What's the best poetry to learn by heart?

John Basinger, has committed the whole of Paradise Lost to memory. The Guardian's Alison Flood is inspired and wants to learn more poems. But where should she start?

Read more on The Guardian website...

Original Jane Austen manuscripts now online...

For the first time since 1845, all of Jane Austen's extant manuscripts are available in a single accessible collection on-line.

Jane Austen’s fiction manuscripts represent every stage of her writing career and a variety of physical states: working drafts, fair copies, and handwritten publications for private circulation.

The manuscripts were held in a single collection until 1845, when at her sister Cassandra’s death they were dispersed among family members, with a second major dispersal, to public institutions
and private collections, in the 1920s.

Many of the Austen manuscripts are frail and access has long been impossible for conservation and location reasons. Digitization enables their virtual reunification and will provides scholars with the first opportunity to make simultaneous comparisons. It is hoped digitization will also facilitate intimate and systematic study of Austen’s working practices across her career, a remarkably neglected area of scholarship within the huge, world-wide Austen critical industry.

Jane Austen’s Fiction Manuscripts is a three-year AHRC-funded research project. It is a joint project of the University of Oxford and King’s College London.

Explore the Jane Austen Manuscripts at http://www.janeausten.ac.uk/index.html

Picador launches prize for unpublished poets

Pan Macmillan imprint Picador intends to unearth new talent by offering a prize for poetry.

The Picador Poetry Prize will be awarded for a representative selection of previously unpublished work. The winner will receive a "small-but-perfectly-formed" publisher's advance and have their debut collection edited by poetry editor Dan Paterson, before being published on the Picador poetry list.

The judging panel, chaired by Paterson, will include poets Jackie Kay and John Stammers and Guardian online literary editor Sarah Crown.

Submissions will close in September, with the winner announced in December.

www.picador.com/Poetry/prize/picadorpoetryprize.aspx

(via Bookseller.com)

Poetry, prose and much more besides at Chorlton Arts Festival

By guest blogger Sarah-Clare Conlon

Chorlton Arts Festival is really in the swing of things down in south Manchester, with music, theatre, visual arts, film and even fashion sharing the limelight. There are also plenty of book readings, poetry recitals and spoken word events during the run, which finally wraps up on Sunday.

Yesterday evening, 15 or so writers and readers gathered in Chorlton Library to listen to local author, playwright and short storyist Elizabeth Baines talk about her work and chat about publishing in general. First off, we were privy to a totally new story, set locally and read colourfully by Elizabeth. Entitled Educational Psychology, the fast-paced dialogue-driven piece has just been longlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize, so fingers crossed!

Elizabeth also treated the audience to a couple of snippets from her most recent novel Too Many Magpies (Salt Publishing); described by critics as “moving and compelling”, “beautifully crafted”, “accomplished and thoughtful”. Based in and around Manchester, the extracts had definite immediacy, and it was interesting to hear Elizabeth describe personal experiences that had influenced the plot and the way in which she had approached the novel. She really encouraged everyone to join in the conversation about writing techniques, so it was a really pleasant, involving evening. As she says: “I love doing these readings, and always look forward to what the audience has to say.”

More more more!

As well as Elizabeth Baines’ appearance, the remainder of the Chorlton Arts Festival programme is packed with literary goings-on.

You may have missed this month’s Friday-night Manky Poets shindig at Chorlton Library, but Copland Smith and co are filling another festival slot later, when they’ll be downstairs at the Spread Eagle (7pm, free). As well as the usual poetry readings from the floor and guests, there will be music, stories and a short play.

Also mixing song with spoken word is the recently formed Word Music, a group of writers and musicians who, this evening, are working a special double bill with folk outfit Corvus at St Ninian’s (7.30pm, free).

Torbay Road Bookclub are getting together tonight as well, meeting up for dinner and discussion. Very civilised! The evening will include a chat about 2009 novel One Day by English author David Nicholls, so hope you’ve read it! Join the club from 7pm in Mai Wah (£10 including meal).

