Surrey New Writers Festival

Lively panel discussions, invaluable industry insights, performance poetry and the launch of a new video game are just some of the exciting features on offer at this year’s Surrey New Writers Festival. The festival returns to provide budding writers with the rare opportunity to gain tips and information about breaking into the industry from panels of published writers, literary agents and publishers.

When? Saturday 15 March 2014, 11:00 to 21:00 - 2015 TBA

Where? The Glass Room, G Live, London Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2AA

Website? Event notice

Who & What? 2014

11.00am - The Festival opens!

11.30am-12.30pm - Literature and Creative Technologies Discussion Panel
How we access, read, and share information has changed rapidly over the past decade. This panel, featuring university librarians Gill Downham and Kate Cushon, as well an expert on e-reading from Kobo Inc., will explore the ever-evolving way we read, learn, and express ourselves through literature.

12.45-1.45pm - The Business and Craft of Scriptwriting Discussion Panel
Interested in writing for the screen, stage, or radio? This panel features acclaimed scriptwriters (Mark Davies Markham, Stephen Mollett, and Jon Crewe) who will speak about their craft and the business of writing for film, TV and radio.

2.45-3.45pm - Novelists on the Novel Discussion Panel
Join three dynamic novelists (Beatrice Hitchman, Zoe Pilger, and Paul Vlitos) for a discussion about the challenges and joys of penning a novel, and the path they’ve taken to publish their work.

4.00-5.00pm - Industry Insiders: Agents and Publishers Discussion Panel
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a literary agent or publisher is like? Agents Alex Christofi and Carrie Plitt from Conville and Walsh literary agency, and Candida Lacey, Publisher and Managing Director of Myriad Editions will speak about their roles in the publishing industry, and what they look for in representing and working with an author.

5.00pm -7.00pm - 5 à 7 Wine Reception

Please join us the Festival panelists for an informal reception. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

7pm - Saturday Night Soiree
The Festival ends with a Saturday Night Soiree that will feature the launch of Robert Fitterman’s poetry collection from Veer Books, the launch of CMA Megacorp's latest video game, as well as some surprise performances from Guildford poets!

Tickets? Tickets are £5 (£3 for students) for each panel and the Soiree. Alternatively you can buy a Festival Pass for £20 (£15 for students) that enables you to attend all of the Saturday events. The reception is not a ticketed event and is open to audience members who have attended at least one session, or who have a ticket to the Soiree.