Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writers

Group picture at the Bursary Launch.  venue: Ship on Shore, Marine Parade, Sheerness.  Gordon Henderson, the Sittingbourne and Sheppey conservative parliamentary candidate 4th from right made the opening address.  Chairman, extreme left launched the £700 bursary and tried to control the mob when the entertainment began.  Writers erad their poems and short stories with Wally Newby, former chair of the SSWG  giving a brief history.  We look forward to many entries for what is a land mark award in Swale for writers.  See the link on this site for entry conditions or click  on the picture below.

Scriptor 8  - New Writing -

Have you got a Story, Poem or Essay to publish?

John Dench, poet and writer and publisher is inviting submissions for Scriptor 8  - a publication for new writing.  John selects quality work and publishes some good stories, essays and poems in all of his publications which reach a nationwide audience.  Have work you would like to send off? then click the link HERE to read the guidelines and good luck.

 Medway Maria is running a creative writing course at the Polka Dot Gallery  in Teynham starting September 7 - sounds excellent.  For details click HERE.

Island Artists went to the Oare Gunpowdwer Works to act as Wandering Poets - we had labels around our necks to say so - and with the Rat we did our bit.  The day started off a little inclement (bad weather for the unrefined) but cleared up and we had sunshine for the best part of the day.  The event was organised by the Friends of Oare Gunpowder Works and featured local artists and musicians doing their bit in various locations around the circuit.  As a first attempt the event was a success and we had over 400 people pay us a visit.   It was a modest beginning but as a first time event there was nothing wrong with the organisation or the venue which offers a cool, easy walk around showing some interesting buildings filled with historical memories and a site that on a hot Summer day offers a respite from the blazing sun.  We had music from two talented youngsters, folk music and the madness of folk music people which is so refreshing, carving, art on the spot from the chairperson of the Swale Arts Forum, Sioux Peto, and wood carving demostrations as well as excellent wood carving and wood turnings for sale.  Artists drew and showed their work and for the children there was a sketching pad run by two enthusiastic artists who posted the work on the pile of timber that in itself made an artistic feature.  The public were also invited to take part in making a small installation piece or simply to have a picnic and enjoy the woodlands. 

Our part in the event?

William Anthony (Bombay Welshman and Tanka poem form expert), Robert (Bobbin) Collins of Rat poem fame and Ratman, James Apps complete with ship's rat and the mind of a long term idiot took to the trail as wandering poets and attacked innocent people with recitations of stories and poems as we wandered aimlessly around the pathways.  It was a refreshing and rewarding day for us and we made a few contacts for the Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writer's Group as well as an invitation to perform at Perry Woods on Sunday 19th July!  Come along if you can and to find out more see the coming events section of this page. 

Sheppey Writers went to Faversham Library on April 28th to take part in a workshop and a reading by the Save As writer's group who were launching their new book "Between The Lines" an anthology of prose and verse.  It was well worth the effort of paying a visit.  We listened to some excellent work from the book and in the second half some poems from the workshop or inspired by the workshop as well as meeting up with the Save As group.  Our old friend Wally Newby arrived and was invited to read a second time as he had come all the way from Tenterden.  Bob and myself with Bill Anthony as representatives of the Sheppey Writers and also introducing Island Artists and Poets introduced our attempts at Tanka form poems (see the Island Artists site for more information) and also promoted Sheppey writers.  It was a good evening; well organized and fun witht he wide variety of work to hear. 

Between The Lines can be purchased from the Save As writers group and cost only £4.00.  It is a quality printed book and as well as the interesting and entertaining content is good value for money.  The links to island artists and to Save As can be found on the Home Page of this site.

The Swale Arts Forum bursary event was a success!  Good news for writers!  The 2010 award will be made to a Swale Writer (or writers) and as usual will for the amount of £700 to help with a project involving writing.  All you have to do is submit an A4 sheet setting out your project with good reasons for your claim, a description of the proposed work and make sure you are domiciled in Swale, over the age of 14 yrs. and that you are prepared to work with the Swale Arts Forum and Sheppey Writers to show progress of the work for the following year's Bursary Award Event.   A bit of a mouthful but we need to see how our award is being used!

How do you apply? 

Simple! Go to the Swale Arts Forum web-site find the conditions of entry. 

Click the link HERE to see the requirements for submission of work

Address for submissions will be posted on this site and the Swale Arts Forum site at a later date.  In the meantime send a notice of interest to;  pusspuss2@talktalk.net  using the reference Bursary.

There is no entry fee! 

The evening was an excellent mixture of comedy and serious, reflective poetry.  The Stubborn Mule Orchestra organized the event well and gave us enough space to expand our own repotroire a little.  There was an 'open mic' session which was as usual with these things quite interesting.  This was the first time we heard Maria read and her poems are good so that added to the enjoyment.  Maria is on our links list.  Wally Newby came from Tenterden to read a poem or two, one of which was a highly recommended in Fine Scribes poetry competition.  Sheppey writers introduced Bill Anthony who read his story The Eye Patch which is featured on this site. Bill has agreed that he should be part of the Sheppey Writers readers and we should hear more of his unique approach to life in the future.  In the pub afterwards we agreed that the contact between SMO and us should be strengthened so look to the future for some more library events.   

