Off the Rails Writing Group, with Rebecca Sharp

The intention is to establish and sustain a regular guided writing group, meeting in blocks of 5 fortnightly sessions, commencing 24 January and finishing 20 March. The hope is that you’ll want and be able to return for the full year (3 blocks) – however, you may attend just one or two blocks, and newcomers can join the group at the start of any new block. For sustainability and group experience, it’s asked that you book and pay for a complete block (individual sessions, partial blocks or refunds aren’t available). Once established, it may be possible to adapt dates and structure for the group going forward, according to any preferences that arise. The group size will be capped to ensure there’s enough time and attention to go round.

About the sessions:
Each session will comprise some informal group discussion, a core taught component, writing time, individual guidance and feedback, and group reflection to close. Each session will have a particular theme or focus (details to follow) – however, this will be designed with flexibility in mind, so you can adapt the material to suit whatever you might be working on. All styles of writing are welcome: the more variety in the group, the better to learn from each other. Rebecca has professional experience of working in and teaching poetry, playwriting, and hybrid/interdisciplinary styles. She also has vast experience of making work for sound/music, site-specific, performance and visual art collaborations. If these are things you’d like to explore, she can help you with that. As well as writing guidance, Rebecca can provide practical advice for how to develop a project, including: working with other writers and artists; interdisciplinary practice; funding and partnership support; approaching venues and organisations; creating a project budget; event delivery; and publishing.You don’t have to come with a specific project, idea or outcome in mind. This group will support casual and more focused writers alike. ‘Non-writers’ are very welcome: visual artists, for example, who might be looking to develop their work with words. And those newer to creative practice, looking for structure and motivation, and to be part of a group with like-minded people. The aim for the group is to guide, inspire, challenge and encourage – and this will look different for everyone. All will be supported.

To book,or for more information, please email Rebecca at info@rebeccajoysharp.com You will be sent instructions for payment and other information. Full payment is required in advance (no later than 10 th January), in one (£160) or two instalments (2 x £80).

There are two subsidised places available, funded by the Centre for Energy Ethics (University of St Andrews). 50% of the participation fee for each place is provided by the CEE, with the remaining 50% (£80) payable by each participant. The places are available on a self-selected, first-come basis – to someone who identifies with either of the following: 1. A young person (aged 18-26) out of education, on a low income and would not be able to attend otherwise, looking for a route into creative practice through writing; 2. A person of any age on a low income and would not be able to attend otherwise, who has experienced a gap in employment, study or creative practice due to ill-health, caring responsibilities or economic limitations, and is looking for a route back/into creative practice through writing. 

FYI, the proposed dates for Block Two are:
April 17
May 1, 15, 29
June 12
With the third and final block for the year taking place in Sept-Oct, TBC.

About Rebecca
Rebecca Sharp is a writer working in poetry, performance and playwriting, interdisciplinary and collaborative practice. Across over twenty years of professional practice, her experience also includes editing, publishing, teaching, articles and prose, creative project design and management. She is currently the inaugural Artist in Residence with the Centre for Energy Ethics (University of St Andrews), funded by Creative Scotland and the CEE, writing a new poetry collection for publication in 2024 (Long Field Loop, Tapsalteerie). She recently co-edited the anthology How Do We Talk About Knives: contemporary writers in Scotland on names, language and identity (Matecznik Press).
Other publications include Rough Currency (poetry, Tapsalteerie); Road & Rail (play, Souterrain Press); The Beginners (poetry + sound (Simon Whetham), Souterrain Press); Peripheral Visions (poetry + prose, Edge Hill University); The Tiger Act (poetry + illustrations (Hugh Bryden), Roncadora Press); Unmapped (poetry + paintings (Anna King), Souterrain Press with Creative Scotland); Little Forks / Forcan Beaga (prose, Souterrain Press with Creative Scotland and Gaelic Books Council); and The Ballad of Juniper Davy & Sonny Lumiere (poetry, artwork + performances (with Elizabeth
Willow), Spike Press with METAL Liverpool).
Her work has been performed at the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), HERE Arts Center (NYC), the Arches Theatre and Oran Mor (Glasgow), Hidden Door Festival (Edinburgh), The Lemon Tree (Aberdeen), The Bluecoat and METAL (Liverpool). She has been commissioned to create work for print, performance and installation by: Magma Poetry; StAnza poetry festival; Hospitalfield; Historic Environment Scotland; Book Week Scotland; Stellar Quines theatre company; A Play, A Pie And A Pint; Sound Festival; Scottish National Portrait Gallery; METAL Liverpool; An Lanntair; Scottish Poetry Library; and Mr McFall’s Chamber.
She has held residencies with StAnza poetry festival, METAL Liverpool, Lanternhouse (Cumbria), Edge Hill University, Creative Carbon Scotland, and the Centre for Energy Ethics. Her work has received a Literature Matters Award (Royal Society of Literature), an Art of Energy Award (Centre for Energy Ethics), been Finalist in the Brush & Lyre Prize for Multimedia Poetry, and shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Trust’s Scottish Landscape Awards. She has received funding from Creative Scotland, Arts Council England, Gaelic Books Council, Society of Authors, Tom McGrath Trust, Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, the Royal Society of Literature, and the Centre for Energy Ethics.
She gained early teaching experience at the University of Glasgow, and later through association with The Windows Project in Liverpool. She continues to lead innovative workshops and participatory projects, independently and in partnership with a wide range of community groups, schools, HE institutions, arts and cultural organisations. She has appeared at numerous literary events and festivals, including Soutar Festival of Words; StAnza; Birnam Book Festival; and the International Poetry Festival of Nicaragua. She is an Affiliate Member of the Centre for Energy Ethics, and the Centre for Poetic Innovation (both University of St Andrews). She is a Professional Member of the National Association of Writers in Education, Scottish PEN, Scottish Society of Playwrights, the Federation of Writers Scotland, and the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature database. She co-runs Platform poetry events in Fife.
www.rebeccajoysharp.com