Tomorrow (Thursday) sees two book launches in one. University of Salford creative writing lecturer Judy Kendall will be introducing Chorltonites to her new poetry collection, Joy Change, while her colleague Ursula Hurley will be reading poems from Tree (upstairs at Lloyd’s, 6.30pm, free).

If, by Saturday, you’re feeling inspired and you’d like to put pen to paper yourself, why not bob along to the creative writing workshop, Happy Accidents, at Chorlton Library (2pm, free)? All writers are welcome, whether your poison is poetry, prose, blog or rap.

On Sunday, Chorlton Arts Festival comes to a close, but before it leaves town for another year, you’re invited to talk a walk on the wild side with a trip onto Chorlton Meadows (1pm, free). There will be a storytelling session and a chance to learn a little about the wonderful green space of the Ees – hopefully in the sun!

Full addresses and details of all the other Chorlton Arts Festival events and exhibitions can be found at: chorltonartsfestival.com

Chorlton Arts Festival: over 120 events in Chorlton from May 20 - 30 from Chorlton Arts Festival on Vimeo.

Sarah-Clare Conlon is a freelance writer, editor and press officer. Her blog, Words & Fixtures, is about language, literature, arts and culture, and won Best New Blog in the 2009 Manchester Blog Awards.

2010 Book & Pamphlet Competition open for entries - £2000 up for grabs

The Poetry Business is now inviting entries for its 24th Book & Pamphlet Competition, to be judged by award winning poet Simon Armitage. Thanks to sponsorship from the National Association for Writers in Education, the prize this year totals £2000.

Just submit a collection of 20-24 pages of poems for the chance to win a share of the prize money; three first stage winners will receive pamphlet publication and an overall winner will have their book published by Smith/Doorstep Books.

In addition, entrants with a Sheffield postcode will automatically be entered into the Sheffield Poetry Prize category. The best single poem from their collection could win them £100, publication in ‘The North’ magazine, and an opportunity to read their winning poem at a ‘Poetry Business’ reading.

The deadline for entries is last post on 29^th November, 2010, or 1^st December for online entries. There is an entry fee of £25, or £20 for subscribers to ‘The North’ and friends of the Poetry Business, and there is a £1 surcharge for online entries.

For full details please go to:

www.poetrybusiness.co.uk

Wimbledon announces first Championships Poet

Throughout Wimbledon fortnight (21^st June – 4^th July), poet Matt Harvey will create a poem a day on all things Wimbledon, tour the airwaves and deliver impromptu live performances to the famous Wimbledon queue. All Matt's poems will be available to view online, and also as audio podcasts featuring Matt reading his latest verses and sharing his observations, via the Wimbledon and Poetry Trust websites.

You can hear Matt now, as he explores Wimbledon, shares his excitement, and reads his first Championships poem ‘Grandest of Slams’ , in the first podcast available at:

www.thepoetrytrust.org/poetry-channel/

If you enjoy Matt’s poems, his first collection ‘The Hole in the Sum of My Parts’ is available online from The Poetry Trust, and you can find out more about him on his website at:

www.mattharvey.co.uk

Larsson, Ellory and Deaver on Crime Writers Association shortlist

Stieg Larsson, R J Ellory and Jeffery Deaver are among those shortlisted for this year's Crime Writers Association (CWA) Daggers. The shortlist was announced on Friday (21st May) at CrimeFest in Bristol. The winners will be revealed at an event staged as part of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate, on 23rd July. Read more and see the whole shortlist for each award at The Bookseller website.

Orwell Prize Goes To Blogger Who Writes About 'Working With The Underclass'

An anonymous social worker who writes an online diary about "working with the underclass" won a prestigious Orwell Prize for best blog today. The man writes an account of his experiences as a care home worker under the pseudonym of Winston Smith, the protagonist of George Orwell's novel 1984.

Guardian item

Prize press release

Weekend reading: the future of eReaders

Two interesting articles about eReaders, ebooks and iPhone apps...

