Summer Courses at Victoria University

Hey guys,

Just thought I would remind you all that now is an excellent time to start thinking about the creative writing courses you can take over summer at Victoria University of Wellington. Some of them require you to submit a piece of your work beforehand, so it pays to be ready with a bit of content you can submit. If you are interested in any of these courses, talk to a Course Advisor or enrol online

CREW 258 – The Iowa Workshop (Prose)

A topic in creative writing. Course materials will be an additional cost.

CREW 259 – The Iowa Workshop (Poetry)

A topic in creative writing. Course materials will be an additional cost.

TXTT 201 – Print, Communication and Culture

An introduction to the history of books, print and textual transmission in western, eastern, and indigenous cultures. Topics include book design and technological change, readers and reading spaces, censorship and oppression, packaging and advertising, and the reinvention of the book in the digital age. This course includes two distinctive dimensions: an overview of print culture in Aotearoa/New Zealand, including its relationship to Maori oral culture and the influence of the book on Pacific peoples; and hands-on experience in the letterpress printing laboratory at Wai-te-ata Press. An additional charge of $5-$10 per group will be incurred for paper for the printing project. 100% internal assessment.

One of the greats

One of New Zealand’s greatest literary authors sadly passed away yesterday after being diagnosed with cancer in April.

Margaret Mahy will be sorely missed by everyone who ever grew up reading her stories. May she rest in peace.

Read the article here

From Christchurch City Library’s Website:

Margaret Mahy is a former Children’s Librarian at Christchurch City Libraries and is one of the world’s best and most famous children’s authors.

Margaret Mahy was born in Whakatane in 1936, and wrote her first story at the age of seven.

After graduating from Auckland University College and Canterbury University College, in 1955, with a BA, Margaret Mahy then attended the New Zealand Library School in Wellington, received her Librarian’s diploma, and then went to work for the Petone Public Library.

In 1967 she worked for the School Library Service in Christchurch. During this time she had stories published in the New Zealand School Journal.

Margaret Mahy’s first book to be published was A Lion in the Meadow in 1969.

In 1976 Margaret Mahy was appointed Children’s Librarian at Canterbury Public Library.

In 1980 she became a fulltime writer and has gone on to win numerous awards for her books, and honours for her contribution to New Zealand and children’s literature.

Something to ease the Hunger Games withdrawal. How many of you have read them?

Victoria University News

Victoria University News

A big welcome to the new Director of the Institute of Modern Letters, Damien Wilkins!

Sometimes words don’t cut it

Sometimes words don’t cut it

Totally guilty of this one: “the act of thinking of a clever comeback when it is too late to deliver it”. Nice to now have a word for it 😀

Writers on Mondays

From July each year, the International Institute of Modern Letters, home of Victoria University’s prestigious creative writing programme, runs a series of events highlighting the very latest work of writers active in Wellington and further afield. All in all a lively and stimulating way to begin the week – and it’s free!

Check out the full timetable of events here

Competition Alert

Hey guys!

Just thought I’d let you know about the 2012 NZSA (New Zealand Society of Authors) Asian Short Story Competition:

“After an auspicious beginning in 2011 the NZSA Asian Short Story Competition is once again open for entries.

Entry is open to New Zealand permanent residents who are Asian or of Asian ethnicity. Short stories will be in English, and the theme is open. Stories will ideally contain some Asian content, though not necessarily be set in Asia.

The minimum length of entries is 2,500 words, and the maximum length of entries is 3,500 words.
There is a total of $4,500 in cash prizes. First prize: $3,000. Second: $1,000. Third: $500.

The competition deadline is 30 August 2012.  Terms & conditions and application forms are downloadable here or email office@nzauthors.org.nz”

Definitely enter this if you’re keen, it’s such an awesome opportunity to get your self out there and propel your writing career.

Also check out the rest of the NZSA website it’s full of interesting reads for aspiring authors.

New club on campus!

Hello everyone! We’ve been at club’s week this week looking for interested students for a new writer’s group! Come by and register your interest and get on our mailing list to find out more! It’s exciting, it’s new, it’s fantastic!

Hi, I’m Nicola, I’m the girl in the picture and I like writing. I wanted to join a writer’s group to meet others and feel inspired to write, and to work on improving my own writing. I like writing just for fun, and enjoy fantasy and sci-fi. I’m a student at Victoria University of Wellington and am currently studying towards a Commerce degree. When I was looking for a group to join, I realised that Vic had no writing group for people like me, so I thought: Why not start one?

I’m at club’s week meeting people and I am interested in meeting anyone who is interested in writing or reading. I hope we will have casual meet-ups about once a month to begin with, and I’m also hoping to run some workshops and other activities in the future. I hope that we will also coordinate with other groups in Wellington to do big and exciting things. My vision is to build a community for writers in Wellington.