Remaking a literary . masterpiece
PAGE 11
NEWS GOSSIP OPINION
Radio romance
BBC calls on budding authors to write more than 3 Valentine’s Card this February. Words: Allan Radcliffe
he Glasgow—based author Janice (ialloway begins
her short story ‘Valentine' with a simple
disclosure. 'I hate liebruary.‘ she writes. "l‘here is no natural excitement about the second month of the year. Valentine‘s Day makes me embarrassed.‘
While many of' her readers would concur with this succinct dismissal of‘ the shortest month. this l‘ebruary Galloway and yarious other fiction writers will he encouraging aspiring authors to pick tip their pens and take part in a novel form of literary master class.
For the second successiye year. BBC Radio Scotland is launching Write Here. Right Now. the ‘Write a Noyel in a Month‘ project. which last year attracted more than l()()() participants world-wide. lnterested parties can sign tip by following a link on the Radio Scotland website (see below). Once enrolled. writers are asked to commit
to l()()() words a day. the station offering daily emails of
encouragement from some of' Scotland‘s leading authors.
Appropriately fora scheme being launched in l‘ebruary. the wide-open theme of‘ this yeat"s Write Here. Right Now is romance. And who better to offer creatiye support
and adyice than such well-kent names as (ialloway and light. comic novelists Jenny (‘olgan and lsla Dewar. and a ntttnber ol' bestselling. surprise contributors.
While l()()() words a day may sound a tall order. the regular deadline could be the perfect motivator for those who have always found an excuse to avoid releasing their inner noyel. 'Romance‘ may immediately bring to mind feeble chick—lit or camp bodice-rippers. bill the subject expands to take in the big themes of love and passion from a male or female perspectiye. with a contemporary or historical setting. tackled with wicked humour or deadly seriousness.
l’or those still resisting threading a new ribbon into their typewriters. inspiration is proyided by Yyonne llughes who has already signed a contract for her book. A 'li/m' to Die. which was inspired by last year‘s project.
So dig out your pens. paper and imaginations. Who said l‘ebruary had to be boring'.’
www.bbc.co.uklscotland/radioscotland/view/show. shtml?writehere
GUDGIN STEPS DOWN AS FRINGE DIRECTOR
I Edinburgh Fringe Director Paul Gudgin has announced that he is to leave the post in June. Gudgin, who has held the post for eight years, led the annual celebration of theatre, comedy, music and dance to its most successful year in 2006, with ticket sales topping 1.5 million. Last year’s eventful Fringe also saw the National Theatre of Scotland present their first production, Blackwatch, to widespread acclaim, while the Thundering Hooves report into Edinburgh’s future as a Festival City was published. Gudgin, who is leaving to take up a variety of consultancy posts, said: ‘While I’m leaving at a time of strength for the Fringe, there are still many challenges that my successor will face.’ It is thought the post of director will be advertised in February, with interviews scheduled for the Spring. (AR)
ti I Al Gore's climate change film, An Inconvenient Truth. is to be shown in all of Scotland's secondary schools. Friends of the Earth Scotland‘s Chief Executive. Duncan McLaren. said of the Executive initiative: “For the sake of future generations we hope that every politician and civil sewant is shown the film too.‘
I The launch of a new tourism website, North Highlands Scotland, will highlight John Lennon’s links with the area. The late Beatle spent a number of summer holidays in Durness, Sutherland as a child, returning with Yoko Ono and his children in the late 605. The remote landscape also inspired Lennon’s song ‘In My Life’.
I Two popular Glasgow clubs, Cube and the internationally renowned Tunnel have been put up for sale. Owners CPL Entertainn'tent Group have stressed that both niglttSpots will be sold as going concerns. They were popular with Glasgow clubbers. with Cube attracting such famous names as Eminent and Will Young.
I In possibly the strangest film announcement of the year, Ewan McGregor has been slated to star in spoof war film Jackboots on Whitehall. It imagines what would have happened if the Germans had won the Battle of Britain but been defeated by the Scots. It also stars Timothy Spall as Churchill and Alan Cumming as Hitler.
i if) l (El) I’lltli' THE LIST 7