Expanding Mobile Innovation from the Huffington Post 13 May, 2010

'Mobile technology has come a long way in the past few months. With the release of the iPad to the latest Android phones, devices are more powerful today ...'

...and this is a good review of the various ereader and iPhone ereader apps now available

E-Reader Applications for Today, and Beyond from last week's New York Times.

'It's no longer such a novel thing to read a book on a mobile phone, and on the iPad, it's practically a requirement to download...'

Bringing poetry and technology together

Most discussions of literature on computers and mobile devices have to do with prose, or else non-fiction such as textbooks. But Victor Keegan has a piece on The Literary Platform talking about e-poetry. Read more at Teleread...

Video games and literature - nothing in common?

When Dante's Inferno was adapted into a video game earlier this year, Library Journal blogger Liz Danforth hoped at least one gamer would be curious enough to pick up the classic work. In this post, her hopes are realized...

The Scandinavian Readers Challenge

The Scandinavian Readers Challenge is the brainchild of The Black Sheep Dances blog and runs through to the end of the year so there's still time to enter...

I was alerted to this challenge by one of my favourite blogs - Eurocrime. The idea is simple - the goal is to "skal" 6 Scandavian books before year end.

Scandinavian authors are hot right now (even if the temperatures might be chilly). Stieg Larsson, Per Petterson, Dag Solstad, Hakan Nasser, Henning Mankell, Linda Olsson, Arnaldur Indridason and Knut Hamsun all have great books to get you started.

This challenge starts now and runs through December 31, 2010 and there are more details, book ideas information on how to enter on the Black Sheep Dances blog.

The best childrens books ever?

Increasing numbers of children are starting school without having been read to. But which are the books to get them – and keep them – hooked? The Guardian's Lucy Mangan introduces a five part guide to the best. So whether it's to fight the White Witch or snuggle up with the Moomins, make yourself comfy ...

New speculative fiction writing group...

There's a new a speculative fiction writing group in town! KAte Feld writes "the group is for people who want to write and talk about writing speculative fiction, a broad category that includes science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream and stories that are just kind of weird". The first meeting was held at Edge Street's Madlab and if you want to get involved there's more info over at The Manchizzle.

The Bookulating Suggest-O-Mometer

Try the Bookulating Suggest-O-Mometer - the steampunk book suggester! Just enter in your information, hit go and books are suggested. Don't skip the intro - it's the best bit...(via LISNews)

Website of the week: Bookshelf

If you like books you'll love 'Bookshelf' - the home of interesting bookshelves, bookcases and things that look like them. "Here's one for everyone out there whose house is being overtaken by books (hey, it's a good thing!)... It's like we died and went to library heaven!" - The Scotsman

This is my favourite bookshelf, not very practical for a library perhaps, but this is a real bookcase, by designer David Garcia and it can be yours for around £7000! Hmmm I think I might stick to my Billys!

Fay Weldon's psychic powers !

The writer Fay Weldon claims to have a "second sight" that gives her secret knowledge of what other people are thinking.

The 78-year-old spoke for the first time about her psychic powers in a revealing and entertaining interview on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs this weekend and you can listen to it online on the BBC i-player.

Fay Weldon has written more than 25 novels plus short stories, non-fiction, books for children and television screenplays. Read a review of Fay Weldon's latest novel, Chalcot Crescent, just published in paperback. You can reserve Chalcot Crescent from the online library catalogue for free, we'll email you when it's ready to collect and you can pick it up from any branch.


We've got lots more Fay Weldon in Manchester Libraries in different formats too including, paperback, large print, CD and cassette. Have a browse at the online catalogue...

£10,000 Manchester Poetry Prize open for entries

The Manchester Writing School at MMU is launching the second Manchester Poetry Prize – a major international literary competition celebrating excellence in creative writing.

The Manchester Poetry Prize* is open internationally and will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best portfolio of poetry submitted. The competition is open to entrants aged 16 or over; there is no upper age limit.

A bursary for study at MMU will also be awarded to an entrant aged 18-25 as part of the Manchester Young Writer of the Year Award*. Eligible entrants are asked to indicate on the entry form if they would like to be considered for the Manchester Young Writer of the Year Award in addition to the main prize.

