm. Ask for the WABO stall/table or call 71822516 on the day. Please no more than 30 books per writer.
Note this opportunity is for members only. But, have no fear, if you're not a member you can also become one on that day as membership cards will be available. It is P100 for an annual membership. Membership includes free entrance to our monthly workshops, chance to have your work published in our literary journal, Mahube, as well as many other things.Don't miss out!
Monday, August 29, 2011
WABO's 2nd Monthly Workshop to Be Held 17 September
Invitation to the 2nd WABO Workshop- Getting Published
On Saturday 17th of September, the Writers Association of Botswana (WABO) will be holding the second in their monthly writing workshop series. The topic for this month is “Getting Published” and will be run by WABO vice chairperson and published author Lauri Kubuitsile.
The workshop will be at Maru-a-Pula School and will begin promptly at 2 pm. It is free for WABO members (with their membership cards), non-members will be required to pay P20. Membership forms and cards will be available if you would like to become a WABO member. The membership fee is P100 per year.
The first hour of the workshop will be for the monthly topic. The second hour will be time for people interested in sharing their own work (in English for this workshop only) and having it critiqued by the group. If you intend to share work, it will be on a first come, first served basis and you will be required to come with photocopies of the work that will be read (at least 20 copies) for attendees. The work should be no more than 500 words.
Please RSVP at botswanawriters@gmail.com with the subject 'Getting Published' workshop.
On Saturday 17th of September, the Writers Association of Botswana (WABO) will be holding the second in their monthly writing workshop series. The topic for this month is “Getting Published” and will be run by WABO vice chairperson and published author Lauri Kubuitsile.
The workshop will be at Maru-a-Pula School and will begin promptly at 2 pm. It is free for WABO members (with their membership cards), non-members will be required to pay P20. Membership forms and cards will be available if you would like to become a WABO member. The membership fee is P100 per year.
The first hour of the workshop will be for the monthly topic. The second hour will be time for people interested in sharing their own work (in English for this workshop only) and having it critiqued by the group. If you intend to share work, it will be on a first come, first served basis and you will be required to come with photocopies of the work that will be read (at least 20 copies) for attendees. The work should be no more than 500 words.
Please RSVP at botswanawriters@gmail.com with the subject 'Getting Published' workshop.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
WABO runs writing workshop in Gaborone, Botswana
"The artist is distinguished from all other responsible actors in society - the politicians, legislators, educators, and scientists - by the fact that he is his own test tube, his own laboratory, working according to very rigorous rules, however understated these may be, and cannot allow any consideration to supersede the responsibility to reveal all that he can possibly discover concerning the mystery of the human being," The creative process, James Baldwin 1962
The Writers Association of Botswana held a short story writing workshop today (Saturday 20, 2011 between 2 and 430pm). Facilitated by short story writer and author of Go tell the sun Wame Molefhe. The focus was on the basics - plot, characterisation etc which although somewhat obvious sounding are not always so easily remembered in the act of penning stories. This workshop provided a rare opportunity for Batswana writers to interact with each other and share and discover their own creative processes. Participants were asked to submit an 800 word or less story prior to attendance and will receive individual feedback from our facilitator in the days following the workshop.
It became glaringly obvious, both from direct requests and general feedback from the participants, that there is a need to hold more workshops or at the least create opportunities for both established and up and coming writers to commune over their work. This workshop had twenty participants and WABO urges all Botswana based writers to attend future workshops and commit to the responsibility of the process of telling their story.
We are grateful to Maru a Pula School for welcoming WABO on to their campus and donating the workshop space.
The Writers Association of Botswana held a short story writing workshop today (Saturday 20, 2011 between 2 and 430pm). Facilitated by short story writer and author of Go tell the sun Wame Molefhe. The focus was on the basics - plot, characterisation etc which although somewhat obvious sounding are not always so easily remembered in the act of penning stories. This workshop provided a rare opportunity for Batswana writers to interact with each other and share and discover their own creative processes. Participants were asked to submit an 800 word or less story prior to attendance and will receive individual feedback from our facilitator in the days following the workshop.
It became glaringly obvious, both from direct requests and general feedback from the participants, that there is a need to hold more workshops or at the least create opportunities for both established and up and coming writers to commune over their work. This workshop had twenty participants and WABO urges all Botswana based writers to attend future workshops and commit to the responsibility of the process of telling their story.
We are grateful to Maru a Pula School for welcoming WABO on to their campus and donating the workshop space.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
You're Invited to a Short Story Writing Workshop
On Saturday 20th of August, the Writers Association of Botswana (WABO) will be holding the first in their monthly writing workshop series. The topic for this month is “Writing Short Stories” and will be run by Wame Molefhe, a published short story writer and secretary general of WABO.
The workshop will be at Maru-a-Pula School and will run from 2:00-4:30. It is free for WABO members, non-members will be required to pay P20. Membership forms and cards will be available if you would like to become a WABO member. The membership fee is P100 per year.
The workshop will cover elements of short story writing. Participants will work through a series of exercises. Participants who would like to share their stories will have an opportunity to have their work critiqued.
Places are limited so please RSVP at botswanwriters@gmail.com, write 'Short story workshop' in the subject line with a 800 word excerpt of the story you wish to be critiqued at the workshop. Closing date for receipt of applications is 13 August 2011.
The workshop will be at Maru-a-Pula School and will run from 2:00-4:30. It is free for WABO members, non-members will be required to pay P20. Membership forms and cards will be available if you would like to become a WABO member. The membership fee is P100 per year.
The workshop will cover elements of short story writing. Participants will work through a series of exercises. Participants who would like to share their stories will have an opportunity to have their work critiqued.
Places are limited so please RSVP at botswanwriters@gmail.com, write 'Short story workshop' in the subject line with a 800 word excerpt of the story you wish to be critiqued at the workshop. Closing date for receipt of applications is 13 August 2011.
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