Bristol Festival of Literature crowdfunding

The annual Bristol Festival of Literature is looking to raise £1500 for its running costs this year by using crowdfunding to pay for an event run entirely by volunteers. 

The campaign will stay active until the end of August.

The 10-day series that takes place from October 15 to 26, is making a bid for being the biggest and most varied festival involving literature, that Bristol has seen. The locations, themes and timings are varied in order to cater for as many people as possible. Word Karaoke on October 16 encourages people to take to the mic for a spoken word and poetry event, while there is also an evening at Smoke & Mirrors for short story adaptations. 

Bristol HorrorCon on October 17 includes Mike Carey who was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke awards, had his Lucifer series adapted for TV while his The Girl With All The Gifts was adapted for the film She Who Brings Gifts featuring Glenn Close and Paddy Considine. 

Sums accepted range from as little as £1 which will get you a thank you, to £500 for VIP prominence with the sponsorship deal. There is also a £5 ticket purchase.

The full programme is as follows: 

An Evening at the Fear Institute

Oct 15: 7.30pm. Smoke & Mirrors Bar
Welcome to the Fear Institute. Join us for four short adaptations of Jonathan L Howard’s iconic Johannes Cabal short stories, performed live.

Workshop – Page Fright & How to Overcome it

Oct 16: 2pm. Green Lab
This creative writers workshop, hosted by Mohir Mhor (Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre), takes a fresh and surprising look at the entire notion of ‘inspiration’. It dispels the trepidation, familiar to nearly all writers, of the blank page or empty screen.

Creating Comics

Oct 16: 6pm. Foyles, Cabot Circus
How do you go about writing for comics? Renowned comic creators, Mike Carey, Paul Cornell and Cavan Scott in conversation with Cheryl Morgan. In association with BristolCon.

Word Karaoke

Oct 16: 8pm. Venue TBC
Feeling inspired by the festival? Then take to the stage yourself in this poetry and spoken word open mic with participatory warm up from Nick Rawlinson.

Bristol Book Bazaar and Seminar

Oct 17 & 18: 11am, Green Lab
Day 1: The Writers Craft. Day 2: The Business of Writing
11am: Meet local writers, discover what motivates them and get a great new read at the Bristol Book Bazaar
2pm: Be inspired by a series of talks from writing, publishing and business professionals including: Silverwood Books, Amy Morse, Lucienne Boyce and Ken Elks among others

Small Stories presents the Festival of Literature Launch Party

Oct 17: 8pm. Watershed Café Bar
Hear four very different performances from Bristol’s finest truth tellers, aiming to cut through the noise and lies of modern life. There will be live music, and dancing of course. Lots of dancing. 

Bristol Horror Con

Oct 17, 10am, Future Inns
Expo celebrating horror in literature, film, music, games and art. Expect traders, guests, cosplay competitions, workshops, gaming and more!

Stokes Croft Writers presents Scroll & Stroll

Oct 18, 2pm. A walk around Bristol starting at the Llandogger Trow
From the house where Coleridge met Wordsworth to where Angela Carter spent her student days, discover Bristol’s relationship with some of the UK’s most famous and respected writers.

For the Love of Reading

Oct 18: 3.30pm, Royal Navy Volunteer
Want to read more? Want to tell everyone about your favourite book? Come & swap recommendations in your most-loved genre or discover something new over a pint with fellow book lovers.

BristolCon Fringe

Oct 19: 7.30pm, Shakespeare Tavern
Bristol’s regular monthly science fiction and fantasy readings series has not one, but two book launches. Joanne Hall will read from her new fantasy novel, Spark and Carousel. Jonathan L. Howard will read from his new tentacle-tinged detective novel, Carter & Lovecraft.

Unreliable Histories

Oct 20: 7.30pm. Redcliffe Caves
Strange and compelling tales in a unique subterranean setting. Not suitable for the nervous! Bring a chair, torch & warm clothing & sensible shoes.

Written from Art

Oct 21, 5.30pm. Carole Peace Studio, Paintworks
Renowned sculptor Carol Peace invites you into her studio for an evening of poetry and prose. A selection of writers will share literary works inspired by art, either directly or indirectly. Featuring the words of Judy Darley, Kevlin Henney, Helen Moore, Pete Sutton and others.

Word of Mouth: Jamaica Rising

Oct 21, 8pm. The Thunderbolt, Bath Road

Novel Nights: Finding your characters voice with Patricia Ferguson

Oct 22: 8pm. The Lansdown
Meet critically acclaimed author, Pat Ferguson, for a discussion on creating characters with an authentic voice. Pat’s latest novel Aren’t We Sisters was long-listed for the Baileys Prize 2015, two others were longlisted for the Orange Prize and she’s won the Somerset Maugham, Betty Trask and David Higham awards. Pat’s books will be on sale and there will be readings by local novelists.

The Flash Slam

Oct 23: 7.30pm. People’s Republic of Stokes Croft performance space
Fun, fast and furious spoken word event hosted by Nikesh Shukla. Words will be slammed. No writers will be harmed in the production of this event.

Talking Tales presents Speakeasy

Oct 24: 8pm. Leftbank
The festival closes with a bang at the Speakeasy, including interviews with guest writers, live music & featuring Talking Tales with performances from local short story writers & the infamous Finish the Lines competition