In an attempt to create a space for meaningful dialogue and exchange of ideas between Greek and UK writers at what is a dynamic and rapidly changing time in Europe, we are delighted to invite you to join our new Writing Groups (Poetry and Fiction), which we are running for the seventh consecutive year. The will be held at our Athens office.
The Writing Groups are open to young and more experienced writers who want to share their skills and ideas, receive constructive feedback and discuss their work with like-minded peers, exchange views and listen to experienced and well-established writers and people from the book industry in the UK and Greece. Through a combination of workshops, open readings and guest talks, the programme is an attempt to provide young writers with opportunities to enhance their knowledge, develop new skills and foster networking.
The Poetry Writing Group will focus on – and use examples from – key themes in contemporary UK poetry which directly or indirectly touch each and every one of us: gender and sexuality, ageing, disability. The group will also examine poems from the international bestseller in contemporary poetry: Neil Astley’s anthology Staying Alive, which is divided into thematic sections such as Body and Soul, Roads and Journeys, Growing Up, My People and Me, the Earth, the Universe. Brief analyses of selected poems will serve as springboards for the group members’ own poems, based on their own experience: of their life and the world around them.
Our Fiction Writing Group will explore a number of current key themes in British literature such as gender and sexuality, cultural diversity, ageing, inequality, refugees and asylum seekers, disability, and women and girls. Under the guidance and supervision of the moderator, participants will explore how British writers reflect and have shaped these topics. Participants will engage with new and more established Greek writers, journalists and publishers face-to-face in workshops, discussions and readings in an effort to communicate with the local creative writing scene.
The working language is Greek, but participants should also be able to work in English.
Open Reading – Fiction Writing Group
Our Fiction Writing Group will hold an open reading and share their work in celebration of a creative year.
The open reading will be held on 11 December 2019 at 18.00 at Little Tree Books & Coffee (2 Kavalloti Street, Acropolis, 117 42 Athens).
Open Reading – Poetry Writing Group
Our Poetry Writing Group will hold an open reading and share their work in celebration of a creative year.
The open reading will be held on 20 May 2019 at 19.00 at Lemoni Bookstore (22 Iraklidon Steet, Thissio, 118 51 Athens).
Moderators
Poetry Writing Group: Panagiotis Ioannidis
Panayotis Ioannidis has published three books of poems – To sossivio [The Lifesaver] (2008), Akalyptos [Uncovered] (2013) and Polonia [Poland] (2016) – while his fourth, Rinokeros [Rhinoceros], is under way. He was on the faculty of the Cavafy Archive/Onassis Foundation for the first five years of its educational programmes and is poetry editor of the monthly The Books’ Journal, on the editorial board of the poetry journal FRΜΚ and curator of the poetry readings Me ta loyia (yinete) [Words (can) do it].
Fiction Writing Group: Vangelis Provias
Vangelis Provias’ books Missolonghi Square – Short stories (2016) and The Black Shoes for the School Marching Parade – Short stories (2014) are available from OLKOS Editions. He has translated the books Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks and Insomniac City by Bill Hayes (both ROPI Editions). In 2016 he completed the U.S. Department of State sponsored programme Study of the United States Institute on Contemporary American Literature at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A. He has taught creative writing since 2013.
For further information, see the moderator CVs (PDF, 321 kb).
Programme
| Poetry Writing Group | 21 January to 8 April 2019 (10 classes) Every Monday, 18.00–20.00 |
| Fiction Writing Group | 23 January to 10 April 2019 (12 classes) Every Wednesday, 18.30–21.00 |
The programme (PDF, 103 kb) will include guest talks by renowned Greek writers, journalists, editors and translators, among others:
- Dimosthenis Papamarkos
- Auguste Corteau
- Eftychia Giannaki
- Dimitris Rigopoulos
- Pavlos Papadopoulos.
How can I apply?
To apply, please complete the application form (MS Word, 46 kb) by Wednesday 9 January 2019.
Participation fee
There is a participation fee of €130.
How do I pay the fee?
Once we’ve confirmed your participation, we’ll ask you to pay the fee. You can make the payment in one of two ways:
- in cash or by credit card (VISA, DINERS and MASTERCARD) at our Athens office (17 Kolonaki Square, 106 73 Athens), Monday to Friday, 09.00–14.30
- via bank deposit (Citibank account: 0/444215/003, IBAN: GR 5108400010000000444215003). Please quote your name followed by ‘Poetry Writing Group’ or ‘Fiction Writing Group’ in the ‘Αιτιολογία’ field on the deposit slip (e.g. Eleni Papanikolaou, Fiction Writing Group).
General Conditions
- We reserve the right to make changes to the course content and programme details.
- We reserve the right not to run a group with fewer than four participants. Fees will be refunded.
- No refunds will be made after the programme has started.
- Places cannot be guaranteed until fees have been paid.
- The maximum number of participants per group will not exceed 15.
Information
- For further information about our creative writing programme, please contact Maria Papaioannou: Maria.Papaioannou@britishcouncil.gr | 210 369 2336