Monday 16 February 2009

World Book Day - writing workshops

'Laughter is the most subversive weapon of all': Story-Telling in Persian Literature with Dr Debjani Chatterjee, RLF Fellow, Dr Catherine Samiei and Dr Golnar Bayat

11am-1pm | Thursday 5th March
George Herbert Room, C4C Centre


This workshop will provide a brief introduction to Persian literature including a short discussion on the graphic novel and film Persepolis and how it fits into the wider tradition of Persian story-telling. You will also be given the opportunity to create your own piece of writing based on some of the traditions of Persian writing.

To book your place at this workshop please email: c.samiei@yorksj.ac.uk



Travel Writing Masterclass with Dr Debjani Chatterjee, RLF Fellow & Writer-in-Residence

2-4pm | Thursday 5th March
George Herbert Room, C4C Centre


Having roamed the world from an early age, Debjani will offer some ideas for ways into travel writing.

To book your place at Debjani's masterclass please email: d.chatterjee@yorksj.ac.uk



Places are limited on both classes, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Any interested student who has a problem with the date is welcome to email Debjani for a separate tutorial at another time - just specify your area of interest.

Monday 9 February 2009

Journeys and places - YSJ student travel writing competition

"In today's world travel is easier than ever before and more and more people are doing it. We all travel - on holidays, to visit friends and relatives, to work... Every journey is a new beginning; every new place opens our eyes. Writing about travel too, is an ever popular literary and journalistic form. This competition invites you to write about a journey or a place that has meant something to you and also gives you the opportunity to have your writing published."

You are invited to submit a piece of prose travel writing on a theme of journey or place, between 300 and 1000 words in length. The writing can relate to any journey travelled or your experience of arriving or departing, or of a particular place. It might even be a spiritual journey or life-changing event.

To submit your writing and enter the competition, please go to the following web address: http://www.c4ccetl.ac.uk/travelwritingcompetition/


  • Text must be submitted online as a Microsoft Word document (maximum word count is 1000 and maximum file size is 10Mb)

  • The closing date for submissions in FRIDAY 8TH MAY 2009

  • Winners will be announced on WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 2009

  • The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students at YSJU

  • There will be one prize winner and two runners-up

  • The winning entries will also be included in an Anthology which will be created in Autumn 2009

  • The competition will be judged by York St John's Writer-in-Residence Debjani Chatterjee and C4C Creative Fellow John Noble



If you have any queries, please contact Catherine Samiei: c.samiei@yorksj.ac.uk

This is a partnership between C4C, Writing Development and Royal Literary Fund Fellow Debjani Chatterjee.

Dates for your diary:

  • Wednesday 11th February, 2pm-4pm - Travel Writing Master Class with John Noble - email c4ccetl@yorksj.ac.uk to book a place - C4C Seminar Room

  • Thursday 5th March, 2pm-4pm - Travel Writing Master Class with Debjani Chatterjee - email d.chatterjee@yorksj.ac.uk to book a place - George Herbert Room, C4C Centre

Friday 6 February 2009

Fountains Learning Centre - maintenance

Beginning Monday 9th February, the Maintenance department will be redecorating in the Fountains Learning Centre. Please be aware that some disruption to services within the building may occur.

Monday 2 February 2009

New subscription: British Newspapers 1600-1900

The library now has full text a subscription to a database of historical British newspapers. The database includes the full runs of 48 national newspapers, selected by the British Library to provide a representative picture of Britain in the 19th century and The Burney Collection (the most comprehensive collection of early English newspapers anywhere in the world, covering mostly London in the 17th and 18th centuries).

You can access this database, and others, through the databases page (you will have to log in if you are off campus).