Southlands LitOct 2024 Celebrates Literary Excellence, Writing and Books with a month-long festival in October 2024.
Southlands Arts Centre Hosts LitOct 2024, A Celebration of Literature, Creativity, and Community
Full list of events below (Click here to scroll down)
Southlands Arts Centre is proud to announce LitOct 2024, its literary celebration taking place throughout October. LitOct offers a diverse program of events for book lovers, aspiring writers, and the local community, blending literary talks, workshops, creative competitions, and community-focused gatherings.
This year’s festival will launch on 5 October with the Apple Pie Supper, a festive evening featuring the announcement of the Creative Writing Competition winners, readings of the winning entries, and a local apple pie baking competition. Acclaimed local author Denise Beddows will present the prizes.
LitOct 2024 Highlights:
Apple Pie Supper (5 October): This is a launch event with readings, awards, and an apple pie competition.
– Barbara Fisher: The Ups and Downs of Column Writing (8 October): A Literary event with the columnist reflecting on her career.
– N+7 Workshop (9 October): A unique experimental writing workshop led by Jayne Towndrow.
– The Art of Spying (12 October): Denise Beddows explores how art has been linked to espionage throughout history.
– Literature and Mental Health (16 October): A thought-provoking talk by Hillingdon MIND, focusing on how literature supports mental well-being.
– Journalling for Emotional Health (16 October): Jaspreet Kaur teaches how journaling can be a powerful tool for emotional resilience.
– Children’s and Family Events: Including storytime reading The Velveteen Rabbit (23 October) and the Squishy Starfish Puppet Show (25 October).
LitOct 2024 will also host a curated art exhibition throughout the month, showcasing the works of local artists inspired by literature.
Festival Pass: LitOct offers an incredible £35 event pass, which grants access to all events (excluding the Literary Lunch, Palooza pumpkin reservation, and sold-out events) and includes a LitOct goody bag.
The festival culminates on 27 October with Cliffhanger, a surprise community event designed to leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Quote from Southlands Arts Centre:
“LitOct 2024 is a celebration of both local and national literary talent. From workshops and readings to family events, we’ve designed the festival to engage the entire community and spark creativity in every corner,” says the Southlands team.
Join us at Southlands Arts Centre this October for a vibrant and immersive celebration of words, creativity, and community.
For more information, event tickets, and competition entry forms, visit southlandsarts.co.uk/litoct/
Contact:
Southlands Arts Centre
75, The Green
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 7PW
Full LitOct 2024 Events List
Apple Pie Supper – Saturday, 5th October 2024, the winners of the Southlands writing competition are announced. Plus, you can treat yourself to a slice of apple pie or enter the pie-making competition.
Poetry for Calm Workshops with Jaspreet Kaur – Monday, 7th October 2024 – Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just starting, spark your imagination and hone your craft with these poetry workshops.
The Ups and Downs of Column Writing – Tuesday, 8th October 2024 – In this engaging, informal chat, Barbara will, for the first time, talk about her life as a weekly column writer.
N+7 Workshop – Wednesday, 9th October 2024 – a short experimental writing workshop based on the N+7 technique first practised in the 1960s by the Oulipo movement.
Haibun with Diana Webb – Thursday, 10th October 2024—Author Diana Webb joins us to discuss Haibun, a prosimetric literary form originating in Japan that combines prose and haiku.
There is help. There is hope. We can recover. Chris Buckland Reads His Poetry – Thursday 10th October – Join us at Southlands to hear Chris Buckland share readings of his works and story.
Get Lost in Story – for grown-ups – Friday 11th October – This is story time for grown-ups. Two stories written by Jayne Towndrow are read by Jane Heptonstall.
The Art of Spying – Saturday, 12th October—Denise Beddows returns to Southlands by popular demand. Her talk, The Art of Spying, reflects on the uses of art and design in espionage.
