Hampshire Writers’ Society
Tuesday 8th February 2022 at 7.30pm
Winton Room 5 (tbc)- University of Winchester
Speaker: James Chew, games writer
Talk: A Brief Introduction to Writing Interactive Fiction
James Chew is a Senior Writer at Failbetter Games. He has a background in medieval history before joining Failbetter Games in 2016. He’s worked on long-running browser game Fallen London, as well as space-horror roleplaying game, Sunless Skies. He’s interested in player and non-player character agency within interactive narrative, as well as collaborative worldbuilding techniques and lore-creation.
James will provide a brief overview of interactive fiction (that is, games primarily consisting of text), its tools, terminology and techniques, exploring how a videogame can create story through text. This will be followed by a specific look at one commercial example of interactive fiction and the processes of writing for it, in Failbetter Games’ own Fallen London, a browser-based text game set in a hilarious Gothic Victorian underworld.
Special Guest: Denise Baden
Denise researches the effectiveness of using fiction to promote green solutions and has several upcoming events on writing for a cause. http://www.greenstories.org.uk/writing-for-a-cause/
HWS Members and full time students, entry to the evening events included with their membership.
Visitors £6
Networking from 7pm – Heath Gunn will have a stall with his crime thrillers available for sale.
HWS JANUARY 2022 WRITING COMPETITION
Green Story Competition
This month’s competition story must show a green solution e.g. someone enjoying a low carbon activity/product/innovation or helping nature in some way. For example:
• what might a green/sustainable society might look like?
• how might we get to a green/sustainable society?
• smuggle green solutions/role models into a story.
Find more ideas here: https://www.greenstories.org.uk/story-ideasresources/
Adjudicator: Denise Baden
Deadline: 25th January, midnight
Word count: 300 words
Fee: Entrants must be paid up members of HWS
Please check the HWS website for the rules before submitting.
Results on 8th February
Keeping you safe: Latest Covid Safety Guidance from the University of Winchester
Events and gatherings
- Face coverings are required to be worn indoors on campus, unless a medical exemption applies
- Everyone attending is expected to have taken a negative lateral flow test on the day of the event
Antiviral mist is sprayed around room after classes have vacated.
Hand sanitiser and some masks will be available outside the room.
Where possible doors and windows will be open to provide good ventilation. Please wear suitable warm clothing so you will feel comfortable in the ventilated space.
All members and visitors are required to sign in on arrival.
Opportunities for Writers
Please check the HWS Facebook Page for writing updates and opportunities to submit your work. www.facebook.com/HampshireWriters
There are a number of organisations e.g. competitions, agents, publishers, theatres and BBC asking for submissions. Always check the details and rules of entry, some are quite specific to location, age and experience.
News from YOU!
Please let us know what you have been up to during the past few months. For many people, it has been an ideal time to focus on their writing projects.
HWS Blog
We are always looking for interesting interviews, book reviews or articles about writing or publishing for the HWS Blog. If you are interested in writing or submitting articles for the HWS Blog, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch!
Contact Karin Groves, Membership Secretary.
Membership
The Hampshire Writers’ Society welcomes all aspiring and published writers wherever they live.
As we a part of the way through the season, the annual subscription fee for membership of the Hampshire Writers’ Society is reduced to £30 (Usually £35)
Free to full-time students. Visitors pay £6 per event.
The subscription includes:
- Membership for the rest of the season January 2022 until August 2022
- Free entry to the monthly HWS writing competitions
- Free membership of the HWS critique group ( meets online 3rd Tuesday of month)
- A stall at the Book Fair (December and June) for published members, includes self published
- Entry to our events on Tuesday evenings.
- Free membership to full time students with their student card
If you would like to receive the newsletter with details of writing opportunities, local events and competitions please contact us.
To help you get started, here are some quick links:
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