Write4word (Wales)

Write4word

Background

Write4word was set up 18 months ago by four individuals the number of members inspiring the 4 in write4word, the members are Annie Bell-Davies, Anthony Jones, Clare Scott and Dominic Williams. 

 The mission statement set out by write4word is:

 To engage communities with their social and cultural responsibilities through the medium of creative writing to educate, inform, entertain and perform

 Write4word target a wide cross section of the community as there is a belief that creative writing can be used as a means of problem solving in business as well as a creative outlet in the community.  Write4word operate within South West Wales but have not set boundaries that would prevent them from working in other areas.  The target age range has been left open to enable write4word to engage with as many people in the community as possible, this openness is reflected in the variety of workshops and other activities undertaken, examples can be seen below. 

 Poems and Pints

The Poems and Pints evenings provide a fun environment for anyone who has an interest in creative writing, this can be someone who has not quite begun putting pen to paper, a nervous first timer hoping to impress to the experienced writer who enjoys the company of like minded people.

 Workshop activity

Due to the wealth of experience that write4word have in publishing, facilitation skills, performance and creative writing they have naturally developed workshops to share that wealth of knowledge.  One such workshop engages with 15-16 year olds to develop their styles in a commercial context, letting the young people know what publishers will be looking for in terms of style, editing, publishing and marketing.

Staff

Due to the co-operative nature of write4word the staff are the four founding members, where an equal weighting is given to each when making decisions on planned activities and the way in which to move the business forward.  With regards to full-time/part-time staff, write4word work on a contractual basis and as such there are no full-time members of staff. 

When asked about their ideal member of staff the reply was that they would look for an experienced creative person, specifically in teaching, performing and preferable a published writer, but the most important characteristic identified is that the person has to be fun!

Stakeholders

Write4word have engaged with a variety of stakeholders, some that may seem obvious other not so obvious:

• The University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• ICreu an Rural Development Plan project aimed at engaging and providing training to the cultural sector
• Arts venues throughout the area
• Social Hubs
• The Queens Pub in Carmarthen

Opportunities

Write4word have a definite view for opportunities that are available and can be taken advantage of:

• Expanding on the level of events, which includes more workshops and different venues for the poems and pints evenings
• Developing a literary festival for the region
• Holding a conference for writers
• Expanding the workshops undertaken into diverse and unexpected avenues