We are a long established Writers Circle based in Felixstowe, Suffolk. This Weblog will be about us, Writing, Writing Competitions, Writing in Felixstowe, life and generally what we are up to as a Group and individuals and what interests us.
We are based in Felixstowe but our membership comes both from a wide area within Suffolk and we also have many 'online' members from around the UK, Europe and the US.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Please note our New! contact address is scribblers@btinternet.com . Please note all previous email addresses are now defunct.
Yes its already time for the 2006 sieries of summer concerts - for those of us that arent going there is an excellent website and list of events to soak up the atmosphere, and joy of joys a super local webcam.
This truly international competition is accessible to all; it doesn�t matter if you are an established poet or just dabble with a verse now and then. Whether you�re from Merthyr or Malawi, Pwllheli or Portugal, we want your poems.
Just make sure your poem is no longer than 50 lines, unpublished, is in English and not a translation of another authors work and send it, along with your entry form and payment, to Academi. The poems will be judged anonymously to ensure a fair competition and unbiased result.
This is one that seems to have slipped under the Radar of the local media to my knowledge - a rare 'Felixstowe Scribblers Weblog' exclusive.
GREENPEACE UK lists on its website that the RAF Bawdsey Site is a potential destination for the governments perenial search for a home for some if not all of Britains nuclear waste. I would imagine that they are talking about a site for bulk low level waste rather than some of the more dangerous stuff, but you never know. My understanding was that they were looking for deep, hard rock sites - more common in the west and north of our fair island rather than out here in the sandy east. Given the huge costal erosion problems it seems to me not an obvious choice for a place to store material that needs the very safest of homes for the next few thousand years - unless the Nuclear Industry is planning on paying for the constant burden of the sea defence work as well as the huge financial liability of the waste too.
Im trying to avoid the NIMBYesque cliches of a response to our new prospective neighbour - after all this is being typed as I write on a PC powered by no doubt Sizewell originating electricity.
Maybe they are hoping that inbetween fighting closure of the Bartlet and campaigning against the huge housing developments proposed for Trimley / Gulpher sites we would just let this one quietly through.
More later asuming I havent mutated futher. At least it is finally raining.
PS Other interesting Nuclear Bawdsey facts.
....There is a disused military nuclear bunker under RAF Bawdsey. ....The British Nuclear program team that was based at Orford Ness later moved to Bawdsey Manor when the experimental phase of the program was concluded. ....Rumors are the 'Bloodhound' Anti-aircraft missiles that were based at RAF Bawdsey untill the mid 1980's and were a sinister feature of the North of Felixstowe's skyline through that time were nuclear armed and had they ever been used would have resulted in a sieries of nuclear 'airbursts' above the North Sea.
Well this will show you a different side of Ipswich and the local area's cultural life.
I was just checking out what to do tonight and found this superb guide to the live music in the area - this obviously represents quite a lot of work as it is exhaustive and is very up to date.
"23rd July: Suffolk Coastal arts service is producing a directory of cultural activities, groups, facilities and services for the district which will be available on line and in booklet format from January 2007. 'Suffolk Coastal is bustling with cultural activity; camera clubs, choral societies, rock schools, recording studios, theatres and international festivals of music and poetry, but there is no central source of information to tell you who is doing what, how to get involved or who offers venues and specialist services,' said Cllr Rae Leighton, Cabinet Member for Community Well-being.".....
oh and
....."23rd June: The Cotman Challenge Exhibition at Reunion Gallery, Gainsborough Road.
Did you know there is more to Felixstowe than a Sunday market, funfairs and the Docks? If you lift your head up you will realise that the town is populated with many fine examples of quirky and individually designed buildings. To celebrate this the Reunion Gallery will be staging an exhibition during July 2006 highlighting the legacy of one of the architects responsible for this - Thomas Cotman. Entitled The Cotman Challenge the exhibition will feature specially commissioned work from a number of artists who will each interpret the work of Cotman and his lasting influence on the town in their own style. Artists exhibiting are Maggi Hambling. Alex Beale, Alison Malcolm, Ian McDermot, Linda Kingsford, Michael Barratt, Nicki Holt, Paul Reeve, Rosemary Humphries, Ann Faiers and Cherrie Macgregor Much of Felixstowe’s character owes itself to the work of the architect Thomas W Cotman who lived and worked in the town at the turn of the 20th Century and much of its character is defined by his influence. "
So you want to be a playwright Course at Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge School, Saturday September 9th 2006.
