Words Out Loud Ballarat looks to the winter solstice for inspiration. As the longest night falls, poets, writers and storytellers gather to celebrate poetry, prose and good yarns in the warm and welcoming surrounds of The Printers Room.
Category: monthly members night (Page 2 of 3)
The new committee for Ballarat Writers has been elected unopposed. They are:
Chair: Irene Warfe
Treasurer/membership: Phil Green
Secretary/public officer: Laura Wilson
Publicity and media: Rebecca Fletcher
Competitions: vacant
A huge thank you to Danielle , Joy and Rebekah for their help last year, and welcome to Laura, who is a brand new committee member!
Our competitions chair is currently vacant, so if you’re looking to get involved with the committee but missed out on nominations, please get in touch with us and let us know! The competitions position is possibly the least task-intensive of the roles, so if you’re looking to dip your toes further into BWI or committees in general, it’s a great opportunity.
We’re excited by our plans for 2018, so stay tuned to see what we have waiting in the wings!
Words Out Loud is taking its inspiration from White Night Ballarat when it takes to the stage on March 15 at the Printers Room, in the basement of Sebaastians at the corner of Mair and Lydiard streets.
The spoken word event encourages poets, writers and raconteurs to share their work, or favourite pieces by others, for five-minute open mic sessions on the third Thursday of each month (unless otherwise advertised). The theme for March is “shine a light”, but it isn’t compulsory.
Enter via Mair St. Drink and food available before and during. Enjoy the show from couches, the tables or a seat by the bar. Gold coin donation appreciated.
Performances begin from 7pm.
This is a great opportunity to test new material, celebrate a success or share some inspiration, or simply enjoy a diverse range of spoken word.
Keep in touch at facebook.com/wordsoutloud or join the mailing list at the website.
Literature goes on and so must we!
The committee of Ballarat Writers Incorporated (BWI): Irene Warfe (chairperson) Philip Green and Rebecca Spark (who shared competitions officer this year) Joy Merritt, Rebecca Fletcher and Danielle O’Donnell were involved in promoting membership, running membership evenings once a month, planning workshops, running the Southern Cross Short Story Competition, a fundraising trivia night, and planning for 2018. The local business community showed good support of our fundraising efforts. Continue reading
Words Out Loud draws the curtain on its run at Ballarat’s wonderful Babushka bar in October, but we’re seeing the awesome venue out in style.
Special guests Steve Smart and Jessica Wilkinson will get the party started, and there will be five-minute slots available on the night for others to share poetry, prose and yarns.
With Babushka having been sold, this is likely the last chance to attend a Words Out Loud at the bar.
This free night of spoken word is on Thursday October 19, 7–9pm, and writers, readers, poets — all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love — are invited to join in the fun and farewell this special venue.
The theme for the night is “the last shout”, and, as always, performers are encouraged to take the theme and run with it — or ignore it altogether.
Find out more at the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/
Annual general meeting – new committee needed
The AGM will be held on February 15, at the Bunch of Grapes hotel from 7pm. The outgoing committee will be there early to gather feedback and ideas, and to answer questions from those who might be interested in taking Ballarat Writers forward.
Please note: the committee will be stepping down, so volunteers to fill the posts of chair, deputy chair/competitions, treasurer/membership, secretary, and publicity, will be needed to ensure the group’s future. The committee will be available to aid the transition with handover documents and advice.
First members’ night of 2017
Members’ nights will be held on the LAST Wednesday of the month, starting on January 25. Meetings will again be held at the Bunch of Grapes hotel, 401 Pleasant St South, starting at 7pm, with members welcome to arrive early for a meal.
Ballarat writers festival
The subcommittee organising the Ballarat writers festival has set the date – October 20-22, 2017. Keep in touch and help spread the word on the Facebook page (a website is in development). Anyone with suggestions or who is able to help the committee in organising and running the event is asked to email David Twomey. Ideas can also be shared on the members’ forum.
Words Out Loud
We’ve received word that Babushka, our venue for Words Out Loud, is likely to remain open under the stewardship of the amazing Garth, so expect an announcement about the resumption of our monthly spoken word event early in January. Meanwhile, get those readings ready!
Season’s greetings!
Ballarat Writers wishes members and supporters a safe and happy holiday season, and looks forward to a productive and successful year of writing ahead.
The winner of the October flash fiction contest, keyword monkeys, was Maureen Riches.
The November contest, for Ballarat Writers members only, is the Pamela Miller Memorial Prize. The prize is $100 and a certificate. The winner will be announced at our final Members’ night for the year on Wednesday, 30 November.
The process for submission is similar to the monthly Flash Fiction competition:
Genre: open, however, poetry and non-fiction pieces will not be accepted for this competition
Theme: everyone is welcome
Words: 350–400 words
Key word: corner (remember to include this word in your story)
All entries are to be submitted to competitions@ballaratwriters.com by Sunday, 20 November. Your email must include author’s name, story title and word count.
Voting will open the next day on the flash fiction competition website.
Pamela Miller was a very active and productive member of Ballarat Writers. She wrote short stories and poetry and won the ‘Murder at MADE’ short story competition held in conjunction with the Sisters in Crime Festival in 2014, and in early 2015 was part of the ‘Poetry Pathways’ ekphrastic project. She was also the winner of a number of Ballarat Writers monthly Flash Fiction competitions. Pamela died in June 2015 after a short illness.
We are hosting a special Members Night on Wednesday 25 May 2016 to launch our new logo and announce some other surprises. Members who come along will be able to pick up their Welcome Pack, including their new Membership Card, on the night. There will also be a Meet & Greet the following Saturday for those who cannot make it to the Members Night. Members who are unable to attend either event will have their Welcome Packs mailed out the following week.
Members Night & Logo Launch
When: 7pm-9pm, Wednesday 25 May 2016
Where: The Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant Street South, Ballarat
Members Meet & Greet
When: 11.30am-1.30pm, Saturday 28 May 2016
Where: Racers Cafe, 2 Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree
May is going to be a big month for Ballarat Writers, with some very exciting changes in store! To begin with, we are transitioning all memberships to fall due in May each year and current members will receive an email over the next two weeks with further details. Plus we have a brand spanking new LOGO which will be launched at our May Members Night along with a few other surprises. Come along to collect your new members pack and join in the celebrations!
Members’ Night Report
Early arrivals check the menu
The first members’ night at our new venue, the Bunch of Grapes Hotel (at 401 Pleasant St South), was a darn fine evening.
About 25 attended and almost half came early for a meal (we note with no little excitement that Wednesday is “parma night” – $20, a choice of five parmas, all as big as your head). There were several new faces, who hopefully will return to sign up at the special members’ night in May. Three people read in the open mic event.
The venue is excellent: a dedicated, spacious room (with its own toilets!), friendly and efficient staff, quite reasonable prices and generous serves. Ease of access and plenty of parking space were also appreciated.
The next members’ night is on 25 May at 7pm, or enjoy a meal beforehand – the kitchen opens at 5.30pm.