Theme: The Story of Stories
Join a writing workshop, find out more about Jane Austen, or meet scriptwriters Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. What is the story behind stories?
What's on
No Ideas But In Things: A writing workshop
‘No ideas but in things,’ declared the American poet William Carlos Williams. In this writing workshop, led by poet JT Welsch, you’ll experiment with ways of interpreting that famous mantra, exploring new ways of bringing objects into words. Just take along something to write with, a favourite object and an openness to new things.
Terra Two: Writing for off-world survival
You are leaving Earth to set up the first off-world colony. What things would you take with you? This creative writing workshop asks you to debate this question by looking at stories by some of the great science fiction writers.
Unlocking Robert Harris’ Novel, Conclave Part Two
The international best-selling author, Robert Harris, is well-known for tackling big subjects in an imaginative, compelling and gripping way. Beginning with his first novel, Fatherland, which imagines a world in which Germany won World War II, Harris has written variously about ancient Rome (Pompeii, Imperium, Lustrum, Dictator), Russia (Archangel), France (An Officer and a Spy), as well as a novel loosely based on Tony Blair (The Ghost).
The Hero’s Journey: From swords to spaceships
Why do we all love a good story? Are the best stories universal and timeless? Do they have common elements? York Novelists want to take you on ‘The Hero’s Journey’ to discover what lies behind many of the tales we grew up with and which we’ve been telling each other for thousands of years.
Uplandish: Stories of the English uplands
Explore Northern England’s wild places with no need for waterproofs. Join us for a World Café event and discuss literary objects from moors, uplands and other wild English landscapes. Are ‘Uplandish’ folk rude and uncivilised? Why are Yorkshire moors important to literary history? And how wild are the uplands?
The Story of Stories
Stories – or, more accurately, narratives – are everywhere in the 21st century. The digital revolution has made it easier to write, disseminate and read stories, while narrative informs every aspect of our existence, from the entertainment industry to social institutions such as law and medicine to our public and private identities.
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran: A masterclass
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran form the most successful television comedy scriptwriting partnership active today. Their award-winning successes include 'Birds of a Feather', 'Goodnight Sweetheart' and 'The New Statesman'. Join them for a masterclass as they share some of the secrets of their craft, via examples from some of their most celebrated series.
For What It’s Worth…
Join renowned American medieval crime writer Candace Robb as she explores the York setting for her books. Based on her Owen Archer and Kate Clifford crime novels, Candace talks about the role of objects in the motivation for crime and in the creation of a fictional world within a real environment.
Unlocking Robert Harris’ Novel, Conclave Part One
The international best-selling author, Robert Harris, is well-known for tackling big subjects in an imaginative, compelling and gripping way. Beginning with his first novel, Fatherland, which imagines a world in which Germany won World War II, Harris has written variously about ancient Rome (Pompeii, Imperium, Lustrum, Dictator), Russia (Archangel), France (An Officer and a Spy), as well as a novel loosely based on Tony Blair (The Ghost).
The Enduring Appeal of Jane Austen
What is Jane Austen’s legacy and why does her work continue to enjoy such popularity? Join our panel of experts and enthusiasts as they explore all things Austen: the enduring appeal of her novels, the fascination with the life of the author, the ways in which her novels have been adapted and reworked, and the many aspects of Austen fandom.
What Matters in Jane Austen?
Come along and discover when Austen's characters had their meals and what shops they went to; how vicars got good livings; and how wealth was inherited. John Mullan illuminates the rituals and conventions of Austen’s fictional world in order to reveal her technical virtuosity and daring as a novelist.
