Felixstowe Scribblers 2021: The latest BBC writersroom newsletter

Monday 31 January 2011

The latest BBC writersroom newsletter

Laughing Stock 2011
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BBC writersroom and BBC Comedy Commissioning have joined forces in a nationwide competition to find new comedy gold. The challenge is to write an original narrative comedy script with series potential.
Write it, send it in - and you could be in line not just for a comedy masterclass, but also an intensive week away developing your idea hand in hand with BBC comedy producers and established comedy writing talent.
For more information, and to find out how to enter, visit our opportunities page:http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laughing_stock_2011.shtml

Interview with Heidi Thomas
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Award-winning writer Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary, Upstairs Downstairs) talks to writersroom about how she creates the world and characters of her adaptations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/heidi_thomas1.shtml

Scripts
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Our scripts are in PDF format - if you can't read them, download Adobe Reader from http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/categories/plug/acrobat/acrobat.shtml?intro

Land GirlsSeries 2: Episode 1 by Roland Moore
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/landgirls_s2_ep1.pdf
Tamara Drewe by Moira Buffini
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/tamara_drewe.pdf
AccusedEpisode 5: Kenny's Story by Esther Wilson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/accused_episode5.pdf
Don't forget you can browse through all of the scripts in our script archive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/script_archive.shtml

Submitting your script to BBC writersroom
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Want to write for the BBC?
Find out what to send us on our script submissions page.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/submissions_writersroom.shtml

Blog
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Roland Moore talks about how he approached writing the second series of BBC One's Land Girls, Men Behaving Badly writer, Simon Nye, introduces Laughing Stock, and we have the latest showreel from BBC Films.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/

Opportunities
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Script Space IVDeadline: 31 January 2011Tobacco Factory Theatre's forum for the development of new writing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/script_space_2011.shtml

Tamasha Theatre Company: Mulberry School for Girls projectDeadline: 31 January 2011Opportunity to create a new piece of writing and develop practical workshop skills in a school environment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/tamasha_mulberry_2011.shtml

Small Lives Global Ties Writers GroupDeadline: 31 January 2011Tamasha is looking for ten experienced writers to join a new writers group.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/small_lives_tamasha1.shtml

Laughing Stock 2011Deadline: 21 February 2011Nationwide competition from BBC Writersroom and BBC Comedy Commissioning to find new comedy gold.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laughing_stock_2011.shtml

The Sitcom Mission 2011Deadline: 14 February 2011Submit your 15-minute sitcom script for showcase in front of an industry panel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/the_sitcom_mission_2011.shtml

PrimetimeDeadline: 14 February 2011Opportunity for new Northern Irish writers to have their original drama broadcast at 9pm on BBC One Northern Ireland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/primetime1.shtml

Saturday Shorts 2: Bristol Folk HouseDeadline: 01 March 2011Submit a 15-minute script for a performance event at Bristol Folk House.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/saturday_shorts_2.shtml

The Windsor Fringe Award for New Drama Writing 2011Deadline: 03 March 2011Have your play performed at the 2011 Windsor Fringe Festival.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/windsor_fringe_2011.shtml

Kali Theatre Company: Writer Development ProgrammesDeadline: 10 March 2011Development opportunity for Asian women writers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/kali_theatre_writer_development.shtml

Soho Theatre: Verity Bargate Award 2011Deadline: 11 March 2011£5,000 prize and a residency at Soho Theatre for a new play that stands out from the crowd.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/verity_bargate_award_2011.shtml

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2011Deadline: 06 June 2011Opportunity for new playwrights to win £16,000 and a year's attachment to the Royal Exchange.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/bruntwood_prize_2011.shtml

Writers AvenueDeadline: 01 June 2011Platform for playwrights to develop their skills through new writing events.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/writers_avenue_2011.shtml

REPOSITORY

The Jack Wilkinson Competition for stories about children for an adult reader, is open for entries until 1st June. Stories should be emailed in the usual way to Georgina, making clear that it is a competition entry. Your entries can be in any genre of writing and should be no more than a maximum of 1,500words. Once all entries have been received, they will all be posted on the Repository. Members will have a week to read and choose their favourite three stories. Please do not vote for your own story. Your top three choices should be emailed to Georgina stating 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the corresponding story titles. Please don’t make any comments below the stories until the outcome has been announced. All stories will be published anonymously, with only a story title and a corresponding letter of the alphabet. Once all votes are in (and scores have been double checked) the winning entries will be announced. As we are unable to present the trophy due to the existing situation, an e-certificate will be awarded to the winner. The more entries, the better, so get those scribbling sticks out! Please email all contributions to Georgina Dave

CORONAVIRUS

Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, Felixstowe Scribblers have sadly cancelled all future meetings until such time as Government advice and restrictions are lifted.

