November 2004
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Welcome to the November edition of e-WordNEWS. This November, come and
learn from the best in the fields of Storytelling and Children’s
Literature by signing up for the Asian Congress of Storytellers and
the Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference. Also
this November the Book Council celebrates its 35th year in style with
a gala dinner at the Asian Civilisations Museum. The Singapore Literature
Prize Awards Ceremony will be part of this evening.
A Happy Diwali and a Selamat Hari Raya to all celebrating this November.
Enjoy!
From the NEWS desktop of...
Anita Paul, Editor
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NBDCS EVENTS
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Conferences – November 2004
Asian Congress
of Storytellers 2004
25 – 26 November 2004
Listening, Learning, Telling...
The Asian Congress of Storytellers (ACS) is an annual gathering of professional
storytellers from countries near and far, telling stories for entertainment,
healing, teaching and more. ACS has established itself as the storytelling
event in Asia, a not-to-be missed chance to learn from the storytelling
gurus. This year’s line-up includes Diane Ferlatte, Linda Fang
and Richard Martin.
This year, two new programmes have been added to ACS: a Storytelling Clinic for participants and a mini Storytelling Showcase to give participants a taste of the varied stories and storytelling styles.
Time: 8.00am – 5.30pm
Venue: Furama River Front Singapore, 405 Havelock Road (former Novotel
Apollo Hotel)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acs2004.htm
Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference
22 – 23 November 2004
The Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference (ACWIC)
2004 is back again for the fourth time. We are proud to present an exceptionally
strong ensemble of speakers this year, comprising experienced publishers,
leading writers and an award-winning illustrator.
For writers and illustrators, ACWIC provides an opportunity to learn from some of the best in these fields and a platform for networking with peers. For librarians, teachers and parents, ACWIC is where you can gain insights on children’s literature, especially Asian and multi-cultural books. Come update your knowledge of such material, and sharpen your instincts when making selections, whether for library users, students or children at home.
We are also proud to launch at ACWIC ‘An Annotated Bibliography of Singapore Children’s Books’ compiled by Dr Sandra Williams. So see you at ACWIC!
Time: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Venue: Furama River Front Singapore, 405 Havelock Road (former Novotel
Apollo Hotel)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acwic2004.htm
Storytellers’ Showcase
29 – 30 November 2004
The Storytellers’ Showcase is about showcasing the best of storytelling.
Storytelling is a tradition and an art. This art takes on different
styles and flavours when interpreted by different people from different
cultures.
Storytellers’ Showcase 2004 promises you an enchanted evening of tales... so come hear.
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum (Empress Place)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/sc2004.htm
Centre for Literary Arts and Publishing (CLAP)
Book Publishing
• Getting Your Book Published:
A View from the Inside by Christopher Yaw
19 November 2004: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Literary Arts
• Rhyme and Rhythm: Poetry for you? by Felix Cheong
18 November 2004: 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Tamil Storytelling
by Jeeva Ragunath
23 and 24 November 2004: 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Course in Children’s
Literature by Dr. Ruth Wong
29 and 30 November 2004: 9.00am to 5.00pm
CLAP is offering Kinokuniya
Privilege Card holders a 10% discount on all courses!
For registration & queries please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / call
(65) 68488290 / fax (65) 67429466
Website http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/clap.htm
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NBDCS 35th ANNIVERSARY DINNER &
THE SINGAPORE LITERATURE PRIZE AWARDS CEREMONY 2004
25 NOVEMBER 2004, ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM
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The National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) celebrates
its 35th Anniversary this year.
To be held on 25 November
2004 at the Asian Civilisations Museum, the celebration will incorporate
the Singapore Literature Prize Awards Ceremony. The Book Council is
pleased to have Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State for Information,
Communications and the Arts & Health as the Guest-of-Honour.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Highlights on Publishing Titles
Several books on professional publishing are available from Taylor &
Francis Asia Pacific at a 15% discount till 15 November 2004. There
is a free-delivery service within Singapore. For
details please call Alfred Yong, Marketing Executive at tel. (65) 67415166
or fax. (65) 67429356
Artfields 2 Art Fair
If you are interested in giving an artist talk, conducting an art workshop,
running an art programme or putting up your artworks, writings, poetry,
music as exhibits or for sale (S$5.00 to S$500.00), please contact Artfields
for details at tel. (65) 67629901
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, formed in 1971
is the only international organization to offer a variety of services
to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children's
literature. The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge
between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians,
educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young
people. There are currently more than 19,000 members worldwide, in over
70 regions, making it the largest children's writing organization in
the world. SCBWI Singapore is part of the Asia-Pacific chapter. Chitra
Soundar has recently taken over as the Assistant Regional Advisor for
this location. There are currently
6 SCBWI members in Singapore and the number is growing. To kick start
SCBWI events in Singapore, Chitra has launched a discussion / writing
forum titled ‘Matinee - An Afternoon with Children's Books. The
first session took place on 30th Oct 2004. The next session is scheduled
for 27th November at 3.00pm (RSVP by latest 20th Nov 2004). You can
also meet Chitra during the Asian Children's Writers and Illustrators
Conference 2004.
For information on SCBWI,
please visit http://www.scbwi.org
or
For details on the discussion / writing forum, please write to Ms Chitra
Soundar at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Stylus Poetry Journal
Australian poetry journal Stylus has just released a ‘Singapore
Sling’ issue featuring local poets and an interview with Cyril
Wong.