All entrants are asked to submit a portfolio of three to five poems (total maximum length 120 lines). The poems can be on any subject, and written in any style, but must be new work, not published or submitted for consideration elsewhere.

The Manchester Poetry Prize celebrates the substantial cultural and literary achievements of Manchester, building on the work of the Manchester Writing School and enhancing the city’s reputation as one of Europe’s most adventurous and creative spaces. The prizes will be awarded at a gala ceremony hosted as part of the 2010 Manchester Literature Festival.

The Writing School will be launching the second Manchester Fiction Prize in 2011.

To enter the competition, click here. If you would like a printed entry pack for postal submission, or if you have any queries, please contact:

James Draper
Project Manager: The Manchester Writing School
Department of English
Manchester Metropolitan University
Telephone: +44 (0) 161 247 1787 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 (0) 161 247 1787 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
E-mail: j.draper@mmu.ac.uk

WORD: Robin Robertson with Carol Ann Duffy

On Tuesday 25 May Manchester's Royal Exchange are premiering WORD, a series of events on writing that will play host to readings, discussions and lively chat from some of the country’s best-known and loved writers and performers.

On 25 May, WORD will be compered by Michael Symmons Roberts, Professor of Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University, and the evening will see Robin Robertson read selections of his work, alongside critically-acclaimed Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. The event will be followed by a book-signing in the Great Hall courtesy of Blackwell’s Bookshop.

WORD: ROBIN ROBERTSON WITH CAROL ANN DUFFY takes place in the Theatre on Tuesday 25 May @ 7.00pm until 8.00pm, followed by a book-signing in the Great Hall
Tickets £5 (£3.50 concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 0161 833 9833 | royalexchange.co.uk/bookonline

Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010 is now open for entries

The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is now open for entries! Aesthetica Magazine is inviting all artists, writers and poets to submit their work into the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010.

Now in its third year, the Creative Works Competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing creative talent across three disciplines, identifying new artists and writers and bringing them to international attention.

Previous finalists have achieved success and recognition with accolades including: writing commissions from Channel 4, selection to represent Australia in the Florence Biennale, exhibitions at DACS (London), John Martin Gallery (London), Flores Fine Art Gallery (New York), inclusion in the International Drawing Competition exhibition (Poland) and the National Geographic International Photographic exhibition

The Competition has three categories, Artwork, Poetry and Fiction and winners and finalists are published in the Aesthetica Creative Works Annual. Winners of each category also receive £500 prize money plus other prizes.

Entry to the Creative Works Competition is £10 and the entry fee allows the submission of 2 images, 2 poems or 2 short stories. The deadline for submissions is the 31st August 2010 and more guidelines on how to submit can be found online at http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm

Click here to see a copy of last year's Creative Works Annual

Click here to see the winners and finalists of last year's competiton.

What are you waiting for? Send in your creative works today! Good luck!

Manchester writer honours Central Library with poetry

Photo by Louise Murphy

Another great poem today - and this one is from Manchester poet and musician Andy N, a regular on the Manchester open mic scene.

Goodbye Central Library

The books all stood there silently
In a mournful prayer
As they were all lifted
Letter by letter
Into card board boxes.

The shelves were pulled down
And lined up in the middle
Of the great hall
Like a huge bonfire
Before the windows
Were all kicked out
Which had a feeling of
Ghosts tramped over by time.

Floors crumbled into
Large chunks of rubble
As sledgehammers
Slicked them inside out
Never to rise again
From the ashes
With the grace of a phoenix.

Staff were shifted
From building to building
Like nomads
But all will tell
Their own stories
Of the first time
They all went there
Whether it was with
Their parents
Or even their friends.

All will talk in
The art of great storytellers
In time
To come off the lifts
That was always
Breaking down
With a good natured humour
And the literature section
On the 4th floor
Which people claimed
Reminded them of
A small jungle of books.

