Culture Matters ~ Writing for Children 2021!

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(stories, a modern re-telling of stories, poetry, songs, if using well-known tunes, or non-fiction) per person, unpublished in print.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

 

Callout: The Cry of the Poor Fran Lock Fran Lock issues a callout for a new poetry anthology, The Cry of the Poor As some of you will know, Culture Mat...