A sudden e-mail - James, you are invited to the Moon View launch at the Gallery in Queenborough; "can you read some of your Haiku for the event".  So, a quick phone call to Bob and a printing and gathering of our work, a bio and away we went.  The call came on Thursday and Saturday we were expected to be there for 1pm to listen to the speeches and speak our words.  We did just that and enjoyed the exhibition to boot.  Pop down there and have a look, the Moon View idea is great, artefacts, paintings and a movie showing the events. 

The Gallery is near the Castle Green in Queenborough with parking behind the old school building. 

Scriptor 7 will be available from Green Arrow Publishing soon. 

Scriptor is a book produced by John Dench who runs Green Arrow Publishing, the content is always exciting new writing of the high quality that John demands of his subscribers. Filled with poems, esssays and short stories from all over the UK Scriptor is good value for writers either to read other's work or to submit some of their own.  Due from Monday November 3rd.

In addition the annual Kent poetry competition book, FineScribes - volume 4, is available from Green Arrow Publishing from 12th December.  This is the antholgy of the winners and commended and highly commended poems from poets in and around Kent. 

You will find John at:  6 Greenbank, Stacksteads,Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 8LQ

e-mail:  mail@johndench.demon.co.uk

On the evening of the 5th of September Bob and myself took part in a Haiku writing event on the Elmley reserve.  This was in conjunction with the Moon View event that you may or may not have seen on the local telly program.  On 13th of September we will be reading some of those Haiku's at the Moon View evening of art and exposition at Elmley - the farm.  I promise to write a coherent report. 

James

I have put the report in the poetry section along with a few links and some of the poems. 

The writers will be joining the Artists!  First Monday in every month except for bank holidays. 

Venue:  The Red Lion in Sittingbourne at about 8pm.  Date:  3 March 2008

Sheppey meetings now on the Third Tuesday of the month beginning 15th April

Venue:  The Ship on Shore, Marine Parade, Sheerness at about 8pm in The Snug.  This is a pleasant pub with a friendly clientele.  The landlord, Fred Mawhinney, is a man with a pleasant and welcoming manner and the pub itself has a history linked to a Sheerness shipwreck.  Mine host offers real ales and a substantial menu if you would wish to have a meal.  Next Sheppey meeting 17th June. 

All welcome. 

Friday 2nd May 2008 at Trinity Church and at the Sheppey Cemetery friends of Brian Sinclair either celebrated his life or mourned his passing. 

Brian will be missed by the Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writers and of course remembered as a member of the committee, mentor, friend and as a fine writer.  It was Brian who encouraged us to write a newsletter, Brian who opened his house to us for meetings when his wife passed on and Brian who never failed to do his part and more whenever he was asked.  It was Brian who when Wally had left to live in deepest Kent helped to organise events and made polite suggestions, and some rude ones, for our writing challenges and was always willing to give intelligent critique of our work.  Brian also helped me bring together a small reading and performing group encouraging us to develop diction and reading skills and willingly performing and reading in public with us. 

During the next few weeks I will be posting on this site a selection of Brian's work as a tribute to a man who became a friend, a man whose passion for life, his family, his interest in the welfare of Sheppey and its history, a man who was born on the island and gave much of his life to teaching the youth of the Island whose passion for good writing is reflected in his poems and short stories and whose life touched others. 

In no small measure, although not Earth shattering or of international renown,  Brian brought his love of life and beauty to all who met him.  His approach was quiet and modest but made an impact on those who met him either with dogged and determined persistance or with that warmth of welcome that made every meeting with him a pleasant experience. 

 Brian Sinclair, died 23rd April 2008, buried 2nd May 2008 where his dear wife Margaret lay will, without a doubt, be sadly missed. 

Do not mourn for the dead for they are at peace

But give your love to others and call them friend.

James Apps

I paid a visit to the Polk Dot gallery in Teynham and I was most impressed by the concept.  As a result I have created a link to the Polka Dot on this site. 

http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/

The Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writers' Group(SSWG) is a member of the Swale Arts Forum and supports the aims of the forum.  The SSWG would also like to affirm that the aims of the forum are similar to its own aims if scaled down a little to suit its capabilities, nevertheless we wish to state that we will promote the arts within our own scope and that includes giving space for local writers, that is poets, prose writers fiction and non-fiction, and to be aware of the arts in other forms such as the visual arts, performing arts and those who appreciate the arts.  Although we are fiercly in favour of the Isle of Sheppey we also recognise that we are an integral part of the Swale area and that we must also call on the arts outside the Swale area to recognise that we exist as a cultural entity.  A mouthful? A little bit pompous? Perhaps, but we are determined that the Swale area be part of the rich cultural heritige of Kent and the United Kingdom.  To show our committment follow the link to the Swale Arts Forum.

Sheppey Writers love the Big Fish Band who are part of the Sea Sheppey organisation, that great Sheppey experience involving the community of Sheppey in historical re-enactions and enjoyable carnivals.  The Big Fish Band is a hard working, devoted group of people dedicated to the cultural experience of Sheppey. 

Check out this site by clicking on the link here and enjoy. 

Cheryl Patrick attended our writing challenges evening during the Swale Festival 2007 and came up with some amusing pieces.  Her site is worth looking at.  She has some excellent comment on current affairs.