We’re reading alright.

It's Pearly and Ken!

There were so many activities happening on the 7th September of 2013. Like, whyyyy. Why was everything happening on that Saturday? Like the launch of the Malay Language Month (Bulan Bahasa), Let’s Play (an analogue gaming convention), open house of Goodman Arts centre with various workshops and exhibitions… Well that wasn’t the only ones but yeah EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING that day.

I managed to get to Ken Liu’s 2pm-3.30pm session about science fiction at the national library. Spoiler alert: It ended around 4pm because people wanted to know MORE. So it tells you how good it was.

Continue reading We’re reading alright.

Ken Liu’s coming to Singapore!

Meet the author - Ken Liu

Yes, Ken Liu’s coming to Singapore in September! Don’t know his work or want to read one of his stories for free? You can check his Paper Menagerie out! It’s also part of Read Singapore this year.

So the important dates would be:

  • 4 September , 7.30pm – 9pm: The Paper Menagerie
  • 7 September,  2pm- 3.30pm: The Writing Life : Science Fiction and Fantasy  or 5pm- 6.30pm: Comparing Notes: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
  • 8 September, 3pm – 4.30pm: Author Reading at Origami Exhibition

We’re going on the Saturday sessions. Especially if you’re Nanowrimo-ers COME ON SATURDAY. He has done Nanowrimo before too and well, it’s always great to meet up with others who have done it while meeting an award or rather AWARDS winning author at the library.

This is all free but if you want to register to just ‘chope’ seat here’s the info:

Registration Info: All sessions are free, but seats are limited.

To confirm your seat, kindly email readsingapore@nlb.gov.sg

1) Your Name 2) Title & Date of Session/s 3) Contact Number

See you guys there! I’ll be going to the 7th September sessions.

Under One Sky writing workshop

Hey ho! There’s a writing workshop for the Under One Sky competition! It’s like preparation for the competition if you haven’t tried out writing short stories before.

Here’s the details! Fyi, it’s free.

Creative writing (short story) workshop!

Date: Sat, 3rd August 2013
Time: 10am- 1pm
Venue: Woodlands Regional Library, Programme Zone

This workshop will focus on the techniques needed for writing short stories and give participants room to experiment with ideas.

Below is the programme outline:
• Appreciate the unique features of a short story
• Brainstorm and develop a plot for a short story
• Apply basic writing skills and techniques to formulate a short story
• Write a short story inspired by another work of literature
• To have a basic draft of a short story by the end of the workshop

This workshop is open to only 40 participants aged 13 and above!

Please register at library e-kiosks or website http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg Should the programme be fully registered and you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please email your name and contact number to readsingapore@nlb.gov.sg

Participants are strongly encouraged to submit the short stories produced in the workshop for the Insight: Under One Sky Competition, organised in collaboration with Read! Singapore.

If you have any queries regarding the workshop or the competition, please send it to us at insight.competition@gmail.com

More details about the competition or the workshop can be found here.

Is it real life? No, it’s a Fantasy! Or sci-fi…

Hey everyone, my pals from the library sent me this!

Budding Writers League Sci-Fi/Fantasy Chapter

Venue: Programme Zone, Clementi Public Library
Date: (Thursdays) 27 June, 25 July, 29 August, and 12 September
Time: 7:30-9pm
Ages: 13 – 28 years old

Calling budding writers and fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy! If you are a fan of writers such as Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Time Powers, and Simon R. Green, then this 4-part workshop is for you.

Participants will learn the art of writing urban fantasy stories. Topics covered are:
-       Building your protagonist/antagonist
-       Defining your environment
-       Creating the perfect plot
-       Identifying the fantasy tropes
-       What you need to know about publishing

We will be meeting up once a month on a Thursday evening. Participants who are interested to join us for this workshop must submit their story idea or an excerpt of their story of 2,000 words or less. Limited to 15 participants aged 13-28 years. Please register with Pearly at pearly_ma@nlb.gov.sg

It’s organized by Eugene Tay from Monsters Under the Bed, and the main trainer will be Adan Jimenez (co-author of Sherlock Sam series). It’s a four session workshop so check out the dates and email Pearly if you or your friends are interested in it!

After the kick-off! And other launches

The Nanowrimo kick-off for Singapore was wonderful. With 66 people sigining in, NOT including their parents/children or friends who came with them, they filled up the programme zone of the Bishan Library.

Continue reading After the kick-off! And other launches

Chickens, fishes and lions! Oh my!

Let’s start off with a few submission calls with deadlines in decending order…

We have The Ayam Curtain which is a an anthology of very short fiction! Short (HA HA) details are that it has to be:

  • speculative fiction in English
  • either 100-150 words or 500 words to 1000 words (there are two categories)
  • written by Singaporeans or residents of Singapore (not necessarily PRs)
  • Deadline is 31 May 2012

For more details, check out their page here.

Continue reading Chickens, fishes and lions! Oh my!

Let’s write some stories!

Talk/Discussion on Writing Real Life Speculative Fiction

Admission: Free

Location: Central library, multipurpose room (basement)

When: 24 September, Saturday, 6pm

Come on down if you’re interested in learning how to write fiction and yes, finally we have this once more since it was postponed by the elections. Gee.

MEANWHILE…

The same weekend has a WaterFire® art installation by Barnaby Evans at Bedok Reservoir. Main programme starts at 6pm but the fires light up at 7.40pm for 24th and 25th September. I know I’ll be going to the one on Sunday. Would be lovely to check it out and get inspiration and whatnot.

Click the picture above to see the full programme!

Also, what’s this…?

Oooh a Comics Xchange?

Continue reading Let’s write some stories!

Of writery stuff

Quite a few interesting events! Firstly on Saturday…

Lauren Kate Signings in Singapore

Lauren Kate, writer of the Fallen series will be here in Singapore on 9 July 2011!

Serangoon Public Library 12:00-1:00pm  Edit: A comment from library staff below informs that it is now  12:30-1:30pm

Borders Wheelock Place 2:30-3:30pm

Kinokuniya Singapore Main Store 4:30-5:30pm

Jurong Regional Library 6:30-7:30pm *just added

Considering I have a party to host in the evening with things to prepare, I’m probably going to the session at the Serangoon library. Now, to figure how to get there…

Next up, we have:

Continue reading Of writery stuff

SDS 3.3 – Written in the Stars

The Asian Festival of Children’s Content was on the 26-28 May 2011. I got registered for it and since it did cost quite a bit, here are some highlights and notes from the conferences! It is a literary adventure for this episode. The conferences and workshops were held at the Arts House.

Continue reading SDS 3.3 – Written in the Stars