The Publishing Pathway of Pernille Hughes – Sunday, 13th October – The Publishing Pathway of Pernille Hughes. Join us at Southlands to hear about author Pernille Hughes’s journey from writing to publication.
Poetry for Calm Workshops with Jaspreet Kaur – Monday, 14th October – Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just starting, these workshops are designed to spark your imagination and hone your craft.
Get Lost in Story Again – Monday, 14th October – This is story time for grown-ups. A selection of short stories and poetry. Relax with a drink, sit back, listen and enjoy.
From Me to You – Talk and Workshop – Tuesday 15th October – From Me to You is a charity founded by Alison Hitchcock and Brian Greenley. Join us at Southlands to hear their story.
Afterlife Visitations and Conversations With Carole Bromley – Tuesday 15th October – Carole comes to Southlands to talk about her book, Visitations & Conversations. She’ll tell us a little about her world and then treat us to a reading before a short question-and-answer session.
Literature for Mental Health – Wednesday 16th October – Sulebha Walsh and Gordon Milne come to Southlands to discuss the connections between literature and mental health and how engaging with literature and creative writing can improve well-being.
Journalling With Jaspreet Kaur – Wednesday 16th October – The ease of journalling is its adaptability; it’s a practice that can be uniquely yours and will fit your personality and goals.
Helen Joyce – Three Years on – Thursday 17th October – Helen Joyce is an author, journalist, editor and feminist campaigner. She teaches writing and offers media training and executive coaching.
Q&A with Elizabeth Drummond – Romance Writer – Friday 18th October – Romance author, Elizabeth Drummond in conversation with Jayne Towndrow. It was in New York she learned she was nothing like Carrie Bradshaw.
Kids public speaking presentations – Saturday 19th October – Kids public speaking presentations at Southlands with a friendly audience.
Piano, Poetry and Prose – Saturday 19th October – Join us for a wonderful evening of Piano, Poetry and Prose written and read by some of Southlands most talented.
In Praise of Mediocrity – A Talk by Lorraine Forrest-Turner – Sunday 20th October – Lorraine Forrest-Turner explores how being a perfectionist can actually be detrimental to any writer’s work and even to their well-being.
Seven Sonnets from Shakespeare on Sunday – Sunday 20th October – Calling all Shakespeare fans. Readings of seven sonnets from the bard and a glass of wine or soft drink are included in the ticket price.
Researching the Fry Sisters with Adrienne Chinn – Monday 21st October – Adrienne Chinn will be at Southlands to give a reading from one of her novels and to talk about the research involved in writing her book.
W is for Watermelon – Tuesday 22nd October – Join children’s writer Sharon Finch for an interactive, colourful, creative writing explosion. Sharon Finch is a writer, librarian and artist.
The Cafe on Manor Lane by Amelia Kyazze – Tuesday 22nd October – After delighting the audience with a reading, Amelia will tell us about the inspiration behind her book and writing.
How to choose whether to self-publish or pursue a publisher – With Asisat Lamina – Wednesday 23rd October – Asisat Lamina, published author of The DNA of a Christian Soul, talks about the different routes to publishing.
Storytime for all ages – The Velveteen Rabbit – Wednesday 23rd October – Southlands brings traditional story time to children. Turn off the screens and bring the kids to hear this classic story.
Well Behaved Women With Caroline Lamond – Thursday, 24th October – Caroline Lamond comes to Southlands to talk about her books, the women that inspired them, and getting an agent and a publishing deal.
Building and Maintaining the Confidence to Write With Tammy Rolfe – Friday, 25th October—If you are struggling to overcome fear, procrastinate, and find that much-needed confidence, then this workshop will help.
How To Be Brave – Kids puppet show – Friday, 25th October – Squishy Starfish productions present How to be Brave. Shara and friends, Honker, Dinkle and Alfie explore what it is to be brave.
Bron and Sam – Saturday 26th October – Bron James – author of urban fantasy, science fiction and magical realism, best known as the creator of the Sam Hain series.
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