Open the Door 2020: Friday 22nd May

Introduction to Day 5 of Open the Door 2020

On the final day of Open the Door 2020 we’re showcasing the organisations who are opening the door to writers and readers across Scotland and announcing the winners of our Digital Poetry Slam and Calm Slam.

– 11.30am

Emily Ilett

Emily’s debut children’s book, The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow, is a lyrical tale of sisterhood and bravery that follows aspiring marine biologist Gail as she searches across an island for her sister’s shadow.

Emily joins us for a Twitter and Instagram takeover where she’ll introduce her work, taking a look at the themes that bubble through her writing. She’ll also be taking a look at her conservation heroes and sharing a Q&A video. This is the perfect session for families.

Calm Slam Winner

We crown the winner of the first ever GWL Digital Calm Slam.

– 2.00pm

Daily Reading List Curated by Gillian Burke

Natural history television programme producer and voiceover artist Gillian Burke has curated a Reading List of nature writing by women. Join us as we share her picks.

Digital Poetry Slam Winner

We crown the winner of the first ever GWL Digital Poetry Slam.

– 4.00pm

The Nan Shepherd Prize

The Nan Shepherd Prize for underrepresented voices in nature writing was launched in 2019. As part of the Prize, we created online resources to demystify the publishing process and help writers on their road to publication.

The Nan Shepherd Prize team will be answering questions on Twitter on Friday 2.30-4pm about nature writing, how to query an agent and the road to publication. We’ll also be there to recommend great books and offer any other advice for nature writers looking to get published. You can ask questions in advance using the hashtag #OpenDoorNanPrize or DM us if you prefer to keep your question private (DMs are open).

Crossing Borders – Writing and Environment

How do you go about writing about the environment, whether wildlife, landscape or what’s right on your doorstep? Do you need to be a naturalist or expert? Do you need to head out into the hills? No! Borders writer and Open University tutor Jules Horne shares ideas for expanding your knowledge by interviewing others and working in collaboration.

Get inspiration for creative non-fiction in this online session.

No qualifications are required for most Open University undergraduate modules and you can enroll for one module at a time. You can try Creative Writing course content for free, on the OU site OpenLearn, such as Writing what you know or Start writing fiction. More info at www.openuniversity.co.uk/scotland

#BirdsongHaiku

Over the five days of Open the Door 2020, we have been paying homage to the dawn chorus, the afternoon chirrups, and the evening chatter by encouraging #BirdsongHaiku creations on Twitter. Here we take a look at your Tweets and see what we can learn from the world of birds.