"Learned a lot. It's very encouraging to get positive feedback on
my writing from established authors."
TOPWRITERS
@ SWANWICK
An
initiative by the Writers’ Summer School gave 10 talented young
writers the opportunity to attend Swanwick in 2006 for just £50.
The promotion
was repeated in 2007.
Additionally...
For 2007, a generous
donation was received which enabled the School to make a price concession
for returning Topwriters.
The first
three returning Topwriters who sent a completed application form
from 1st February, along with a cheque for their choice of accomodation,
less £50, got a place on that basis.
Our picture (above) of the ten writers in 2006 includes two others who
did not manage to secure one of the sponsored places but who attended
the school under their own steam, in any case.
Topwrite
was launched in 2005 to help young people benefit from the School’s
expert tutors and speakers.
Promoted
via a specially created website, schools and colleges, TOPWRITE gave 18
to 30 year-olds around the country the chance to enrol at the School for
a nominal £50 fee.
Supporting
letters from each student’s Creative Writing tutor were a key factor
in obtaining one of the coveted places.
The first Topwriters arrived at Swanwick in 2005 and Local Bilborough
College friends Liz Sunter and Bethany Layne (kneeling 2nd and 3rd left
in the front of the picture) are still relishing the experience.
Said Bethany: “The highlights of Swanwick for me were the two poetry
workshops – Developing Poetry and Writing Poems for Self Discovery
– because of the interesting prompts the tutors used to get you
started. I found the intensity of the time-scale (’15 minutes to
write a poem – go!’) invaluable for producing a first draft
in a short space of time which I could then revise at a more relaxed pace.
“The TOPWRITE programme was wonderful because it put me in contact
with so many like-minded people and gave me the chance to experience the
‘writer’s bubble’ of Swanwick, which allowed me to focus
on my poetry much more fully than I could have done at home.”
Liz also loved the Swanwick experience, listing the Drama course as her
favourite, closely followed by the Poetry course and a 2-part workshop
on ‘Pacing your work’ which, said Liz, gave her good technical
information which she couldn’t easily have found out for herself.
No stranger to writing success, Liz was shortlisted for the Sunday Times
Young Travel Writer competition in 2001 and, at the age of just 14, won
the Henrietta Branford Prize (the under-18 equivalent of the Branford-Boase
Award).
Said Chairman, Marion Hough: “Young writers like Bethany, Liz and
the other Topwriters are the lifeblood of the School and it was a joy
to share their enthusiasm and talent. We are currently exploring new opportunities
to fund a similar scheme at Swanwick next year.”
"A great year again and a big 'thank you' for the introduction last
year through Topwrite - and the opportunity to return this year as a Course
Leader. I think the work Ann and Peter do on behalf of the Topwrite project
is fab. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to come last year. Although
I'm not a best-selling author (yet!), Swanwick has already helped to change
my life for the better."
An
initiative by the Writers’ Summer School gave 10 talented young
writers the opportunity to attend Swanwick in 2006 for just £50.
The first Topwriters arrived at Swanwick in 2005 and Local Bilborough
College friends Liz Sunter and Bethany Layne (kneeling 2nd and 3rd left
in the front of the picture) are still relishing the experience. 