Although SCI-FI-LONDON is a Film Festival and our first love is movies, we recognise the fact that no movie exists without writers, whether of the original story or the screenplay. Hosting the Arthur C Clarke Awards is another sign of our commitment to sci-fi literature. As a film festival we encourage and support upcoming filmmakers, especially with our short films programmes, and we want to do the same with writers.
Raw talent and imagination isn’t always enough for any creative pursuit as it needs to be tempered with craftsmanship, which means learning techniques and tricks of the trade.
For new and established writers in London there is Spread the Word, a charity funded by the Arts Council to provide support help them develop their skills. It gives advice to help them get published. Most of Spread the Word’s work is creative writing projects, courses, workshops and talks and using established writers as tutors.
As part of their Fast Forward autumn programme Spread the Word are running two science fiction writing courses, on either side of the river, called To Infinity and Beyond. The course will be run by author Anthony Joseph, who will inspire and challenge participants to create, research, and write their own science fiction stories, and experiment with the genre.
Anthony Joseph is an author, poet, musician and lecturer. He is the author of two poetry collections: Desafinado and Teragaton. He is a touring writer with the British Council and performs and lectures internationally. His debut novel The African Origins of UFOs is published by Salt Publishing.
This course will run twice, once in Peckham, starting September 9 and then in Willesden Green from October 21. There are only 12 places on each course and costs are £42 / £21 concessions
To book call 020 7735 3111 or go online at www.spreadtheword.org.uk for all the relevant details.