Writers Group Update

Plymouth Proprietary Library Writers Group is receiving a phenomenal amount of interest at present. At the last session there were seventeen people in the room and more want to join us (bearing in mind we aren't accounting here for the people who were absent at the last session). This sudden interest may be fuelled by a supposed bid for Plymouth to become a city of culture but is not something we are involved with, or intend to support in any way. We work very independently of other artistic activities in the city and do our own thing. However, due to such popularity the issue now is time and space. I like to think Plymouth Proprietary Library Writers Group offers quality and not quantity. It is essential to work through as many people as possible and offer a democratic, constructive feedback. This is difficult with seventeen people and more. We are therefore building a waiting list of prospective members for the future. If you are interested in joining us then please get in touch but also understand you may need to be patient. However, please feel free to go and browse the library during its opening hours and talk to the staff about the literary delights we hold. The important thing is we are obviously doing something very right in creative writing for this area .... Thank you, Ruth

New Book by Matt Ewens

Well done to our member Matt Ewens for seeing his book: 'Devonshire With a Hint of Albanian' published. It is available on Amazon.

Lunchtime Lectures for Writers in Plymouth

Lunchtime Lecture on Friday 8 March 2013 - Angela Thirkell (Writer 1890-1961) Born in Australia in 1890, Angela Thirkell displayed a talent for writing. On moving to England in 1929, she worked as a journalist and also embarked on short stories, children's stories and novels. Many of her books are in print today. Described as 'having a keen social sense and lively eye for telling details of everyday life' - Plymouth Proprietary Library is pleased to welcome Jayne Vicarage, a member of The Angela Thirkell Society to give a talk on this very talented writer. To book a place please call the library on 01752 660515. The lecture starts at 12:00 noon. There is a small entry fee and refreshments will be served.

Literature Plymouth

Lots of ideas are coming in for the development of creative writing in Plymouth. It is often more helpful to look further afield than Plymouth for inspiration. We will not be involved in the proposed bid for Plymouth to become a capital of culture as there is no benefit for us in supporting this venture.

Plymouth Proprietary Library Short Story Competition 2012

To mark National Short Story Week, Plymouth Proprietary Library held a short story competition. The results are as follows: First Place: Andrew Campbell-Kearsey Story title: Spies Like Us. Home Town: Brighton. Second Place: Norman Kitching Story title: Through a glass darkly. Home Town: Gosport. Third Place: Jennifer Blake Story title: Goodbye, my love. Home Town: Saltash. Congratulations to them and many thanks indeed to all those who took the time to enter. Grateful thanks also to the judges: Lori Butterworth and Clair Wyman, who deliberated carefully over all the entries.

Lectures at Plymouth Proprietary Library

Thursday 7 June 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Lunchtime Lecture Tom Arnold The Medical Society's Historic Collection in Plymouth Thursday 5 July 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Lunchtime Lecture Barbara Eaton 'Yes Papa! Mrs Chapone and the Bluestocking Circle' Thursday 16 August 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Lunchtime Lecture Bob Mann Devon's Pioneer Feminist - the life and works of M.P Willcocks Thursday 6 Sept 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Lunchtime Lecture Michael Bridgwater Artists and Community Engagement in Efford's Regeneration Thursday 13 September 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Lunchtime Lecture Peter Greenhalgh The First Angry Young Men? German writers of the 1760's and 1770's. Storm and Stress with Goethe and Schiller, the godfathers of Romantic Literature.

Short Story Competition Plymouth

Plymouth Proprietary Library are running their own short story competition. All entries must use the word 'citadel' at least once and the story must contain no more than 1500 words. Any theme or genre is acceptable and there is an entry fee of £3.00 per story. The first prize is £50.00. Second prize is £20.00 and third prize is £10.00. All entries can be typed or presented in legible handwriting and the author's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript. A covering sheet with name, address and telephone number must accompany each short story and be posted to: Plymouth Proprietary Library Short Story Competition Alton Terrace 111 North Hill Plymouth PL4 8JY The closing date is Friday 14 September 2012 and the results will be announced in November 2012, to mark the occasion of National Short Story Week. For further details, please e-mail: plymouthproprietarywriters@gmail.com