BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Society of Authors - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:The Society of Authors X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://societyofauthors.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Society of Authors REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261102T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261102T113000 DTSTAMP:20260728T090215Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T090215Z UID:10001951-1793613600-1793619000@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Professional Development - Writing a synopsis DESCRIPTION:Join Olivia Chapman as she leads this 90-minute workshop sharing practical tips on how to write a synopsis for submission to an agent\, producer or for a competition. \nIn order to participate fully\, you will need to have a complete story (in whatever form) which you can talk about from start to finish. Although you do not need to be published to attend\, you do need to have a complete manuscript as the synopsis will include the full story you have written. \n  \nOnline Professional Development events – free for SoA Members | £35 for Non-Members \nNot a member? Sign up here. \n  \nWhat will this session cover?\nYou’ll learn how to structure your synopsis\, what to include and what to leave out\, and how to pick out the most important parts of your story. \n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Lilly Brend-Fish – Events & Engagement Manager\, SoA (3 mins)\nPresentation by Olivia Chapman (60 mins)\nComfort break (5 mins)\nQ&A with audience 20 mins)\nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\n\n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email Lbrendfish@societyofauthors.org with ‘Writing a synopsis’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nThe Line-up\nLiv Chapman\nLiv Chapman is programmer and festival manager who’s worked with writers for over 20 years. She currently works with Hexham Book Festival\, Word Up North in Bradford and Cheltenham Festivals\, as well as the Society of Authors. \nWebsite: https://livchapman.co.uk/ \n  \nAccessibility \n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nSoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details\, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID\, please email info@societyofauthors.org. \nNon-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below\, complete the registration form\, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment. \nFor event or registration questions\, email events@societyofauthors.org. \nSoA Members – Free \nNon-Members – £35 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/professional-development-writing-a-synopsis/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Professional-Development_Writing-a-synopsis-4.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261102T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261102T200000 DTSTAMP:20260922T124935Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T124935Z UID:10002295-1793646000-1793649600@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:SoA Cymru end of year review and online social DESCRIPTION:Join the SoA Cymru Group for their end of year review and online social. \nFind out what the committee has been doing this year and look ahead to 2027. Meet the committee informally and spend time meeting and talking to other Cymru members. \nThis event is for SoA Members. Not a member? sign up here \n  \nProgramme\n\nEnd of year review: Find out what the Cymru committee has been doing this year and look ahead to 2027. Including time for Q&A. (30 mins)\nMeet the committee informally and spend time chatting with other SoA Cymru members online via Zoom and in a variety of different breakout rooms hosted by the committee (30 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Emma Boniwell – SoA Head of Membership and Author Communities\, Cymru coordinator\, SoA\n\n  \nAbout the Society of Authors Cymru\nThe Society of Authors Cymru is a national group of the Society of Authors. Established in 2018\, we provide professional advice and support for Welsh writers at all stages of their career\, whether they write in English or Welsh. \nWe organise regular events and host socials across the year via a volunteer steering committee and local groups. Join us to meet authors across Wales\, find out what’s happening in your area and be a part of your local Society of Authors community. \nFind out more here \n  \nAccessibility \n\nAttendees have the option to turn on the live captions\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the registration form below. This event is for SoA Members only. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/soa-cymru-end-of-year-review-and-online-social/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,Society of Authors in Wales ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SoA-Cymru_end-of-year-review-and-online-social.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261104T140000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261104T153000 DTSTAMP:20260730T131629Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T131629Z UID:10002232-1793800800-1793806200@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Industry Insider - Connecting with your audience DESCRIPTION:Our educational writing experts will discuss their experiences and top tips for writing and engaging with a broad range of readers.     Panellists include Dr Amina Douidi\, equity\, diversity\, inclusion (EDI) and intercultural communication consultant in education and English Language Teaching; Paul Naylor author\, underwater photographer\, videographer and marine biologist; and Dr James Williams\, emeritus reader in science education and communication at the University of Sussex. This event will be chaired by author Ken Wilson.  \nThis event is in conjunction with our Educational Writers Group (EWG). \n  \nOnline Industry Insider events – free for all + donation \nAll donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking\, please do so when registering for the event below. \n  \nWhat will this session cover?\n\nHow to reach specific audiences – for example\, children\, academics\, politicians\, the general public\nDifferences in writing style – academic\, formal and inform\nAvoiding difficulties in writing – hedging\, signposts and structure\nChallenging stereotypes\, reducing harm and creating room for stories and perspectives that often get overlooked\nEngaging people with nature\nThe importance of story-telling\n\n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Ken Wilson (3 mins)\nPanel discussion chaired by Ken Wilson with Dr Amina Douidi\, Paul Naylor and Dr James Williams (60 mins)\nComfort break (5 mins)\nQ&A with audience (20 mins) \nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Tilly Zeeman – Contracts Advisor and EWG co-ordinator\, SoA\n\n  \nThe Line-up\nKen Wilson\nKen Wilson is a prolific author of English Language Teaching materials with about thirty titles to his name\, including more than a dozen series of course books. His first ELT project was an album of teaching songs called Mister Monday\, which he wrote and recorded when he was 23.His UK publishers include Oxford University Press\, Macmillan and Cengage. He has also been published locally in Spain\, Germany\, Poland\, China\, Vietnam and Indonesia. Ken completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Birkbeck College in 2017 and has since published two novels. \n  \nDr Amina Douidi\nDr Amina Douidi is an equity\, diversity\, inclusion (EDI) and intercultural communication consultant in education and English Language Teaching. She helps publishers\, education institutions and ministries\, in creating EDI policies\, reviews\, strategy and research with the aim of reducing harm and empowering those most invisibilised in education publishing. Amina holds a PhD in Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics from the University of Southampton and a joint MA from Tlemcen University\, Algeria and University of Balearic Islands\, Spain. She is a past co-chair of TESOL Intercultural Communication Interest Section and current community coordinator\, as well as a mentor for Africa ELTA women in leadership mentorship scheme. \n  \nPaul Naylor\nPaul Naylor is an underwater photographer\, videographer and marine biologist who is passionate about showing a wide audience what beautiful and intriguing creatures live around our UK coasts\, from vivid sea anemones to talented cuttlefish and decorating crabs to charismatic nest-building fish. This has led to him writing the book Great British Marine Animals (now in its 4th edition) and co-authoring Coastal Seas (in Bloomsbury’s British Wildlife Collection). Paul also writes magazine articles and scientific papers\, works with the media and conservation organisations\, and gives talks to groups including primary school children\, university students\, public bodies and wildlife enthusiasts.  \n  \nDr James Williams\nDr James Williams is an emeritus reader in science education and communication at the University of Sussex. A former science teacher and teacher‑-educator\, his research focuses on the nature of science\, scientific method\, and evolution education. He has authored textbooks\, academic articles\, and writes a weekly column for his local newspaper. He is a regular contributor to BBC radio and TV on education issues.  \n  \nAbout Educational Writers Group (EWG)\nEWG is a professional network for SoA members who produce educational materials for all settings including schools\, higher education and academic institutions\, and the English Language Teaching sector.   \nWe welcome emerging career authors who are interested in producing educational materials in the future as well as established authors.   \nThe group is run by an elected committee of volunteers with expertise in different areas. For all inquiries please email co-ordinator Tilly Zeeman. Not a member of the SoA yet? Sign up today using the discount code EWG20. \n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email MZeeman@societyofauthors.org with ‘Connecting with your audience’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nPlease either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/industry-insider-connecting-with-your-audience/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,Educational Writers Group ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Industry-Insider_Connecting-with-your-audience.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261104T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261104T193000 DTSTAMP:20261002T102201Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261002T102201Z UID:10002303-1793815200-1793820600@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Industry Insider - Imagining new funding futures DESCRIPTION:With the Scottish government recently confirming plans to pilot a basic income scheme for artists\, this panel discussion will survey today’s funding landscape\, imagine some more equitable future possibilities and begin to map out how we might get there. \nCurrent discussions around funding across the publishing industry seem to suffer from a lack of imagination: there is both intense criticism of current situations and\, in some cases\, a desire to return to a past that is unlikely to return. But we are creative people! If anyone can help to imagine equitable and sustainable futures for workers in the books industry\, surely it is the writers\, translators and illustrators who make up the SoA. \nWhile the conversation will have a particular focus on Scotland\, the session is for any writers and book workers who would like to see a better funded publishing industry for everyone. \nThis event is in conjunction with the Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS).  \nWhat will this session cover?\n\nDifferent visions for more equitable and sustainable publishing\nThe role of trade unions such as the SoA in making these ideas a reality\nCurrent problems and how to solve them\nTesting new funding models\, such as Universal Basic Income\n\n  \nOnline Industry Insider events – free for all + donation \nAll donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking\, please do so when registering for the event below. \n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Tom Jeffreys (3 mins)\nPanel discussion chaired by Tom Jeffreys\, Sam Gonçalves and Jessica Gaitán Johannesson (60 mins)\nComfort break (5 mins)\nQ&A with audience (20 mins)\nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Elsa Robert – Executive Administrator\, SoA\n\n  \nThe Line-up\nTom Jeffreys\nTom Jeffreys is a writer who lives in Edinburgh. His work is mostly creative non-fiction in response to art and place\, and he regularly collaborates with artists and cultural organisations.Tom’s books include: Walking: Documents of Contemporary Art (Whitechapel Gallery and The MIT Press\, 2024); To an island in a loch on an island in a loch\, with Kirsty Badenoch (Mouldy Books\, 2023); The White Birch: A Russian Reflection (Little\, Brown\, 2021); and Signal Failure: HS2 on Foot (Influx Press\, 2017). He is represented by Zoe Ross at United Agents.  \nInstagram: @tom__jeffreys | Website: https://www.tom-jeffreys.co.uk \n  \nSam Gonçalves\nSam Gonçalves is a writer from Brazil\, currently living in Glasgow. He is the author of How Does Change Happen?: Scenes from the Frontlines of Activism (2025).Sam brings a background in community development and organising: he was the SoA’s Senior Policy Officer (Scotland) from 2024 to 2026\, and previously worked with organisations like Creative Dundee\, The Ferret\, Hot Chocolate Trust\, Greater Govanhill and others – both in the Third Sector and in the Creative Industries. \n  \nJessica Gaitán Johannesson\nJessica Gaitán Johannesson is a writer and organiser based in Edinburgh. She’s the author of the Desmond Elliot Prize-nominated novel How We Are Translated (2021)\, and the essay collection The Nerves and Their Endings (2022). She’s the Programme Director for Edinburgh’s Radical Book Fair. \n  \nAbout Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS)\nMembers with a Scottish postcode are added to the group when they join the SoA. If you have not been added but would like to join this group\, please contact us. \nWe offer a varied calendar of activities organised by a committee of volunteers and staff coordinator Elsa Robert. Group activities are reported in the SoA’s quarterly magazine\, The Author. \n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email ERobert@societyofauthors.org with ’New funding futures’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nPlease either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/industry-insider-imagining-new-funding-futures/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,Society of Authors in Scotland ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Industry-Insider_Imagining-new-funding-futures-4.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261105T143000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261105T151500 DTSTAMP:20261020T090444Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T090444Z UID:10002333-1793889000-1793891700@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:How I write - in conversation with Gemma Cairney DESCRIPTION:Grab a cuppa and get to know multi-award-winning broadcaster\, author and activist\, Gemma Cairney. \nGemma will be in conversation with marketer\, event producer and audience development consultant\, Micallar Walker to discuss her work and career and to offer a glimpse into her creative routines. \nOnline in conversation events – free for all + donation \nAll donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking\, please do so when registering for the event below. \n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Micallar Walker (3 mins)\nIntroductions to Gemma Cairney\, and a glimpse into her creative routines (20-25 mins)\nGemma will do a short reading from her book (2-3 mins)\nQ&A with audience (10 mins) \nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Sophia A Jackson – Head of Events & Engagement\, SoA\n\n  \nThe Line-up\nGemma Cairney \nGemma Cairney is a multi-award-winning broadcaster\, published author\, production company founder\, magpie\, and life enthusiast. \nGemma is a writer\, broadcaster\, documentary maker\, journalist\, and cultural producer. A former Brit School pupil and fashion stylist\, Gemma has presented across the breadth of the BBC\, having been the regular presenter of the 1Xtra Breakfast Show\, 1Xtra’s 1-4 afternoon’s slot\, the Radio 1 Weekend Breakfast Show\, Radio 1’s Early Breakfast Show\, The Surgery and is host of series The Leisure Society (BBC6 Music) and The Sound Odyssey (BBC Radio 4 & BBC World Service). \nShe has written for\, edited\, and contributed to The Guardian\, Company Magazine\, Red\, Glamour\, and Cosmopolitan. She has won Sony awards for her documentaries on subjects such as domestic abuse and produced podcasts and theatre productions. Her drive is humanity and communication in all areas of her wide-spanning work. \nWebsite: https://www.gemmacairney.co.uk/ | Instagram: @gemagain \n  \nMicallar Walker\nMicallar Walker is a cultural marketer\, event producer and audience development consultant with 20+ years’ experience across books\, film and the arts. She founded inclusive consultancy Dark Matter in 2021\, curates Picturehouse Cinemas’ author events\, broadcast live nationwide\, and is English Programme Manager at the Emirates Literature Foundation in Dubai. \nInstagram: @MicallarWalker | @DarkMatterMktg | Website: