26 Newsletter – October 2016

Martin Clarkson in conversation with Victoria Hislop. Photo by www.vincentthuet.com

Wordstock round-up

A couple of weeks ago we congregated at the Free Word Centre for Wordstock, our annual festival of words and writing. It was an incredible day – insightful and inspiring. We embraced absurdity, freed our voices, heard from best-selling authors and listened to oral historians. We were even treated to Shakespearean interventions at lunch. So your latest newsletter is inspired by all things Wordstock. We have 26 things we learnt on the day plus an interview with writer Vesna Goldsworthy. Also this month, Sophie Gordon talks country music and business writing and we announce our 26 Award winners. Then there’s a new project for you to get involved with.

26 things we learnt at Wordstock

From Victoria Hislop’s writing routine and the power of purpose to what happens when you play country music backwards… Here are some of the things we learnt at Wordstock 2016. To those of you who were there too, enjoy; to those of you who couldn’t make it, here are 26 highlights our team of roving reporters picked out for you. ...more

And the winner is...

At Wordstock we announced the winners of our first ever 26 Awards. These awards are different to the rest. They aim to draw attention to great writing, to nurture talent and to boost the standing of writing in those business worlds where most 26 members operate. Here are the winners and highly commended runners-up ...more

Photo - Martin Figura

Spotlight: Vesna Goldsworthy

Vesna Goldsworthy is a prize-winning writer who was born in Serbia. She’s Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and her books include Chernobyl Strawberries and Gorsky, which she talked to us about at Wordstock. Here, she talks to Elena Bowes about the challenges and joys of writing in a foreign language and the fear she’ll tackle next. ...more

Photo - www.vincentthuet.com

Three chords and the truth

At one of our Wordstock workshops, leading copywriter Simon Prichard explored what country music can teach us about business writing. Sophie Gordon went along and shares all of the tips she picked up on the day. ...more

26 Writers in Residence

We’re recruiting for a new project. We’re looking for 26 writers to bring an overlooked or an everyday space to life (think your local barber shop, not the Barbican). We want you to write about the physical environment and the people who pass through it. If you’d like to take part, sign up quick. ...more

Quick links:

The 26 newsletter was edited by Laura Hunter with thanks to associate editor Elena Bowes
Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Forward to Friend

unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences