DiF Writers Networking Afternoon | FREE
Sat, 07 Sept
|Islington Mill
Bringing together writers of misfit gay and queer writing with a difference. Also for editors, agents and publishers who have a real desire to work with and explore that writing which is often passed over by the mainstream. Collaborative artists also welcome. Help us shape this project.
Time & Location
07 Sept 2024, 14:00 – 16:00
Islington Mill, James St, Salford M5, UK, UK
About the Event
Firstly - thanks to Islington Mill for supporting this small residency to complete the research phase of our exciting new project.
Any LGBTQ++ writers and artists are welcome , especially if the kind of work you produce is often ignored or seen as a bad fit with more mainstream publishing.
DiF Idea so far...
Focus on exciting writing that might usually be passed over by mainstream publishers. Any genre.
Good writing that is just DIFFERENT in some essential way.
Includes writing that is edgy, outsider, experimental, extreme, challenging, controversial, transgressive.
Group DIY approach to writer development and finding readers.
No geographical boundaries to membership - no language boundaries - whatever works best.
Open to connecting with editors, agents, presses, publishers and translators who have a real desire to work with us.
Also intersections and collaborations with artists working in any form.
I've got more details which I will share on the day... check out our vibe
It will be a very informal session where with
1 Opportunity for Networking
2. Discussing our writing and the challenges to reaching readers
3. Discussing what the DiF project could look like
4. Sharing our current/recent writing
5. Mapping what is out there for writers like us
We would really like you to bring and share samples of your current or recent writing. It might be an advanced WIP or something recently published (online or print). If it's for sale you can try and sell it. Bring hard copies of samples ( a few pages max) for sharing with attendees. If anyone wants to do a reading then we will fit that in towards the end.
Sam will faciliate the event.
As there is a 'research' element to this... Joana will at times record, photograph or video discussions... with permission of course.
Paul and Joana will be available after 4pm to carry on any informal discussions arising from the session.
Refreshments will be provided.
Sam Jenks is a fiction writer and producer. He is based in Bristol but retains strong links to Manchester where he lived for many years. He founded and directed Out on the Page, a successful LGBTQ+ writing project that has been running since 2018 both online and in-person. Out on the Page is taking a break for the rest of 2024 whilst he explores potential new projects in literature.
Joana Merlini is a Videographer and Artist. A professional in the entertainment industry for 17 years she has worked across a range of media including live broadcasting and music festivals. She is based in Bristol but often works internationally. Her rights based art projects include Bristol Mural Collective.