International Black Speculative Writing Festival – 2nd – 4th February 2024
International Black Speculative Writing Festival
A 3 day live and online Black Speculative Writing Festival at Goldsmiths University, London celebrates Black Speculative Writing. Sessions include discussions, workshops for different levels, readings, storytelling, networking, & an intro to reading ‘spec. fic.’ Confirmed award winning writers include Leone Ross, Courttia Newland, Karen Lord & Reynaldo Anderson, co-founder of the Black Speculative Arts Movement. Plus authors in Glimpse the 1st Black British spec. fic. anthology & Comma Press spec. fic. anthologies. Partners are NPO literary, publishing & cultural organisations Spread The Word, TLC & Yaram Arts to provide resources for writers to develop excellence in this genre & to encourage new readers. Full Programme available in November. Limited number of Early bird tickets available until 10 December if they are still available. Full programme will be available at the end of December.Description of Ticket Types at the end
A 3 day writing Festival and a 1 day online festival celebrates Black speculative writing. Sessions include discussions, workshops, readings, storytelling, conversations and a reading club from established, award winning and emerging writers. Weird wild and Wonderful Words (and Worlds!)!
1st International Black Speculative Writing Festival
Experience Weird and Wonderful Words during this special weekend which will include
A one day online festival for those who cannot attend due to distance or disability. Before booking, please send us proof of status to < infosablelitmag@gmail.com> (email name and address has to link with the ID proof that you send us)
Disability status : Please send proof of status –
Distance status : If you live outside London, please send proof of address
The bookings will open up to ‘anyone’ on 4 January if there are any spaces left.
Draft daily programmes are in the ‘Agenda’ section.
Full programme will be available at the end of December.
Early Bird Tickets available until 31 Dec 2023.
Description of Ticket Types at the end.
The schedule for the one day digital festival includes
*Workshops with Tim Fielder and Gemma Weekes from USA and St Lucia
*Storytelling from John ‘Titi’ Namai from Kenya
*In conversation with Sheree Renée Thomas first Black Editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
*Readings from writes in the Glimpse anthology, Muli Amaye, Koye Oyedeji and Joshua Idehen
*Readings from the winners of the Caine Prize for African writing, Mame Bougouma Diene and Woppa Diallo from Senegal and 2 of the finalists Tlotlo Tsamaase from Botswana and Ekemini Pius from Nigeria
*We See You Now (now We Hear You Now) Speculative and Eco Speculative Readings,
films and discussion led by Alinah Azadeh
*Networking Session
*Advices sessions for writers
Digital Festival Host: Sarah Ozo-Irabor Digital Festival
*Photo of Sheree Renée Thomas: Credit – Danian Darrell Jerry
A 3 day festival at Goldsmiths University in South London is a rich pick and mix of
KEYNOTES AND GUEST SPEAKERS
Reynaldo Anderson
Karen Lord
Courttia Newland
PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
*Fassunglos
In collaboration with our partners, The Black Speculative Arts Movement, a community partner of Carnegie Hall, New York.
*Publishers, Editors, Agents. What they are looking for?
*Decolonisation of Literature and Publishing Black British Speculative Fiction
*Research on Black Speculative Fiction : doctoral students present and discuss their research projects
*Turning oral history into speculative fiction
*Short fiction versus long between : the challenges
*What Is Speculative Fiction?
Photo of Claudia Monteith Credit *Photo of Akila Richards Credi
PERFORMANCES
Masquerade performance from The Gambia
The Cowfoot Prince storyteller and performer from Sierra Leone
Mansfield Park:Reclaiming the Narrative Through a Black Gaze
Performance by Anni Domino
Film screening
SELECTED READINGS FROM SHORT STORIES AND NOVELS
Readings from 2 anthologies
Glimpse :1st Black British speculative anthology
Cuckoo Cage
Plus a selection from emerging and established writers (tbc)
Open Mic
WORKSHOPS
Writing Speculative Fiction: Where do I start?