The Course An introductory course for anyone who wants to try their hand at writing for the stage. This course is designed to take you through aspects of how the stage space works, creating character, writing dialogue and developing dramatic action. The day will be very practical and will offer you the opportunity to try out ideas in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
Who should attend The course is for anyone who wants to try their hand at writing for the stage. It is open to all people aged 17+. What to Bring Please bring pen and paper.
Tutors Tutors Peppy Barlow and Sally Wilden are both experienced playwrights and works shop leaders. Peppy’s play The Sutton Hoo Mob had a sell out tour with Eastern Angles this spring and Sally has two productions scheduled for London later in the year. Venue The Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge School, Burkitt Road, Woodbridge is a wonderful new theatre venue, opened in 2006. Car parking is available on site. Lunch Lunch, tea and coffee will be provided. If you have special dietary requirements, please indicate these on the form provided. Cost The cost for the day, including lunch, is £15.00 Booking To book a place on the course, please fill out the attached booking form and return to Nicky Corbett, Arts Department, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Melton Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AU Course Outline
9.30 ARRIVE AND COFFEE 10.00 Morning Session 1
Introductions Course leaders and participants introduce themselves and say what they would like to gain from the course.
Creating a dramatic space Introducing the idea of stage space and working with it.
Building a character Choosing from a range of props, pieces of clothing, photographs, news stories, single words, lines from a piece of dialogue, participants will be asked to develop a character. They will be asked to write a brief monologue which will introduce us to the character and give us a glimpse of their internal world. Particular attention will be given to the characters emotional landscape and their likely motivation in any given situation. 11.15 COFFEE BREAK
Morning Session 2
Developing dramatic action Participants will be asked to work in twos and threes to create a short scene which involves their characters. The scene should show the different motives and intentions of their characters and the incompatibilities and conflicts arising from this.
1.00 LUNCH
2.00 Afternoon Session Presentation of dramatic scenario Participants will present their short scenes. Participants and leaders will give comment and feedback.
Practical aspects of writing Script layout. Presentation. Where to go from here. Questions and answers. 4.30 CLOSE OF COURSE
This like many things I do is a little later than it should have been.
A month or so ago we wrote about Leicester based NLab.
Well while having a much overdue tidy up of the template and checking a few things I found this both delightful and insightful weblog titled 'jess' that links to us.
"A word which keeps swilling about in my head is "connections." The ability to make connections with other sites, with other narratives, with other personas... As I was pondering the importance of connections I found a site which connected to the NLab workshop. Thanks to their connection I have learnt of a new and exciting writing collective of which readers of my blog will probably be interested. Check out the Felixstowe Scribblers Weblog. Aside from the funky blog url, they blog about things of interest to, well, writers. They've blogged about writernet, something akin to NLab but geared towards dramatic writers. Have a look. "
I love the Felixstowe Carnival. Its coming up soon. Check out their new website.
I think it is a huge credit to the town and the team of volunteers that organise it - both in the quality of the event that they organise and I cant wait to sink a few pints while watching a couple of the tribute bands. Its ABBA Gold, Glambusters and the Blues Brothers this year.
4th, 5th and 6th of August.
From the Felixstowe Carnival Website.
"'Chairman's Editorial - 2006'
Many comments and suggestions were received about the 2005 carnival and have been taken on board and we hope that the 2006 carnival will as good, if not better, than previous years.
I have been involved on the Carnival Committee for many years and, with some of the Committee members moving on, new blood has joined the Committee and we hope to increase the attractions over the Carnival Weekend.
There are still opportunities to help and the Committee would welcome any further assistance.
As for this year?
Once again, Langer Park will be the staging ground for the Weekend and along with the events in the Town Centre and on the Sea Front, Felixstowe will be packed with tens of thousands of local people and visitors.
As I have said on previous occasions, the Felixstowe Carnival Weekend is only possible bec ause of a combination of very hard work by the Committee and the overwhelming generosity of local businesses and the local community. When apathy has all too often ruled in other areas of the Country, when it comes to Felixstowe, you should be very proud of yourselves and your Carnival... I know that I am. Enjoy your Carnival Weekend."
