Volume Three of our Working People's Writing Project: Writing for Children
Dear contributors to “The Children of the Nation”,
We
hope this finds you well. This email comes in two parts. First, it is to let
you know that we are planning a third volume in our working people’s anthology
project. Secondly, I am drawing your attention to other Culture Matters
callouts that you may be interested in.
When
replying to this, please use the email address for this new project: songsofexperience.2021@yahoo.com
FIRST
Encouraged by the great success of our poetry and
prose anthologies, both nationally and internationally, and supported by the
Irish labour movement, Culture Matters would like to complement
this project of collecting working people’s writings in contemporary Ireland
with a third volume.
The theme of our third anthology is poetry,
(songs, if using well-known tunes), stories, a modern re-telling
of traditional children’s stories, and non-fiction for
children. The anticipated age group is up to 12 years old. Please mention
the target age group in your submission.
As
you are aware, there is a long tradition of socialist and working-class writing
for children. One can go back to William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and
Experience, but the tradition continues unbroken to this day and included
writers such as Mary Ellen Cregan, Pádraic Pearse, Brendan Behan, Liam
O’Flaherty, Linda Anderson. The purpose of this anthology is to collect a volume
specifically dedicated to the disadvantaged/ underprivileged children in Irish
society.
The
purpose is to furnish children with texts that will leave lasting memories,
help them understand society, teach them the importance of questioning, of not
inheriting mainstream prejudices, and inspire them to eventually help change
society for a better future. The anthology will be professionally illustrated
with complementary artwork.
The
hope is that we may also attract contributors in Ireland with a migratory or
refugee background.
We would ask you kindly to circulate these details
to all your networks and on your social media, to reach as many potential
contributors as possible.
Here are the stipulations:
· Up to three submissions (stories, a modern re-telling
of stories, poetry, songs, if using well-known tunes, or non-fiction) per
person, unpublished in print. Please let us know if the piece you are
submitting has been published online, so that we can give acknowledgements.
· Maximum of 2,500 words per story.
· In English or Irish (if in Irish, our international
readership will appreciate your English translation, please). For contributors
with a migrant or refugee background: a short extract of the text may also be
printed in the original language, depending on space.
· You must be either resident in Ireland or have an
Irish emigration background.
· A brief biography outlining your connection with
the working class, 150 words max.
· Deadline for submission: 31 July 2021.
· Submissions to be sent to: songsofexperience.2021@yahoo.com
While we are unable to offer fees for publication,
we will supply free and discounted copies to contributors.
You retain copyright on any submissions, but your
material may be published in print and online by Culture Matters.
Jenny Farrell
Associate Editor
Culture Matters
February 2021.
SECONDLY
Here are the details for
other Culture Matters projects that may be of interest to you and your networks
- the Bread and Roses Poetry Award 2021,
https://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/arts/poetry/item/3630-callout-the-bread-and-roses-poetry-award-2021
- the Bread and Roses Songwriting and Spoken
Word Award 2021,
http://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/arts/music/item/3609-callout-the-bread-and-roses-songwriting-and-spoken-word-award-2021
- a Scottish anthology of radical prose, the follow-up
to Kist of
Thistles,
http://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/arts/life-writing/item/3608-callout-working-people-s-stories-from-contemporary-scotland
- the Brown Envelope Book,
http://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/arts/poetry/item/3576-callout-for-the-brown-envelope-book
-the Cry of the Poor anthology,
Callout: The Cry
of the Poor
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