Got a tale about Tamworth to tell? Now’s your chance

Aug 6, 2015

AN ambitious project to publish a new book featuring stories, poems and plays about Tamworth and written by residents of the town, is now entering its second month with plenty more opportunities for people to develop their writing skills and get involved.

Anyone who has ever wanted to write a short story, novel or play is being invited to learn from the best as part of a series of FREE workshops taking place in community locations across the town with Staffordshire’s first ever Poet Laureate Mal Dewhirst.

The mixture of informal and structured drop-in sessions aim to inspire as many people as possible to develop their writing skills. Participants will then be encouraged to submit pieces for possible inclusion in a brand new book which is being printed to provide a lasting legacy of the people and places Tamworth.

Called I Am Words, the writing project is part of the ongoing I Am Tamworth initiative which aims to encourage people from all walks of life to get creative across a diverse range of the arts.

For this element, Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team has teamed up with local writer Mal Dewhirst, who was selected as the county’s first official Poet Laureate in 2012.

The free workshops got underway in July and are continuing throughout August and September, so there is still plenty of time for people to be part of this exciting and lasting project.

Mal said: “There will be a mix of sessions. Those being held in Ankerside Shopping Centre, for example, will be informal, with participants providing words associated with Tamworth to construct a series of community poems.

“The more formal sessions, such as those in the library, will see participants using all of their senses to develop descriptions of the town, its people and their activities for short stories, poems and plays.”

Budding writers will learn how to develop characters, create dialogue and describe actions within the setting of the town.

Sessions are open to people of all ages and abilities and there is no need to book.

Details of the remaining workshops are as follows:

Monday August 10 – Tamworth Library (6pm-7pm)
Tuesday August 11 – Ankerside Shopping Centre (12pm-3pm)
Saturday August 15 – Tamworth Library (11am-3pm)
Monday August 24 – Tamworth Library (6pm-7pm)
Thursday August 27 – Belgrave Fire Station (3pm-5pm)
Saturday September 5 – Ankerside Shopping Centre (11am-3pm)
Tuesday September 8 – Ankerside Shopping Centre (11am-3pm)
Thursday September 10 – Belgrave Fire Station (3pm-5pm)
Saturday September 19 – Ankerside Shopping Centre (11am-3pm)
Tuesday September 29 – Ankerside Shopping Centre (11am-3pm)

People can also submit work to be considered for the new book, without attending a workshop, to Tamworth Tourist Information Centre in Corporation Street by September 29.

More information is available online at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk/i-am-tamworth/i-am-words or from the Arts and Events team on 01827 709314.