We’re gearing up for Wordstock, our annual festival of words. Now in its fifth year, this one-day event is bursting with ideas, language, creative fun and short sharp workshops, rounded off with our famous book swap and drinks down the pub.
We’re delighted to announce two new additions to the Wordstock line up for October 17th. 26’s own Rishi Dastidar will be giving a workshop with the truly intriguing title of “A poet’s guide to killing: Using poetic techniques to sharpen up your copywriting”. Rishi’s writing credentials are impeccable – he has worked as a journalist, copywriter and poet, and is currently head of verbal identity at BrandPie. His poetry has been published by the Financial Times, Tate Modern and the Southbank Centre amongst many others. His work was most recently in Ten: The New Wave (Bloodaxe, 2014). He was part of the 2014-15 Rialto / Poetry School editorial development programme, and also serves as a trustee of Spread The Word.
In addition to Rishi, one of our headline speakers is going to be the extraordinary and brilliant Preethi Nair. Preethi previously worked as a management consultant but gave it up to follow her dream and write her first book Gypsy Masala. Having been rejected by a number of publishers, she set up her own publishing company and PR agency to publish and promote the book. Working under the alias of Pru Menon, she gained wide scale coverage, leading to a three-book deal with HarperCollins, also winning the Asian Woman of Achievement award as well as Publicist of the Year at the PPC awards. And to top all that…she will now be sharing her inspiring story with us at Wordstock.
The day is full to the brim and offers something for everyone, from inspiring talks to thought-provoking discussions and hands-on workshops. You can navigate the day as you please, choosing from handy stuff to help you at work, or inspired ideas to free your creative spirit. In between, there’ll be loads of food, networking and fun.
The details
WHAT: 26 Wordstock 2015
WHEN: Saturday 17 October 10am to 5.30pm (doors open for coffee and networking at 9.30am)
WHERE: The Free Word Centre (Farringdon, central London)
John Yorke, who has been behind some of the UK’s biggest TV dramas, leads the line-up of acclaimed writers and communication experts. John has spent his life telling stories and studying how and why they work. As former Head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and Managing Director of Company Pictures, he’s championed many of the defining works of British television, including Life on Mars, Shameless and Wolf Hall. He’ll be sharing his experience of bringing storytelling to life from script to screen.
Writer, editor and former bookseller Andy Miller will be delivering his acclaimed Read Y’self Fitter talk. Andy, author of The Year of Reading Dangerously, has recently fallen in love once more with the joy of reading The Great Books, and will give a passionate, and hilarious motivational lecture in how to reignite a love of reading.
Performance will also feature in the shape of spoken word and rap artist Charlie Dupré. Charlie is well established on the spoken word circuit, performing at Latitude and the Secret Garden Party amongst many others. He’s also performed at Edinburgh, with his The Stories of Shakey P, a commission from the RSC of a re-imagining of Shakespeare as a rap artist.
26’s very own Roger Horberry will be leading a workshop on figures of speech and how they make words more powerful, persuasive and poetic, while Justina Hart will lead a workshop on how to read your writing to an audience.
Semiotician, Alfie Spencer, will show attendees how sharpening their reading skills helps them to be better writers, and leading speechwriter Brian Jenner will give the scoop on how to make money as a freelancer.
We’ll also be launching a new 26 collaborative writing project, so be there to put your name in the hat.
This is just a taste of what’s to come and we’ll announce the full Wordstock itinerary in good time.
The dosh
This year, we’re offering both standard and early bird tickets, so get in quick to bag a bargain.
Early bird tickets (until 31 July 2015)
Member price: £62
Non-members: £88
Standard price tickets (from 1 August 2015)
Member price: £78
Non-members: £104
Non-members pay £26 extra but if they join 26 (for just £26 a year) they get the discount ticket. The numbers are uncanny.
You can book online through the Free Word Centre ticket office here. To get your ticket at member price use promotional code: 26member
PS Every year is different, but to see Wordstock in action, you can watch a short video here.