Beyond the Real
Twine Digital Short Storytelling
From Book to Screen
A Design Jam session : an accessible intersection of practical futurism and creativity.
Science Fiction as Activism Writing Works!
Stepping into Tomorrow: Seeding the Progeny
Writing a Synopsis and Placing your work for publication
Masterclasses
Photo: Pete Kalu and Ronnie McGrath – Workshop tutors and contributors to Glimpse. The cover of Glimpse is the artwork of Ronnie McGrath.
STORYTELLING
Tales from Ananse
African Myths
READING CLUB
An Introduction to Black British Speculative Fiction
Selected books lead by the MA in Black British Writing
Read and discuss three books in a curated book club. Extracts distributed in advance
WRITING ADVICE SESSIONS
The programme will be available in December. Early Bird Bookings are available until mid-December.
Collaborators, Partners and Funders who we are pleased to be working with:
Arts Council England, Goldsmiths, University of London (with support of Prof. Deirdre Osborne and the Dept. of English and Creative Writing), Yaram Arts, Spread The Word, Writing Our Legacy, Liquorice Fish, Comma Press, Peepal Tree Press, The Literary Consultancy, New Writing South, Writing East Midlands, This is Book Love, Carnegie Hall, Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM).
FESTIVAL TICKETS PRICES
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE UNTIL 10 DECEMBER MIDNIGHT GMT
DIGITAL FESTIVAL – 4 FEBRUARY
Before booking a ticket please send your proof of residing outside of London
Or proof of physical difficulty in travelling to London
Early Bird
£15 Full Price
Code: OFDFOEB
The zoom link will be released on 3 February 2024
20 free Tickets will be released after 4 Jan for those who want to attend who live in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America or Asia
£10 Discounted
Code OFDDP
Discounted for low waged/unwaged/students
LIVE FESTIVAL 2- 4 FEBRUARY
Weekend Pass Friday, Saturday and Sunday
£40
Code: WPEB
(This is the best deal, if you want to come for 2 or 3 days)
Ticket includes a goody bag (cotton bag; coffee mug, tee shirt, books or vouchers)
entrance to all events and workshops
***********************************************
TICKETS PRICES AFTER 10 DECEMBER
DIGITAL FESTIVAL – 4 FEBRUARY
Before booking a ticket please send your proof of residing outside of London
Or proof of physical difficulty in travelling to London
£20 Full Price
Code :OFDFP
£10 Discounted
Code OFDDP
Discounted for low waged/unwaged/students
Before booking a ticket please send your proof of residing outside of London
Or proof of physical difficulty in travelling to London
The zoom link will be released on 3 February 2024
20 free Tickets will be released after 4 Jan for those who want too attend who live in the Africa or the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia
LIVE FESTIVAL
Weekend Pass Friday, Saturday and Sunday
£45
Code WPFP
(This is the best deal, if you want to come for 2 or 3 days)
Ticket includes a goody bag (cotton bag; coffee mug, tee shirt, books or vouchers)
entrance to all events and workshops
£25
Code WPEB
Discounted for low waged/unwaged/students
(This is the best deal, if you want to come for 2 or 3 days)
Ticket includes a goody bag (cotton bag; coffee mug, tee shirt, books or vouchers)
entrance to all events and workshops
DAY PASSES
Friday Day Pass `
£15
CODE: FADP
Saturday Day Pass
£15
CODE: SADP
(Limited number for masterclass)
Sunday Day Pass
£15
CODE: SUDP
(Limited number for masterclass)
SPECIAL PASSES
Single workshop
£5
Code OFD
Inform us which workshop you want to attend and we will issue a corresponding voucher
Advice Sessions
Digital £5 OAS
Friday £8 Code 121
Saturday £8 Code Sa121
Sunday £8 Code Su121
Saturday Night Family Pass
(Must include at least one adult over 18 plus 4 under 18)
£30
Code SNFP