Hive Online Fiction Programme with Rachel Bower

For new, aspiring or emerging writers aged 17-30 in the north of England
Hive fiction programme is a supportive and inclusive space to refresh or develop your skills.
[Application deadline 2nd Feb 2022 | Thursday evenings 6-8pm on Zoom from 10th Feb]

Writing can be a solitary and tricky business to navigate, whether you’re starting out or have been at it a while. It’s difficult to know where to get feedback, or if what you’re writing is as good as it can be. And then there’s what to do with a piece of work once you’ve finished it.

If you’re an aspiring or emerging short story writer, or novelist, keen to refresh or develop your skills, Hive is running an online fiction programme on Thursday evenings from 10th February, offering a supportive and immersive set of six workshops and individual feedback support to help, inspire and guide you to getting where you want to go with your writing.

Join award-winning fiction writer Rachel Bower, for all things furthering your fiction, and:

• Write – through exploring a range of exciting exercises and example texts you’ll generate great ideas leading to short fiction you’ll want to polish and send out for publication
• Build your confidence, knowledge and motivation while identifying and working towards your writing goals
• Focus on the mechanics of fiction writing such as creating compelling and believable characters, convincing dialogue and description, and strong plots
• Learn how to edit your work to make it publication-ready. Looking at before/after examples of published work, you’ll learn the tricks of identifying the often small changes that can turn something good into something brilliant
• Receive peer and one-to-one feedback on work, and tips and insights into publishing routes and opportunities
• Consider how you can keep moving forward beyond the programme as a writer with peer support

Who’s it for?

The programme is for new, asprising and emerging young fiction writers aged 17 to 30. As the programme is on Zoom, it’s open to writers from across the north who would like to develop their writing further. Both those who’ve done fiction workshops or courses before and those completely new to them are welcome to apply. We’re also keen to hear from people who feel like they wouldn’t normally be able to access this kind of opportunity.

Whatever stage you’re at, you might lack direction, sticking power, or confidence. You might have a project you want inspiration to get stuck into, or to sharpen your skills and hone your work, or you might simply want a regular reason to write and connect with other young writers. All levels, genres and interests welcome.

Expect a warm, inclusive and supportive group with a wonderful writer and mentor.
Thursday evenings 6-8pm on Zoom from 10th February 2022

Cost

The programme is subsidised by Hive South Yorkshire meaning a cost of just £45 for six sessions, and edit surgery and one-to-one feedback. 

Why so cheap? Programmes like this normally cost upwards of £250 but this Hive fiction programme is subsidised as a way to reach new and emerging young writers and remove barriers to developing as a writer. If cost is still a barrier, please let us know in your application.

To Apply

Send (in one Word or .rtf document) up to 3xA4 pages of work (but no pressure if you don’t have much to send), followed by up to 350 words about yourself, including: your interests, where you are with your writing and any input you’ve had with it, why you’re applying for this programme, and how you think it would be of help.

Sent with the following at the bottom: Your age, date of birth, telephone number, address (term or home), and anything else you might want to tell us by midnight 2nd February to [email protected] [Note places will be limited to ensure a supportive programme]

Rachel Bower is an award-winning writer based in Sheffield. She is the author of two poetry collections and a book on literary letters. Her stories and poems have been widely published in literary magazines, including The London Magazine, The White Review, Magma, Stand and Frontier. She won The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2019/20 and the W&A Short Story Competition 2020. She has also been listed for the White Review Short Story Prize 2019, the RSL V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize and the BBC Short Story Prize. Rachel is a qualified community development worker and has over ten years’ experience running workshops with a wide range of people and organisations.