Write Club Open Mic

Episode 1 : Introductions

Welcome to Write Club Open Mic!


Episode 1 is all about introductions.


You'll be introduced to our host, Mark Grist & Chris Barn, our sound producer at Backland Studios.


You'll also get to hear five aspiring writers' takes on the theme of 'introductions'.

Writers featured:

Ann Atkins
Maire Stevens
Andy Aspen
Mel Bradley
Leanne Moden

--Useful links--

Fire & Dust: https://tinyurl.com/phcn4fch

To listen to Mel's podcast 'For The Love of Mary': https://houseofmel.podbean.com/

Details of Leanne's Writing workshop:
https://tinyurl.com/leanneworkshop

Submissions: Send (ideally) audio or text to words@writeclubopenmic.com.

The next theme we're taking submissions for is 'I'm getting too old for this s**t!'

This podcast was made possible thanks to public funding from Arts Council England.

Episode 2 : Take Your Shot

In this episode of Write Club Open Mic, hosted by Mark Grist with sound production by Chris Barn, we're here to help you set ambitious yet achievable targets as a writer.


Join us as we talk about success, failure & the importance of the occasional milkshake. Throughout this episode we'll also guide you towards creating three meaningful & helpful targets for your own work.


This episode features stories and poems from five writers as they explore what 'Taking your Shot' means to them.

You can sign up for MArk's writing workshop 'Maximum Power' on 7th June 2023 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maximum-power-how-to-energise-the-crowd-tickets-635826493157 


Tim Clare (04.46)

Tim's newest book 'Coward: Why we get anxious and what we can do about it' is now out in paperback. You can get a copy here. 
Link to Death of a Thousand Cuts here. 
Link to Tim's free Couch to 50k course here.

Scott Coe (13.13)

Loz Ansty (22.47)

You can find Loz's pamphlet 'Orange from Grey' on sale here.

Georgia Preece: (32.15)

We'd highly recommend checking out to Georgia's TedX talk here.

Kiran Wade (43.33)

Why not share your targets and/or writing submissions with us at words@writeclubopenmic.com?

We'd love to hear what you've got & would love to hear new writing that relates to the theme of 'Maximum Power'.

Episode 3: ’I’m getting too old for this sh*t’

In this episode of Write Club Open Mic we're sharing new work from writers around the world about the joys (& frustrations!) of getting older. We loved listening to these submissions & hope you will too.

Just to warn there may be one or two moments of spicy language (the word 'sh*t' thanks to our theme suggestion). Otherwise you're all good. 

If you'd like to send work over to us we'd love to hear it:
words@writeclubopenmic.com

This episode contains submissions from

Maire Stephens 'The Gremin's Home' (5.40)
Harry Wilding 'Better To Do' (7.54)
Jenny Woods 'U-Bend' (11.52)
Monica 'Sunscreen' (18.55) 
Sarah Dixon 'Contained' (22.38)
Debra Tracey-Carney 'I'm too old for this sh*t'(28.30)
Vicky Lloyd-West - Limerick & Haiku (31.08)
Gareth Barsby -  Univocalism & 'I Don't Feel Evil Today'(33.19)
Pippa Davies - 'In Praise of Blue Tits' (35.58)
Jackie Morrey-Grace (40.23)

Useful links:

You can sign up for Jackie's writing workshop 'Unearthing the creative value of YOU' on 12th July 2023 here: https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=10000551740900887

Harry Wilding's website:
www.harrywildingwrites.wordpress.com 

SUBMISSIONS: Our next theme is 'Show me the Money' - with a cash prize! Why not share your writing submissions with us at words@writeclubopenmic.com?

Episode 4: Maximum Power

This episode is all about drawing upon our inner reserves and releasing the power within. And it's competitive too - as two previous Peterborough Poet Laureates (Charley Genever & Keely Mills) join Mark & Chris for a Write Club Battle Royale.  

Mark, Charley & Keely have each curated 10 minutes of new writing based upon the theme of 'MAXIMUM POWER'.

Which segment strikes the hardest/recharges your batteries the most?
Why not let us know at 
Words@WriteClubOpenMic.Com

Many thanks to our contributors this time around.

This episode contains work from

Brian F Kirkham: 9.45

MARK'S TEAM : 14.00 - 24.16

Vron McIntyre
Ann Atkins
Jake McDonald
Fiona Robertson

KEELY'S TEAM  25.25 - 36.16

Emily Dickens
Keely Mills
Kat Beeton

CHARLIE'S TEAM: 37.05 - 45.35

Jack Wilkin
Spike 5ftsix
Charley Genever
Leo Keyter

Mark's piece to finish: 50.42

Which segment did you enjoy the most?

