Author: jason nahrung (Page 1 of 4)

Welcome the new Ballarat Writers committee

The new committee for Ballarat Writers has been elected unopposed. They are:

Chair: Irene Warfe
Treasurer/membership: Danielle O’Donnell
Secretary: Joy Merritt
Competitions: Rebekah Spark
Publicity and media: Rebecca Fletcher.

Also at the AGM held on 15 February 2017, the Ballarat writers festival subcommittee reported that talks on venues were proceeding well and grant applications were being prepared. Volunteers will be needed to help with the running of the festival on October 20-22, so save the dates — all assistance gratefully received!

DATES:
Tomorrow (16 Feb): Words Out Loud
Sunday (19 Feb): Write Club / Flash fiction entries close
Monday (20 Feb): flash fiction voting opens at the website
Wednesday (22 Feb): Members night

Words Out Loud – the heat is on

words out loud for february 2017Words Out Loud returns to Babushka lounge in Ballarat on Thursday, February 16, 7-9pm, for its next session of spoken word.

Writers, readers, poets – all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love are invited along, with five-minute open mic spots on offer. Babushka has excellent sound and backing tracks can be accommodated. You won’t find a friendlier venue.

The event has a nominal theme of “the heat is on”, but as always, performers are encouraged to take the theme and run with it for their 5-minute slots – or ignore it altogether!

Entry is free, though a gold coin donation would be appreciated for this non-profit, community event. A special raffle at February’s event will aid Babushka’s crowdfunding campaign to help this convivial and supportive venue keep grooving.

Keep up to date at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/.

AGM nomination and proxy forms

In preparation for the Annual General Meeting of Ballarat Writers on Wednesday 15 February, forms for nominations for committee are now available for download at the website. They will also be available at our January members night on Thursday the 25th.

Five committee positions need to be filled:

  • chairperson
  • secretary/public officer
  • treasurer and membership coordinator
  • competitions coordinator
  • publicity and media coordinator

Click here to download a nomination form.

Nominations must be emailed or delivered to outgoing chairperson Jess McCulloch (see form for details) by Wednesday 8 February. Voting will take place at the AGM, at Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St South, Ballarat, at 7pm. The outgoing committee will be at the room early to gather feedback and ideas, and to answer questions from those who might be interested in taking Ballarat Writers forward.

Also available on the website is a proxy voting form for those unable to attend the AGM. This should be carried by the proxy on the night. Proxy forms will also be available at the members night on 25 January.

Click here to download a proxy voting form.

2017 is an exciting year for Ballarat Writers at its writing festival takes shape under its organising subcommittee. Current committee members will be available to advise the new committee on operating procedures, and handover documents will be available to further aid the transition.

Words Out Loud returns for 2017

rat-reads-jan-2017Words Out Loud returns to Babushka lounge in Ballarat on Thursday, January 19, 7-9pm, for its next session of spoken word.

Writers, readers, poets — all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love are invited along, with five-minute open mic spots on offer. Babushka has excellent sound and backing tracks can be accommodated. You won’t find a friendlier venue.

The event has a nominal theme of “fresh start”, but as always, performers are encouraged to take the theme and run with it for their 5-minute slots — or ignore it altogether!

Entry is free, though a gold coin donation would be appreciated for this non-profit, community event.

Keep up to date at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/.

AGM — BW needs a committee

Annual general meeting – new committee needed

The AGM will be held on February 15, at the Bunch of Grapes hotel from 7pm. The outgoing committee will be there early to gather feedback and ideas, and to answer questions from those who might be interested in taking Ballarat Writers forward.

Please note: the committee will be stepping down, so volunteers to fill the posts of chair, deputy chair/competitions, treasurer/membership, secretary, and publicity, will be needed to ensure the group’s future. The committee will be available to aid the transition with handover documents and advice.

First members’ night of 2017

Members’ nights will be held on the LAST Wednesday of the month, starting on January 25. Meetings will again be held at the Bunch of Grapes hotel, 401 Pleasant St South, starting at 7pm, with members welcome to arrive early for a meal.

Ballarat writers festival

The subcommittee organising the Ballarat writers festival has set the date – October 20-22, 2017. Keep in touch and help spread the word on the Facebook page (a website is in development). Anyone with suggestions or who is able to help the committee in organising and running the event is asked to email David Twomey. Ideas can also be shared on the members’ forum.

Words Out Loud

We’ve received word that Babushka, our venue for Words Out Loud, is likely to remain open under the stewardship of the amazing Garth, so expect an announcement about the resumption of our monthly spoken word event early in January. Meanwhile, get those readings ready!

Season’s greetings!

Ballarat Writers wishes members and supporters a safe and happy holiday season, and looks forward to a productive and successful year of writing ahead.

Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize winner

mrmpp_2016_webBallarat Writers is pleased to announce the winner of the 2016 Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize, judged by acclaimed poet Emilie Zoey Baker.

The winner was “Christmas Day in Harlaxton” by Vanessa Page. You can read the winning poem here.

The four highly commended finalists were:

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” by Gayelene Carbis

“Rules for the Dead” by Damen O’Brien

“In the Ear of the Beholder” by Ian Pettit

“Orange Blood” by Roger Vickery

The winner of the AU$1,500 prize was announced at the last Ballarat Writers meeting of 2016 on 30 November. Congratulations to Vanessa and the highly commended poets, and thanks to all who entered and supported the contest.

Ballarat Writers is due to run the Southern Cross Short Story Prize in 2017. Stay tuned for details in the new year.

Finalists in the Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize announced

mrmpp_2016_webBallarat Writers is pleased to announce the finalists in the 2016 Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize, judged by acclaimed poet Emilie Zoey Baker.

The contest offers AU$1,500 to the winner, to be announced at the last Ballarat Writers meeting of 2016 on 30 November. The free evening starts at 7pm at Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St South, Ballarat. All welcome!

The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” by Gaylene Carbis

“Rules for Dead” by Damien O’Brien

“Christmas Day in Harlaxton” by Vanessa Page

“In the Ear of the Beholder” by Ian Pettit

“Orange Blood” by Roger Vickery

Congratulations!

Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize winner to be announced

mrmpp_2016_web

The winner of The Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize, worth $1,500 and run by Ballarat Writers, will be announced on 30 November at the group’s end-of-year celebration. Judge Emilie Zoey Baker will be in attendance.

Also to be announced on the night will be the winner of the inhouse Pamela Miller Memorial Prize.

Members and supporters are encouraged to help celebrate these achievements, and mark the year almost gone and look forward to the year ahead.

The event begins at 7pm at the Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St South, Ballarat. Meals are available in the dining area beforehand.

Pamela Miller Memorial Prize now open

BW_logo_flashfiction_longThe winner of the October flash fiction contest, keyword monkeys, was Maureen Riches.

The November contest, for Ballarat Writers members only, is the Pamela Miller Memorial Prize. The prize is $100 and a certificate. The winner will be announced at our final Members’ night for the year on Wednesday, 30 November.

The process for submission is similar to the monthly Flash Fiction competition:

Genre: open, however, poetry and non-fiction pieces will not be accepted for this competition

Theme: everyone is welcome

Words: 350–400 words

Key word: corner (remember to include this word in your story)

All entries are to be submitted to competitions@ballaratwriters.com by Sunday, 20 November. Your email must include author’s name, story title and word count.

Voting will open the next day on the flash fiction competition website.

Pamela Miller was a very active and productive member of Ballarat Writers. She wrote short stories and poetry and won the ‘Murder at MADE’ short story competition held in conjunction with the Sisters in Crime Festival in 2014, and in early 2015 was part of the ‘Poetry Pathways’ ekphrastic project. She was also the winner of a number of Ballarat Writers monthly Flash Fiction competitions. Pamela died in June 2015 after a short illness.

Words Out Loud – November edition

words out loud in ballaratWords Out Loud returns to Babushka lounge in Ballarat on Thursday, November 24, 7-9pm, for its next session of spoken word.

To mark the final event of the year, Jessica Wilkinson will headline. Jessica is the founding editor of RABBIT: a journal for nonfiction poetry, which celebrates its 20th issue in November. She has published two poetic biographies, marionette: a biography of miss marion davies (Vagabond 2012) and Suite for Percy Grainger (Vagabond 2014). She is currently writing up a third, on choreographer George Balanchine, research for which was undertaken at the NYC Public Library and Harvard under the Marten Bequest Travel Award. She is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Writers, readers, poets — all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love are invited along, with five-minute open mic spots on offer. Babushka has excellent sound and backing tracks can be accommodated. You won’t find a friendlier venue. Sadly, Babushka has announced it is likely to close at year’s end, so this a chance to farewell this most excellent host.

The event has a nominal theme of “on the edge”, but as always, performers are encouraged to take the theme and run with it for their 5-minute slots — or ignore it altogether!

Entry is free.

Keep up to date at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/.

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