All will walk away
And remember their
Last walk down the stairs
As they watch the books
Lifted out in boxes
And then placed in cellars
Never to be seen for years
Unless your name
Was Doctor Who.

Except their memories
Which are held like
A knife to their throat
And the whisper
Of the building
In the air,
We’ll meet again.

We’ll meet again.

We’ll meet again.


Andy has been published on a number of websites including ‘Soul to Soul’, ‘Other Voices poetry, ‘Kritya’, ‘Thanaoline’, ‘Concelebratory blogspot’, ‘World wide World Radio Network’, ‘The Pergrine Muse’ to name but a few.

His first book of poetry 'Return to Kemptown' is now out for publication (Release date 27th April 2010) - More details can be found here: http://andyn.yolasite.com/books.php and Andy also fronts the music and spoken word collective ‘Wordmusic’ (previously ‘Words and Music’).

Andy's website - http://andyn.yolasite.com
On facebook - http://www.facebook.com/andynwriter
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/andynukpoetry
'WordMusic's website - http://wordmusic.yolasite.com/
Andy's blog - http://writersideasandthoughtsuk.blogspot.com

The Gift - 100 years of Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park was 100 years old this weekend. Here's poet Mike Garry's tribute to Platt Fields which he dedicates to William Royle of Rusholme who at the opening ceremony on May 7 1910, said that Platt Fields was “saved for the children."

The Gift

To Children of all nations

A Gift

This Park

For you to walk and run and swing and slide

Dance and sing and climb and ride

And talk and shout

whistle and whisper

With Brother Father

Friend and Sister

Hold hands with Mam and Gran

Push prams of your own one day

Teach your children how to play

And walk and run

skip skate and feast

Handstand

cart-wheel

hide and seek

And bat and bowl and kick and score

Read and write and paint and draw

Laugh and smile and kiss and sigh

And float and glide and fish and fly

And dream the dreams you never dreamt you could

In this “The Peoples Park” with a heart-shaped lake

This precious gift of Love

New Google e-book shop announced

Google is getting ready to launch its own e-book store and challenge Apple and Amazon. Chris Palma, Google's manager for strategic partner development, announced the timetable for the launch of the company's e-book store during an event at Random House's Manhattan offices last week.

Google Editions, as the new store will be called, will launch in late June or July. Read more at ReadWriteWeb.

China Mieville wins the Arthur C. Clarke Award

China Mieville's brilliant novel 'The City and the City' has been awarded the Arthur C. Clarke Award, having already won the BSFA award for best novel.

His first venture into crime fiction – albeit with a fantastical edge – has won China Miéville the UK's most prestigious science fiction prize for an unprecedented third time. We will be reading this for the new Madlab Sci-Fi book club and I'm really looking forward to it. Read more about the author and the book over at The Guardian's Books Blog.

Reserve The City and the City for free from the library catalogue and we'll email you when your books are ready to collect. You can pick up tour reservations from any Manchester library, just select your nearest branch from the drop-down menu when you order your book.

A.Happening. Manchester

To celebrate the launch of his poetry collection “Extracts from Levona” from Knives, Forks and Spoons Press Adrian Slatcher will be reading on Saturday 8th May, 3-5pm at MadLab, Edge Street, Northern Quarter (directly opp. Common Bar).

“Extracts from Levona conveys the banality of existence in a twenty-first century consumer society with astonishing power. The urgency of the writing and the fluidity of the shifts in theme ensure that this poem does not slip into the inertia of ennui. It is truly fresh and majestic” (Alec Newman)

All are welcome – Adrian Slatcher’s reading will be accompanied by a full supporting cast, see below. Please come any time after 3.00, we hope to start the programme around 3.30 and we should finish about 5.00.

FULL PROGRAMME

3.00 Opens – browse the bookstall and have a glass of wine
3.25 Introduction & compere – Ms. Shannon
3.30 A Unique Sound Performance by Matt Dalby

Matt is a unique performer. He deconstructs words into sounds, and treats sounds like syllables. A poet, but also a sound artist, each time I’ve seen him it’s been a different, unique piece. As a long time admirer of his work I’m so pleased he’s agreed to perform at this event.

