WISHING my CITIZEN friends and colleagues good luck as they take to the stage at Edinburgh International Book Festival this evening.
They will be reading their stories about the old Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh Futures Institute, which was built on the grounds of the old Royal off Lauriston Place.
In spring 2024 EIBF called for people from Edinburgh to submit stories about the former Royal Infirmary, to capture and honour the experiences and memories that people connect with the building’s previous life.
Tonight’s local writers readers will joined by special guest Lisa Williams to perform their work and commemorate the building’s rich history.
The event is free – well worth seeing if you can make it along!
Enjoy tasty food and brilliant performances from local people. Returning for its fifth year, Stories and Scran celebrates dynamic, thought-provoking work created by our Citizen participants.
Expect diverse and creative talent from Project Esperanza’s Women’s Group, WHALE Arts, the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group, and Citizen Collective.
And Scran Academy are back to serve up delicious, sweet treats you can enjoy during the event.
Stories and Scran runs from 8 – 9.15pm at the Book Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute on Lauriston Place.
Looking forward to meeting up with some of my Citizen pals this evening at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. We have a slot at 6.15pm, sharing stories about our memories of the old Royal Infirmary.
The Book Festival has a new home this year – the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which is built on the site of the old hospital in Lauriston Place – and I really do hope it has the same warm and welcoming atmosphere as the ECA did last year.
The top five entries in the adult and 12-18 categories will win a copy of Ten Poems of Kindness volume 1 or volume 2, and the top five entries in the 5-11 category will win a copy of Gift of the Old One, all of which have been very generously donated by Candlestick Press. We’ll also publish them on our website.
Please do share this info with anyone you think would like to take part.
Gearing up for the celebrations of this year’s World Book Day on 7 March 2024, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is inviting children with a vision impairment to submit a piece of creative writing for its World Book Day writing competition.
The final competition winners will be judged by multi- award-winning children’s writer Sir Michael Morpurgo – author of books including War Horse and Private Peaceful. The overall winner will receive ten signed copies of Michael Morpurgo’s books.
Writing submissions must be on the theme of ‘adventure’. Taking the lead from RNIB’s motto, ‘See differently’, the charity wants to celebrate different ways of seeing, sensing and taking part in an adventure that children have been on, or that they can imagine.
No previous experience of creative writing is required and RNIB is keen to receive submissions from as many young people aged 5-12 as possible.
Writing and being creative is hugely beneficial and enjoyable for everyone, especially when going through big life-changes such as growing up.
Hearing the unique perspectives of young writers who have a vision impairment will be a real privilege and I can’t wait to read the fabulous work that I’m sure will be created. We are delighted that Michael Morpurgo has agreed to pick the winner for us as part of his support for RNIB’s World Book Day celebrations.
Competition Rules
The competition is open to any child or young person between the ages of 5-12 years with a vision impairment in the UK.
The competition runs from 9am on 1 January 2024, to midnight 18 February 2024.
Send in an original piece of writing up to 500 words in a Word document, MP3 audio or MP4 video, via email.
The piece of writing must be based on the theme ‘Adventure’.
Submissions must be in English.
The use of AI, such as ChatGPT is not permitted.
One submission per author: this will be the first entry emailed to us.
It was a full house at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Stories and Scran event.
Guests braved plunging temperatures to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea provided by Scran Academy and to hear a rich variety of stories and poems from EIBF’S Citizen programme participants.
Hosted by EIBF’s Ryan Van Winkle, the packed programme also included brilliant contributions from authors Kate Foster and Douglas Johnstone, and there was another welcome opportunity to see the touching documentary produced by North Edinburgh Arts’ Adult Drama Group.
Yes, it may have been freezing outside but there was a warm welcome and a cosy atmosphere in the local community centre. A real winter warmer!
£5/£3 (Concession/NEA Members) including an afternoon tea
Come along to this special community celebration bringing together local voices with authors and artists from across Scotland.
Savour a sumptuous afternoon-tea provided by the Scran Academy (included with your ticket) and hear brilliant new writing from local people who have taken part in Edinburgh International Book Festival‘s ‘Citizen’ alongside special guests including Kate Forster and Doug Johnstone.
This year’s event showcases the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including a film from the North Edinburgh Drama Group and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced Stories and Scran will take place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd December as part of the third season of Citizen Winter Warmer events: a community celebration bringing together local voices and authors and artists.
Audiences are invited to savour a sumptuous 3-course meal provided by the Scran Academy (included in the price of the ticket) and hear new writing from local people who have taken part in the Citizen project.
This year’s first event will take place at Fisherrow Centre in Musselburgh and will showcase the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including illustrations from students at Edinburgh College of Art and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group and The Citizen Collective. Special guests include Chitra Ramaswamy.
This will be followed on Saturday 2nd November with another Stories and Scran Winter Warmer event in North Edinburgh.
Join us at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre for tasty food and brilliant storytelling in a heart warming event at the heart of the community.
Savour a sumptuous afternoon-tea provided by Scran Academy (included with your ticket) and hear new writing from local people alongside special guests including including Kate Foster and Doug Johnstone.
This year’s North Edinburgh event showcases the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including a film from the North Edinburgh Drama Group and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group.
To celebrate the upcoming National Poetry Day on 5th October 2023, we invite kids and teens to enter Stockbridge Library’s Poetry Contest.
The theme this year is Refuge. No rules! Write a poem of any style or length. You decide! Drop it in the poetry contest box at the library and win prizes!
Entries are open from Friday 1st Sept to Saturday 30th Sept 2023