This means a great upheaval to many of our writers, but we will do our best to keep you updated both on this weblog and by email.

We intend to maintain our writing with 500-750 word assignments that may be posted on here for a short period of time whilst our WhatsApp group will have regular 100-200 word exercises to help keep our creative minds working.

Further information will be released as soon as possible.

30 March 2020

Gipping Press

Felixstowe Scribblers chose Gipping Press to publish their 2014, 2017 and 2019 anthologies. Our reasoning was based on their enthusiastic help, great track record and, more than anything else, the quality and high standard of their work. Our anthologies are testament to their expertise.

We anticipate another anthology in 2021 and will be seeking the help once again, of Gipping Press.

We can honestly recommend Gipping Press to anyone seeking advice in publication and for their very competitive prices.

Thank you Gipping Press.

http://www.gippingpress.co.uk/GPselfpublshing.html

Where we meet

Felixstowe Scribblers meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road. Meetings start at 7.30pm and end at 10.00pm.

Details of the library are on their website at https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries/felixstowe-library/.

Felixstowe Scribblers are indebted to the Library and its helpful staff for all their valuable assistance.

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, our annual membership fees have been reduced from £30 to £15 for the coming year until November 2021.

Meetings, when they are able to be organised again will allow people preferring to pay at each meeting a charge of £5.

Our writing programmes are available via our two avenues, The Repository and our WhatsApp group.

Membership is open to both published and hobby writers and whilst there are no age limits it is wise to be aware that there may be adult content included in some work.

For more information about Felixstowe Scribblers simply email our Secretary catherine.stafford1@ntlworld.com or our Chairman, Dave, at scribblers.1@btinternet.com.

Committee Members:

Hon President: Ruth Dugdall.

Chairman: Dave Feakes.

Secretary: Cathy Stafford.

Treasurer: Beryl Sabel.

Scribblers Repository Editor: Georgina Salmon.

Weblog Co-ordinator: to be arranged.

Anthology sub committee:

Beryl Sabel,

Georgina Salmon,

Dave Feakes.

WhatsApp administrator:

Justin Keogh

In Memory

Martin Enticknap One time member of the Scribblers who stayed in touch from his home on Sanday in the Orklands. 2003.

Nobby Clarke A keen sailor, he relayed many amusing tales from his past life. Died tragically in a road traffic accident in 2004.

Bill Budner A lay preacher who joined the Scribblers and provided so many prolific words in his short stories. 2006.

Jack Wilkinson Our youngest member for four years, he provided so much laughter and talented creativity before losing his life to cancer at the tender age of twelve. 2006.

Allen Williams Our Welsh wizard had a wonderful wit that kept the group in fits of laughter. 2007.

John Crowson At 97, our most senior member. He passed just a week before he was published for the very first time in the 2010 Felixstowe Scribblers Anthology. 2009.

Doreen Rayner Published and very knowledgeable Felixstowe historian and former member of the Scribblers. 2012

Les Smith Such a welcoming and endearing character, his laughter, matched with his personality and his humorous writing leaves the Scribblers much poorer for his loss. 2015

Mairead Reidy Such a warm hearted and generous person who was both extremely talented and knowledgeable. Liked and loved by all. Another very sad loss to our creative group. 2018

Dick Bradshaw A warm and friendly long term member. A wonderful and published writer with a wealth of knowledge and so many humorous tales. A very sad loss of a good friend. 2018

It is fitting that we also remember Liam Fairhurst of Soham who died of cancer in 2009. He raised enormous sums of money for charity all beginning in memory of his friend and ours, Jack Wilkinson.

Maurice James, the creator of the Coast to Coast competitions and a great friend to the Scribblers. 2010