Wrote Under

We've moved!

2009-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry everyone who's only just discovered us. We need more functionality so we've moved to Wordpress. We love that we know what "functionality" means now. Thank you Birmingham Bloggers Group.

Members - Louise Stokes

2009-01-30T10:51:00.000-08:00

7 am Friday Morning, been up since 6, on my way out to do a performance in a school in about 15 minutes. It's an anti-bullying play, something close to my heart since I now do the job I do on account of being bullied out of my job as a psychiatric nurse in 2000. But hey, look where it took me! I found Wrote Under apart from anything else! I now get to do a job which brings me a billion times more satisfaction and joy and meaning than all those years battling with the inhuman forces in our beloved cruelty-free NHS...I'm a writer, actor, comedian, artist, and I do all the things I love every single day.....and get paid for doing it. Thanks to Wrote Under my comedy creation Kimmy Sue Anne became a permanent fixture rather than a one-off creation for a tour I was asked to do (my publisher wanted me to read my serious poetry about bullying but I thought that would just depress people, so I invented Kimmy to have some fun just for that tour). I was directed to the Sunday Xpress when one of the Wrote Under members saw my performance of her and she's been pushing her way onto stages ever since! Did anyone see The Butterfly Effect last night? I suggest anyone who has had a traumatic past and has had thoughts of 'what ifs' 'if only I could change the past' etc (like me) watch it, it's a fantastic film which leads one to think that whatever happens in our lives that may sometimes be awful....there is some greater scheme going on behind the scenes! Right, got to go out into the cold now to smite a few more bullies (watch Demons on Saturday nights, ITV and you'll know what I'm on about...except the demons in that programme are kinder, cleverer and prettier than NHS ones). Have a good weekend whoever out there reads this! Love n Light XXX

"Nine", a collection of short stories by Louise Mary Stokes is currently available from Wrote Under Publishing priced at £7. Email Louise to order your copy - astlebrown@aol.com

2009-01-29T14:37:00.001-08:00

Hello, I don’t think I’ve been properly introduced. I am Lizzy Piffany. I will be writing lots more on here because it’s all about me. But first, I must tell you something. Yesterday I attended the excellent Social Media Surgery offered by the Birmingham Bloggers’ Group at the BVSC, which I found out about on the official Best Blog in Britain, Created in Birmingham, and which also got a mention on the fabulous Nicky Getgood’s site, Digbeth is Good. They gave me an injection of bloggers’ bugglies and taught me all sorts of useful things. One of which was: if you want people to visit your blog, pepper it with links to the biggest bloggers around.

Facebook

2008-08-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, we have a page on facebook, click on the image above to view it!

Guest bloggers

2008-08-07T03:56:00.000-07:00

Here every member of Wrote Under has the opportunity to ramble on the net about their day-to-day activities, things that annoy them, and if they want, discuss what they bring to Wrote Under.

This will be a great way for the world to see the range of characters that we have, and to promote individual work!

Katy

Lizzie sent me two of her creations to publish on the blog

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Flies In Me Toilet

I've got flies in my toilet
Suckin off me drips
Flies in me toilet
Lickin off me lips
I've got flies in me toilet
Waitin for the brown
There's flies in me toilet
I'm not fuckin sittin down.

Warrior

Copper sweet blood hangs in the air,
I’ve killed you and all of your kind,
You who participate and revel
In the molestation of my mind.

Your desperate arrogance has been impaled
On my cat’s claw suit of armour,
No longer will you victimise
With deceitful oaths of ardour.

My interest in you all has waned,
I have x-rayed your faithless bones.
We fought a war, your kind and I,
From which I emerged alone.

Alone but cutting in my razor dress
With my fiercely articulate silence:
Stay away, don’t come any closer,
A man’s world ends in violence.

Personally 'flies in me toilet' is a favourite!

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Member Interview

Member Name: Samantha Hunt

Position(s) : I was co-vice chair for a bit,then Chair all by myself and now it's not a chair anymore I'm a co-facilitator with Lizzie Smith.

Member Since: It's been so long! At least 2 years.

What do you do in Wrote Under?

I make sure that we have agendas for the meetings! No,seriously,I help top run the meetings and make sure that all of the members are in the loop with what's going on. I organise events-like our gig at this year's artsfest and Moseley festival. I perform poetry on mental health issues as well,which I wouldn't be able to do without Wrote Under.

And outside of Wrote Under?

I'm training in Counselling and then there's my little girl,Rosie and I'm a mental health 'stop the stigma' campaigner too.

Ah yes,your baby..

She was made by Wrote Under! I met my partner through Wrote Under- he was a member at the time and things went steadily downhill from there...she's one in November and almost shares her birthday with another member,Brendan Higgins.

What's your best Wrote Under moment?

I love it all! I think that one of them has to be a great gig at this year's Moseley Festival,or finally seeing our first book 'Three Go Mainstream' in print. Or when I walked in to a gig with little Rosie in my arms and she was only three days old and Brendan said 'The ventroloiqist has arrived' . Very funny.