If you'd like to send work over/let us know how you're finding the series so far feel free to email
words@writeclubopenmic.com

Other useful links:

Charley & Keely's Workshop (Two Poets One Voice) on the 9th August: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2-poets-1-voice-with-keely-mills-and-charley-genever-tickets-547724778557

To join our 'Write Club' Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295870580791878
To check out Brian's Inkdrops blog:
https://inkdrops.blog/
Mark's Website:
https://www.markgrist.com/
Backland Studios website:
https://www.backlandstudios.co.uk/

Episode 5: Show Me the Money!

In this episode we're talking money: how we feel about it as artists, the financial realities of life as an artist in the UK during a cost of living crisis and we're exploring one way you could gain access to up to £12,000 to develop your work: Arts Council England's Develop Your Creative PRactice Grant..

We've got Leanne Moden back in the studio, a superb piece from writer & performer Sandy Wardrop AND 9 wealth-themed guest submissions. In honour of our theme this month there's even a £150 prize on offer to one writer - the winner is announced towards the end of the episode.

Artists featured

Sam Wilson
Tom Mccoll
Hilary Steele

James Domestic
Sarah Dixon
Amber-Page Moss

Rob Harding
Andrew Lee
Gail Webb

Laura Strickland

We've also got Demi Anter & Ann Atkins sharing their experiences of applying for DYCP Grants from Arts Council England & we hope this gives a really honest and helpful breakdown of what the process is like..

This is our longest & most jam-packed episode yet.
Thanks so much for your submissions!

If you'd like to send work over to us we'd love to hear it - our next episode is celebrating the work of younger writers (18 & under). We accept audio & text submission sent in from parents/guardians/those with permission to share:

words@writeclubopenmic.com

Episode 6: Who Let You In Here?

This episode is all about taking up space and features lots of new work (& some occasional chat) from the following writers:

Sammy Nour (you can find Sammy's collection here)
Dave Wood
Joe Williams
Joy Rice
Carol Carman
Lateral G
Laura Walker
Antony Brough
Joshua Batterley
Louis Jaffa (The beat is the instrumental to Lupe Fiasco's Kick, Push & can be found here)
Melissa Neil
Brian F Kirkham
Emma Hillerby
Lorna Meehan (Lorna's Soundcloud & 'Rebel Heroines' can be found here)
Beth Hartley (you can find out more about Beth's collection 'What If Stars' here)

Our final online Write Club workshop will take place on & you can get them from Eventbrite, here).

Thanks so much for listening!

Episode 7 - Back to the Future

This episode is a bit of a special one - featuring new work exclusively from young aspiring writers around the world.

We've got eight original poems and stories to share with you this time around - submissions from China, South Korea, Scotland & even nearby Huddersfield(!). We've also got a special guest Louis Jaffa (@louis_jaffa) in the studio with us, as he helps us explore the challenges young people face when working in the arts

One thing we wanted to add:

This episode was recorded prior to the attack that took place in Israel on 7th October. Since then we've been heartbroken as we've followed the suffering taking place in Israel & Gaza. Our hearts go out to all who've suffered in that conflict to date- both Palestinian and Israeli and to anyone living afraid/isolated here in the UK as the war progresses.

We're acutely aware of the increase in antisemitism, intolerance & violent rhetoric in the UK over the past fortnight and we hope desperately for a peaceful solution to the current conflict.

With such terrible news coming in all of the time this episode has reminded us how valuable stories and poetry can be - how fortunate we are to get to listen to each other and how important it is to remember the things we have in common.

Thanks so much to these young people for submitting work.

If you'd like to submit work for our final episode 'How Fast Do You Want To Go?' please send audio or text files of your writing to Words@WriteClubOpenMic.com

Timestamps of submissions in this episode:

Suah: 8.22
Haerim: 12.58
Ji: 17.26
Shingil: 12.40
Curtis Lowe: 22.58
Cara Slavin: 30.10
Jocelyn: 34.48
Eva Woods: 39.07

Episode 8: How Fast Do You Wanna Go?

Here it is! Our final episode of this season. We're slowing down & reflecting on the year we've had whilst also speeding forward into 2024 with some great news.

And we have 10 new pieces of writing to share with you that all relate to our episode's theme! Many thanks to everyone who made it in today

Artists with timestamps:

Andy Aspen (1.43)
Lateral G (Soundscape by Boris Donkson) (6.40)
You can hear more of Lateral G at www.lateralg.co.uk
and Boris Donkson at https://themightydonkson.bandcamp.com/

Tasha (9.42)
Donald Holmes (10.48)
Gareth Barsby (13.53)
Aiden Dobson (16.00)
Florence Elliot (20.02)
Beattie Mason (25.55).
Scrumping the Petri Dish: 
Hollie Trundle (28.09)
Harry Wilding (31.20)

A huge thank you to all our writers featured this series-  and to you for joining us on this journey. Many thanks to Arts Council England for supporting the project & we look forward to seeing you all again next year.