Recent performances from Matt at the Crescent in Salford can be listened to here.

3.50 Films I

“As part of the Tower of Babel Festival at Contact Theatre , Community Arts Northwest ran a film cabaret over a weekend at the Lets Go Global studio in Old Trafford. The weekend was designed to bring together asylum seekers, refugees and filmmakers.”

Film Making with Lets Go Global

4.00 Adrian Slatcher reads from “Extracts from Levona” – and answers questions about the work.

He can be heard reading (juxtaposition #4) here.

4.30 Films II

4.40 This is Chichi

“This is Chichi is a singer songwriter, girl guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Manchester, UK. She creates original songs on the six-string by blending unusual songcraft with a unique take on harmony and melody.”

Listen here.

Ian McEwan reads from his new novel 'Solar'...

Ian McEwan reads from his new novel 'Solar' in this new video. Why not reserve Solar for free on the library catalogue? You can also leave your own book review on the catalogue too...tell us if you love it or hate it!

The Appliance of Science...Manchester's new Sci-fi book club

The appliance of science
by guest blogger Sarah-Clare Conlon

Remember when Manchester was suffering chaos and disruption beneath a blanket of white powder? Not the volcanic ash cloud, no; rather the worst snow the city has seen for years. Well, while most of us were safely (and, perhaps, sanely) wrapped up warm inside, a loyal group of science fiction fans braved the bitter elements to trudge to the Northern Quarter for the launch of the Sci-fi Book Club.

Community hack space Madlab (aka Manchester Digital Laboratory) hosted the momentous occasion as 15 or so Sci-fi Book Clubbers thrashed out a reading list and created a monthly event in their Google Calendars.

February put The Forever War under the microscope, with most of the 20 people gathered enjoying Joe Haldeman's 1974 work and finding both plot and protagonist compelling (see Adrian Slatcher's review). By March, parity was lost as the group (with a few new members, including Helen Power, who blogged about her experience) was divided over early 60s novel, The Drowned World, by JG Ballard. The overall reception was negative, partly due to unsympathetic characterisation and a lethargic storyline, but also because noone was quite sure if the post-apocalyptic, dystopian story could even be classed as science fiction. The jury is still out. In the April meeting, the split remained, although for different reasons, and Neuromancer, William Gibson's cyberpunk invention of 1984, found more champions than naysayers, although it was generally accepted that Hollywood had ruined it slightly for everyone (as Dave Hartley describes here).

This month's read is The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin, the first woman author on the list. This in itself should provide an interesting topic for discussion, not least because the female characters so far have been somewhat two-dimensional and on the whole disappointing to the third of the group that isn't male. The next get-together takes place on Tuesday 18 May at 7pm, so there's still plenty of time to catch up. Ongoing homework also includes Clifford Simak's Skirmish from the short story collection A Science Fiction Omnibus (pub Penguin, ed Brian Aldiss), with the follow-up from the compendium suggested as Isaac Asimov favourite Nightfall.

The continuing reading list has also now been decided, and will run as follows: last year's The City & The City by China Miéville; Arthur C Clarke classic 2001: A Space Odyssey; The Player Of Games by Scottish bestseller Iain M Banks, and Andreas Eschbach's The Carpet Makers, only recently translated into English from German. Manchester Library & Information Service will provide copies of the next four books to borrow via Madlab, as they have so far. With their timetables of free informal lectures, educational events and training sessions, there's much crossover between Manchester City Libraries and Manchester Digital Laboratory, and I'm told it's been a pleasure to lend copies to the Sci-fi Book Club!

Sarah-Clare Conlon is a freelance writer, editor and press officer. Her blog, Words & Fixtures, is about language, literature, arts and culture, and won Best New Blog in the 2009 Manchester Blog Awards.

The Madlab is a community space for people who want to do and make interesting stuff - a place for geeks, artists, designers, illustrators, hackers, tinkerers, innovators and idle dreamers; an autonomous R&D laboratory and a release valve for Manchester's creative communities.