And does Rosie like poetry?

Well,I'm trying. I've bought her a baby poetry dvd. She's talking now,so there's hope. I'll have her on stage soon..

What's your favourite TV proggrame?

Well,I'm supposed to be all literary and say I never watch TV;but I do like Eastenders. Or X Factor.That's good. Of course,Radio 4's more my thing. Of course.

and poets?

I like strong women. Maya Angelou has been my favourite ever since I was about twelve. I like Sylvia Plath,Ted Hughes,Dylan Thomas,all sorts really. I'm very open; I'll read anything if I enjoy the first few lines.

What was the last thing that you read?

Right now an e-mail from Liz Smith,my partner in Wrote Under crime about something on at the theatre.

And the last text message you got?

From my boyfriend telling me Jim called and told him the flyers for the weekend will be here soon . Wrote Under is taking over my life!

And on that note.....

More get to know your members soon!

Heya,

Through The Cracks: A personal story of childhood abuse that slipped through the net.
by Sam Hunt

When I first heard the news of Baby P, I was playing with my own daughter on the floor,stacking shapes and bricks.
I only caught the tail end of the news on BBC,as so often happens thesedays,and turned over to watch it on another channel. I gasped in shock at the 'horrific' injuries and appauling treatment of this twenty-month old baby,broken bones,bruises and even a broken back. I followed the story over the next few days with morbid fascination;as more and more details emerged,pictures appearing in newspapers. It almost broke my heart. Not just because I am a mother of a blonde angelic looking one year old,myself,but because of the phrases I was hearing and reading 'slipped through the net','failed by those meant to protect him' ,'visited by social workers sixty times' .

I thought back to my own childhood,and asked where the net was then. And if it can ever truly protect those children at risk.
As a young child,my mother left and my brother and I were sent to live with my father. A court case that dragged out for over twelve months decided our fate and social workers and solicitors wrote pages and pages of reports. I was Child A,a letter on a piece of paper. There were arguments in big offices,we were sent to

coming soon.... Louise Stokes 'Nine'

2008-08-07T03:52:00.000-07:00

Funds are currently being raised to published the second Wrote Under book, a collection of short stories from the creater of Kimmy Sue-Ann.

Discussion things surrounding the book!

Katy

The Underground Three Go Mainstream

2008-08-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

A collective book displaying the talents of Big Bren Higgins, Jimmy Fantastik, and Paul 'Scissorman' Rafferty.

Released around Xmas 2007, and a second print of the book is currently on sale.

Discussions on the book and promotions surrounding the book.

katy

Gigs

2008-08-07T03:42:00.000-07:00

all upcoming gigs can be published here, either individual or group performances, no matter how big or small!

Or even gigs that you may believe that some people are interested in viewing

The Midland's only non for profit multimedia publishing co-operative,Wrote Under,presents...

The Sunday Xmas Open mic poetry,music,comedy,storytelling,anything goes

SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER

The Adam and Eve,Digbeth

On the corner of Warwick Street and Bradford Street (bus no 50 stops outside)

3pm-late

FREE ENTRY- WINE RAFFLE- MINCE PIES

Plus.....

The unvieling of our second project,a short story collection, 'Nine' By Loiuse Stokes

AND THAT'S NOT ALL FOLKS...

Get involved-come to one of our meetings

Everyone welcome,creative voices,artists,interested parties...

Come and have a chat and a drink (and canapes)

It's for everyone!

THE SPOTTED DOG,ALCESTER STREET

Every second Friday,from 6:30pm

Up coming dates :

Friday 5th December

Friday 19th December

Friday 9th January

Sunday Xpress

2008-08-07T03:40:00.000-07:00

Every 3rd Sunday of the month @ Adam and Eve
Everyone is welcome, and free roast spuds!

Here discussion are based around Sunday Xpress past and present, or maybe even suggestions about it.

Wrote Under-The Midland's only multimedia publishing co-operative presents....

THE SUNDAY XMAS - A special festive Sunday Xpress

An open mic afternoon of poetry,comedy,music,storytelling and experimental stage acts.

SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER

3pm til late

The Adam And Eve,Corner of Warwick Street and Bradford Street,Digbeth

FREE IN-OPEN MIC ALL AFTERNOON-FULL PA AVAILABLE-MINCE PIES-ROASTIES-MISLETOE

Call Sammy on 0777200364 or e-mail satans_calling666@hotmail.com for more information.

ALL PERFORMERS WELCOME-TURN UP ON THE DAY AND PERFORM ,NO HOLDS BARRED,ANYTHING GOES!

www.myspace.com/wroteunder

Search 'wrote under' on facebook

Details of our blogspot coming soon...

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger

Wrote Under- general comments

2008-08-07T03:35:00.000-07:00

I decided to create a blog, as its a good base to get opinion from both performers and fans of the group. All areas of the group can be discussed as you wish!

But, be nice and respectful about it other!!!

Katy