Archive for Creative Writing

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner 15 and under 19 years

By Miranda on October 7, 2010

Winner Poetry Junior 15 and under 19 years

Shared Waters

Taken on a simple pine
you stay a while
Held the grasp of those
electric blue eyes
piercing
comforting
the silence is no bridge between us.
You sing a song; I listen
Each rise and fall
each crescendo, diminuendo
I mark the notes like one would carve a tree
Endless messages, spewed through the wood.

The music ends; soft lullaby is this pause
not the melody of your voice.
Moments pass
The conflict arrives.
Yet again, peace is snatched from our filmy grasp.

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Categories: Creative Writing

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner 12 and under 15 years

By Miranda on October 7, 2010

Winner Poetry Junior 12 and under 15 years

War

His head was in a bloody mess.
Yesterday a friend of mine,
Now another dead soldier
Lying in the grey, lifeless debris.
They say that war is an honour, to serve your country
But you begin to realise as you first hear the screams of pain
You see what it is really like, war is not big, nor clever
My men are disappearing gradually.
I bet I don’t have long until I am killed.
Each time I see a dead body, I think if death, harder and harder again
It reminds me it could only be a matter of time.
However, if I die – I know that I will go to heaven, as a hero.
I would die for my country – never a coward.
I reckon my long journey is at its end.
Each kill I make – journeys me into utter depression.
I have ruined the lives of their family and closest friends.
I reckon everyone things the same as me too,
They are just too scared to admit it,
Lost in this violent, scary, stupid place.
I hate the war – bombs, guns, death.
Hearing guns firing strikes fear into me.
Each bullet; holding a piece of painful death.
This place is not like a game.
You only have one life.

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Categories: Creative Writing

Celebrating National Poetry Day – Winner Junior 10 and 11 years

By Miranda on October 7, 2010

Winner Poetry Junior 10 and 11 years

Death does what Death does…

Death follows like a shadow cursing the evil
Death hides, ready t come and grab you in the cold night,
Death curls around you threatening to do its worst,
Death lives silently but deadly,
Death sleeps in a dark light,
Death smiles at the sight of blood and gore,
Death breathes a heavy sigh at the sight of birth,
Death counts minutes like seconds,
Death things the stop of a heartbeat is made out of happiness,
Death is as quick as a bullet,
Death makes the spine shiver,
Death is arrogant,
Death seeks tears,
Death blinks quickly, not to miss a minute,
Death cries tears of blood,
Death laughs a crackly laugh,
Death pulls life out of your reach,
Death kills like he doesn’t do anything else,
Death moves like a spider in slow motion,
Death glares a painful glare,
Death eats life,
Death rules life like a king,
Death lights a flaming fire,
Death never dies!

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Categories: Creative Writing

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner Junior 9 and under

By Miranda on October 7, 2010

Wootton Bassett Arts Festival is celebrating National Poetry Day by putting some of our 2010 winners on our website.

Here is the first of our 2010 Winners:

Winner Poetry Junior 9 and under

The Wedding Dress

Ivory coloured,
Sparkling white dress
Covered my skin.
Glinting sparking in
the sunshine I twirled round
everybody stared in wonder,
Who is that girl? Cream
coloured bow went round
My waist hugging me
like an embrace.
Sequins covered my
dress like moon beams cover
the moon in the midnight sky.
Roses in my hair freshly picked
for my big moment.

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Categories: Creative Writing

Winners in the Creative Writing Section of the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

By Miranda on June 17, 2010

Rosettes have been placed on the winning entries of the Creative Writing section which are on display at Wootton Bassett Library. But for those of you who cannot get there here is the list (marks awarded are show in brackets):

Jane Wade

Jane Wade reading from her winning entry

  • Poetry age 9 years and under – Madigan Brady (86)
  • Poetry age 10 and 11 years – Ali Cummings (86)
  • Poetry 12 and under 15 years – Lewis Jenkins (84)
  • Poetry 15 and under 19 years – Katherine Wilson (85)
  • Journalism 15 and under 19 years – Katherine Wilson (86)
  • Short Story 9 years and under – Julian Shirnia (84)
  • Short story 13 and under 15 years – Emma Bessent (90)

In the following categories there were such a large number of entries we have decided to list first, second and third places:

Poetry adult 19 and over

  1. Alan Martin (88)
  2. Mo Needham (87), Mike Jenkins (87)
  3. Antonetta Newton-Tyres (86), Deb Craven (86)

Short story 10 and under 13 years

  1. Rosie Bevan (87), Katie Smith (87)
  2. Niamh Taylor (84), Lewis Jenkins (84)
  3. Ali Cummings (83)

Short story adult 19 and over

  1. Jane Wade (95)
  2. Deb Craven (88)
  3. Mo Needham (87)

With an outstanding grade of 95 Jane Wade was also awarded the Chairman’s Cup for Creative Writing at the Highlights Concert on Sunday 13th June.

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Categories: Creative Writing, Highlights Concert

Highlights Concert Photographs

By Miranda on June 16, 2010

Here are the photographs from the Highlights Concert. We are still awaiting permission to include pictures of some of the performers so if you cannot see yourself her contact us and we will add you in…

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Categories: Creative Writing, Highlights Concert, Music, Speech and Drama

What’s on TODAY at the Highlights Concert

By Miranda on June 13, 2010

The Festival will culminate tonight in the Highlights Concert where the most outstanding performances of the Festival are invited to share their work with a capacity audience in the Memorial Hall.

Expect to see:

  • Singers
  • Pianists
  • Solo Acting
  • Jazz Woodwind
  • Poetry
  • Group Acting

and so much more…

Tickets are FREE and on a first come first served basis. However, a Festival like ours does cost a great deal to put on so donations will be very much appreciated.

Hope to see you there!

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Highlights Concert, Music, Speech and Drama

What’s on TODAY – Saturday 12th June

By Miranda on June 11, 2010

Today is SUPER SATURDAY!

It is the busiest day of the Festival with all four sections operating. Here’s the low down for what’s on in each area:

ART – the Exhibition opens at 9am on the Ground Floor of the Civic Centre. The Exhibition will end at 5.30pm and awards will be presented at 6.00pm. Collection of artwork will follow at 6.30pm. Please remember to bring your tickets so that we can be certain the correct artwork is paired with the correct artist!

CREATIVE WRITING – this is taking place in the Upper Room at the Memorial Hall. It runs between 12 noon and 1.30pm.

SPEECH AND DRAMA – performances start at 9.30am and run until approximately 5.00pm. Performances on show will include Verse Speaking, Duologue Acting, Solo Acting, Shakespeare Acting, Group Acting, TV News Reading, Solo Mime, Logical Grumbling, Prepared Reading, Memorised Prose, Duologue Mime, Bible Reading and Public Speaking.

MUSIC – continues in the Memorial Hall starting at 9.30am with Ensemble followed by Woodwind, Piano Duet, Family Groups, Piano Solos, Jazz, Strings and Brass. The last class of the day is Piano Solos which starts at 8.15pm.

REFRESHMENTS – will be on sale from 9am through to 4pm on the Ground Floor of the Civic Centre so pop by for your lunch or afternoon tea we will have filled rolls, tea, coffee, soft drinks, crisps, sweets, biscuits and HOME MADE CAKES.

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Festival LIVE, Music, Photography, Speech and Drama

What’s On at the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

By Miranda on June 8, 2010

With only two days to go until the Festival begins we thought it would be helpful to give you a guide to “What’s On” to help you decide what performances you would like to visit.

The Festival Begins…

On Thursday at 1.00pm the Festival opens in St Bartholomew and All Saints Church on Wootton Bassett High Street. Thursday afternoon starts with Pre-School and Junior Choirs and moves on to a variety of other Junior Vocal classes. The evening session continues at the church at 6.00pm with Secondary age Vocal Classes, Adult Vocal Classes, Adult Choirs and Vocal Groups. The evening is expected to finish at approximately 9.00pm.

A Plethora of Piano Solos

Friday evening is dedicated to young pianists studying Piano at grades Preliminary, 1 and 2 and takes place in the Memorial Hall on Station Road.

Super Saturday!

Saturday morning starts early… At 9.00am the doors will be open at the Civic Centre ready for the Verse Speaking classes on the 1st floor and TV News Reading in the Mayor’s Parlour both of which start at 9.30am. On the ground floor of the Civic Centre  REFRESHMENTS will be on sale and you can view the ART EXHIBITION throughout the day. All art entries will be adjudicated at 6.00pm at which point awards will be presented. During the rest of the morning you can watch Duologue Acting, Solo Acting, Solo Mime, Duologue Mime, Memorised Prose, Prepared Prose Reading and “Logical Grumbling”. Followed in the afternoon by more Solo Acting, Verse Speaking, Prepared Prose Reading, Bible Reading, Solo Shakespeare Acting, Group Acting and Public Speaking.

Meanwhile, at the Memorial Hall the day starts at 9.30am with Ensembles followed by Piano Duets, Woodwind, Family Groups, Jazz and Piano Solos. Between 12 noon and 1.30pm Creative Writing will be adjudicated in the Upper Room and Music continues from 2.15pm onwards with Woodwind, Strings, Brass and Jazz. Music starts again for an evening session of Piano Solos beginning at 6.30pm.

Spectacular Sunday

Jazz Piano kicks-off Sunday morning bright and early in the Memorial Hall at 9.00am with Piano Solos taking up the rest of the morning. In the afternoon you can enjoy the Harp followed by Strings, Woodwind, Modern Pop Songs, Songs from Operetta, Shows and Films and finally some classic Disney tunes.

Speech and Drama moves to Noremarsh School on Sunday where you can enjoy Choral Speaking, Group Acting, Duologue Acting, Verse Speaking, Solo Acting and Solo Mime.

The Highlights Concert – The Best of the Best

The whole Festival culminates on Sunday evening at 6.30pm with the Highlights Concert where the most outstanding performers of the Festival are invited to perform their work before the Mayor of Wootton Bassett in the Memorial Hall. This is a thrilling evening of exceptional talent so do try to join us on the night. Admission is free though donations are welcomed to support the Committee’s efforts to stage the Festival in future years. Seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited by the capacity of the hall.

Programmes are ON SALE NOW (£2.50) at Brian Taylor Music, Wootton Bassett High Street, giving full details of all performances or can be bought during the Festival on the door…

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Highlights Concert, Music, Speech and Drama

Guest Blog Swindon Festival of Literature – Getting controversial with Daljit Nagra

By Miranda on May 28, 2010

“Push the boundaries, challenge yourself about difficult issues. Try not to be twee.” These were some of the first few words of advice and encouragement that poet, Daljit Nagra, gave to us during the writing workshop on the Swindon Festival of Literature’s finale. And what good advice. How many of us are guilty of only writing in our comfort zone; not willing to explore further through fear of what it would make us socially or politically?

The workshop began in earnest when about 20 writers – ranging from practising writers to a lady who confessed that she hadn’t written since her school days – sat down to a wholesome lunch. This was followed by tea, a slice of lemon cake and those all important introductions. With the workshop soon underway, Daljit explained that the theme of the afternoon was ‘controversial context’, and made us consider that within art there is also controversy, whether it is subtle or outright crude.

To help us engage, Daljit’s first exercise was for us to jot down what made us angry. And interestingly, being predominantly a prose writer, I found myself trying out poetry by the second exercise. The workshop was experimentary; we discussed pieces of poetry – some of which we found shocking, and there were interesting discussions to follow.

By the end of the day we each had to read out an extract – daunting, yes, but it was fascinating to hear some pretty impressive work which was already taking shape from some of the members of the group. And of course Daljit posed some more interesting questions, some of which I hope will make me think not only about what I’m writing, but how I’m writing it. And what, if at all, am I debating about in my work.

Julie Venis for the Swindon Festival of Literature

Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/

http://twitter.com/literaturejenn

lite...@yahoo.co.uk

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Categories: Creative Writing, Guest Blog
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Syllabus

Download the WOOTTON BASSETT ARTS FESTIVAL SYLLABUS 2012 (covering both the June and November Festivals) HERE.