The Think Slam! philosophy competition comes at the end of the Festival (12 May), allowing entrants to experience the gamut of thought-provoking Festival authors, steal/absorb ideas and then come up with their own thought-provoking three minutes.
The Think Slam! is a soap box opportunity for the well-reasoned and coherent. If you are this with something important to say – with any source of inspiration – enter, come and say it and perhaps win a trophy for your audacity!
The guest judge is Stephen Law (pictured above middle), who preceeds the event with his own though-provoking views from Believing Bulls**t: How not to get sucked into an Intellectual Black Hole.
Compering the competition is Sara Jane Arbury (pictured above) who also hosts the Swindon Slam! poetry competition the week before, Saturday 6 May. So if you are an intellectual who thinks in verse, this one may be for you. Or, perhaps, you are someone who likes ditties about cupcakes, coffee and sex. Both are equally valid at the Swindon Slam!. At the time of writing we have two places left and we’d like woman poets to fill them. If this is you – get in contact.
On the final day of the Festival, 13 May) fledgling and experienced writers can enjoy the Writing Workshop and Writers’ Lunch, courtesy of Oxford University creative writing tutor Alice Jolly, at Lower Shaw Farm. No competition here, but a pleasantly stimulating environment to develop your craft.
To enter either competition or to book a workshop place, contact the festival on 01793 771080 or swindonlitfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk
To buy audience tickets, click on the name of the events, above.
For more information about the Festival as a whole, visit www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