"The Felixstowe Scribblers By Corinne Roper Ever thought about trying your hand at a bit of creative writing but didn't know how to start? The Felixstowe Scribblers might be just what you're looking for.."
But these pictures show that far from the dramatic, kinetic mass of clouds that loomed over the artist's landscapes, the sky above Dedham Vale is now criss-crossed with contrails.
Although theoretically classed as clouds, the trails of condensation left behind jet aircraft would have been far too geometric for Constable and show the effects of the industrialisation he so wanted to escape from in his rural idylls."
From the World eBook Fair website: "Welcome to the home of the World eBook Fair, the largest showcase for eBooks, eBook publishers, editors, and others working in the new world of eBooks.
July 4th to August 4, 2006 marks a month long celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first step taken towards today's eBooks, when the United States Declaration of Independence was the first file placed online for downloading in what was destined to be an electronic library of the Internet. Today's eBook library has a total of over 100 languages represented. "
NPR of North America - basically the Public broadcaster of the USA - has a really excellent weekly books podcast - a great way to cover a lot of ground in a really efficent way, and get a lot of information and ideas and also hear writers talking about their work. I really enjoy this broadcast.
Included in the latest NPR: Books Podcasts are Alison Bechdel's Tragicomic Family Life, Harper Lee Pens Second Public Work, A Viet Kieu Shares His 'Perfume Dreams', discussions on The Drawbacks of Fighting Terrorism with Torture and a Modern, Far-Fetched, Pirate Tale.
Interested? Then why not join us at one of our meetings?
We meet on the First and Third Tuesday of each month at the Felixstowe Library in Crescent Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BY., meetings start at 7.30 pm and we endeavour to be finished by 10pm.
The New!2009 programme is:-
All meetings are held at Felixstowe Library
Start at 7.30 pm and finish by 10.00 pm.
Suggested 50 pence donation per meeting, includes tea or coffee
January
20 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
24 Social meal at Castle Lodge Hotel
25 Group session with Maureen Blundell at Castle Lodge Hotel
February
3 Meeting
17 Meeting
March
3 Meeting
17 Creative writing exercise
April
7 Meeting
21 Meeting
May
5 Meeting
19 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
June
2 Meeting
16 Meeting
Beach Party Social to be arranged June/July
July
7 Meeting
21 Creative writing exercise
August
4 Meeting
18 Meeting
September
1 Meeting
15 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
October
6 Meeting
20 Torchlight Halloween Meeting
November
3 Meeting
17 Meeting
December
1 Meeting
15 Creative writing exercise followed by the Christmas party.
Remember, membership is FREE, so why not come along? We ask for an optional donation of 50p per meeting to help towards running costs but that does include tea or coffee and a biscuit!
New!IMPORTANT - you can help.....do you know information or content that would help other readers of the Felixstowe Scribblers Weblog?...mail us at Dave Feakes, scribblers@btinternet.com with your comments, additions and suggestions TA! The Scribblers.
Sponsored Links
The Felixstowe Scribblers are an initiative created with the support of Suffolk County Council to help, support and encourage writers living in Suffolk.
Yes its already time for the 2006 sieries of summer concerts - for those of us that arent going there is an excellent website and list of events to soak up the atmosphere, and joy of joys a super local webcam.
"A word which keeps swilling about in my head is "connections." The ability to make connections with other sites, with other narratives, with other personas... As I was pondering the importance of connections I found a site which connected to the NLab workshop. Thanks to their connection I have learnt of a new and exciting writing collective of which readers of my blog will probably be interested. Check out the Felixstowe Scribblers Weblog. Aside from the funky blog url, they blog about things of interest to, well, writers. They've blogged about writernet, something akin to NLab but geared towards dramatic writers. Have a look. "
I love the Felixstowe Carnival. Its coming up soon. Check out their new website.
Its ABBA Gold, Glambusters and the Blues Brothers this year.
As for this year?
From the 
July 4th to August 4, 2006 marks a month long celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first step taken towards today's eBooks, when the United States Declaration of Independence was the first file placed online for downloading in what was destined to be an electronic library of the Internet. Today's eBook library has a total of over 100 languages represented. "
![[ Registered ]](http://www.diarist.net/registry/button.gif){kind=small}