For details, please visit www.styluspoetryjournal.com
Softblow presents
LITWING from Hwa Chong Junior College
LitWing is part of the Hwa Chong English Literary, Drama, Debate and
Film Society. LitWing meets weekly, and includes outings to Boat Quay,
Geylang, Little India, writing exercises and readings. LitWing has published
3 online publications this year and is currently working on a print
publication project. Hoping to establish a performance poetry event,
YAWP (Young Adult Writers Perform) as a yearly tradition, LitWing has
its domain at the litterbugs.net.
SOFTBLOW invites you to stop by & let poetry change you. If you would like to be featured on SOFTBLOW, email 4-6 poems as well as a biography to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For details, please visit http://www.softblow.com/hcjc.html
HOW2 Submissions
HOW2, a US based e-journal of innovative writing, poetry and digital
art is seeking new submissions for its 2004 Fall issue.
Describing it as "contemporary innovation", publisher, Kate Fagan, said: "I would be especially interested in material by innovative women who are writing/working in Singapore. We'd be happy to include play scripts, poetry, artworks, digital media and work in mixed genres."
Sending Submissions by Email: Essays, “readings,” scholarly studies or pieces of “new writing” (poetry or mixed genre forms) should be submitted directly to the editor of that particular section. Make sure you identify -- in the subject or the message -- which section of HOW2 the writing is being directed at (e.g.: new writing, readings, conferences, forums, etc.).
For the coming Fall issue, Grace Chia will be co-ordinating a section on Singapore writing so please send entries to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
To read articles from the Spring issue of HOW2, please visit http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/stadler_center/how2/current/
For more details, visit
HOW2's homepage:
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/stadler_center/how2/index.shtm
The deadline for submissions is 30 November, 2004.
Island of Residencies Programme
The Tasmanian Writers’ Centre invites Australian and international
writers to apply to the Island of Residencies programme, for a Writers’
Residency in 2005. The 2005 Residencies programme is presented with
the support of the Minister for the Arts through Arts Tasmania, and
the City of Hobart. International writers can apply for the Writers’
Residency for FOUR weeks in Tasmania.
Applications for 2005 close
on Tuesday 30 November 2004.
For details, please visit http://tasmaniawriters.org
and click on ‘Residencies’
Philippine Studies 2005 Literary Issue
Philippine Studies, an Ateneo de Manila University Journal, will come
out with a literary issue as part of its 53rd volume in 2005.
For this issue, contributions are welcome in the following genres: poetry, short story, creative non-fiction, and one-act play. Works must be unpublished; written in English, Filipino, or in other Philippine languages; and must not exceed 15 pages. Those written in languages other than English and Filipino must be accompanied by their English or Filipino translations.
All entries/contributions will be refereed, as has been the journal’s practice.
Please submit hard copies
of your contributions to:
Ms Tina Castro, Philippine Studies, Bellamine Hall, Loyola Heights,
Queen City, P. O. Box 154, 1099 Manila, Philippines.
You may email your works
to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The deadline for submission of works is 1 December 2004
For details, please visit www.ateneopress.com
2004 Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations
Noma Concours invites new talents! The 14th Concours invites highly
motivated illustrators and artists to participate in this renowned event
to contribute to the improvement of the quality of picture book illustration
for children. The closing date is 31 December 2004.
For more details, please visit http://www.accu.or.jp/noma
MW Enterprises - Volume 6
MW Enterprises is a ‘reality-based’ publisher. They publish
a book series called ‘A Generation Defining Itself: In Our Own
Words’ from which a generation (born 1960 to 1982) is speaking
out about its realities, dispelling the narrow, simplified stereotypes
created by the mass media and commercial marketing. Volume 5 of this
book series is out and it includes local poet Cyril Wong. MW Enterprises
is now accepting submissions for Volume 6 and they are seeking more
Asian voices for this volume.
The deadline for submissions
is end of March 2005 and no submissions will be accepted after this.
For details, please visit http://www.evenstar.net/mwe/
The John Dryden Translation Competition 2005
The British Comparative Literature Association and the British Centre
for Literary Translation (University of East Anglia) are continuing
their joint sponsorship of the translation competition for 2005.
Prizes will be awarded for the best unpublished literary translations from any language into English. Literary translation includes poetry, prose, or drama, from any period.
First prize: £350
Second prize: £200
Third prize: £100
Prize-winners will be announced in July 2005 on the BCLA website, and prizes will be presented later in the year. Winning entries will be published in full on the website, and extracts from winning entries are eligible for publication in the BCLA's journal Comparative Critical Studies. Other entries may receive commendations.
Entry fee: £5 per
entry.
Closing
date: 11 February 2005
For more details, please visit http://www.bcla.org/trancomp.htm
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WRITING TIPS
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What Makes For Good Writing
by Felix Cheong
Be afraid.
Be very afraid of adjectives and adverbs that stick their elbows into your writing. More often than not, they tend to make it sound awkward and bombastic.
How often have you uttered “total stranger” or heard someone say “totally impossible”? Or read in the newspapers such expressions as major breakthrough” or “unexpected twist”? Aren’t these adjectives and adverbs redundant? Absolutely.
A breakthrough is, by definition, major, it won’t be otherwise. Similarly, an impossibility is total; there’s no such thing as a partial impossibility, just as a partial pregnancy is, well, impossible.
So be ruthless to adjectives and adverbs. Kill them off. Leave only the ones that can stand up to scrutiny.