www.darkmatteragency.co.uk  \n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email SJackson@societyofauthors.org with ‘Gemma Cairney – Question’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nPlease either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/how-i-write-in-conversation-with-gemma-cairney/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/How-I-write_in-conversation-with-Gemma-Cairney-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261110T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261110T110000 DTSTAMP:20260805T112353Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T112353Z UID:10002208-1794304800-1794308400@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Industry Insider – How to write pantomime DESCRIPTION:In this session we’ll be looking at the practical aspects of constructing a pantomime\, the varying levels of performance\, traditional routines\, gags\, story structure and breaking the fourth wall. \nSoA Scriptwriters Group member and writer Ian Billings will be joined by writers Geoffrey Aymer\, Trish Cooke and Susie McKenna.  \nThis event is in conjunction with our Scriptwriters Group (SWG). \n  \nOnline Industry Insider events – free for all + donation \nAll donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking\, please do so when registering for the event below. \n  \nWhat will this session cover?\nMembers will take away: \n\nAn insight in the mechanics of pantomime\nA strong sense of story structure\nAn understanding of panto characters and\nInspiration to take on their own panto script.\n\n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Ian Billings (3 mins)\nPanel discussion chaired by Ian Billings\, with Geoffrey Aymer\, Trish Cooke and Susie McKenna (40 mins)\nQ&A with audience (15 mins) \nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Sophia A Jackson – Head of Events & Engagement\, SoA\n\n  \nThe Line-up\nIan Billings\nIan Billings is the veteran of 53 pantomimes having written\, directed and appeared with Frankie Howerd\, Sylvester McCoy\, Brian Cant\, Bernie Clifton\, Julie Goodyear\, Little and Large\, Cannon and Ball and Timmy Mallett. Sometimes clocking up four or five pantos a year in various posts. He has worked in venues as diverse as Theatre Royal\, Nottingham\, the Grand Theatre\, Wolverhampton\, Gatwick Airport and Harwich Docks. For eight years he was resident director\, writer and performer at the Place Theatre\, Telford. He recently appeared in Sleeping Beauty at the Stafford Gatehouse.Besides panto Ian is a playwright having penned six radio plays for BBC Radio Four\, a children’s author of 50 books and a stand-up comic for kids having visited 2000 schools in 20 countries.2025 saw him commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to adapt “Gulliver’s Travels” and by Claybody Theatre to write a pay about the Theatre Royal in Hanley. He is currently finishing a children’s primary website entitled “Eureka!” funded by Arts Council England.Website: https://ianbillings.com/ \n  \nGeoffrey Aymer\nTheatre as writer includes:Alice In Wonderland\, Pan!\, Rapunzel\, Scroogelicious\, Men-TALL\, The Wonderful (all for Theatre Peckham); Anansi and the Magic Mirror (Talawa Theatre); The Oddest Couple (Theatre Royal Stratford East)\, What A Wonderful World.(Blue Elephant Theatre)   \nAlso\, coming up this Christmas 2026: A Ladd In Peckham (Theatre Peckham) \nTheatre acting credits include: Into The Woods (Noel Coward Theatre/Jamie Wilson Productions and Bridge Theatre) Hamlet (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Crucible (Sheffield Crucible); Romeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange Theatre\, Manchester); The Wizard of Oz (Curve Theatre\, Leicester/London Palladium); Clutch (Bush Theatre); Jitney (Old Vic Theatre/Headlong/Leeds Playhouse); The Taxidermist’s Daughter (Chichester Festival Theatre); Sunset Boulevard (Royal Albert Hall); GHBoy (Charing Cross Theatre); Apollo 13:The Dark Side Of The Moon (Original Theatre Online Production); Two Trains Running (ETT UK tour); The Color Purple (Leicester Curve/Birmingham Hippodrome); Robin Hood And The Arrow Of Destiny (Theatre Peckham); The Plague (Arcola); Driving Miss Daisy (Frinton Summer Theatre/Canal Cafe Theatre); The Importance Of Being Earnest (Original Theatre UK tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Young Vic); To Kill A Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre/UK tour/Barbican); MacBeth and The Lightning Child (Shakespeare’s Globe); Neighbors (Nuffield Theatre\, Southampton); Angel House (Eclipse UK tour); The Big Life (West End); \nTelevision includes: Casualty\, Mr Winner; Guerrilla; EastEnders; The A Force; The Real McCoy. Film includes:  Wicked; Sket; RagTag  \n  \nTrish Cooke\nTrish Cooke writes scripts for theatre\, TV\, and radio drama. She also writes children’s books. Her Christmas shows and pantos include Anansi Trades Places (Talawa Theatre Company)\, Olivier nominated Cinderella (Theatre Royal Stratford East)\, and the Great British Pantomime Award winner Rapunzel.  In 2025 Trish received a Black British Theatre Award in recognition of her body of work (book and lyrics). Current work includes the adaptation of her book\, The Magic Callaloo\, (Walker Books) for the Unicorn Theatre\, to run from 19th March to 18th April 2027. \n Instagram: @trishcookewriter | Facebook: Trish Cooke Writer \n  \nSusie McKenna\nSusie is an actor\, writer\, and director with over 40 years working in theatre\, television and film. \nWorking in pantomime throughout her career\, she played Principal boy at the age of 19 at Oldham Coliseum \, going on to appear as Principal boy at Nottingham Playhouse for eight years. Susie wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Hackney Empire pantos from 1998 to 2020. Since 2023 she has written three and directed two pantomimes at Broadway Theatre Catford.   \n  \nAbout the Scriptwriters Group (SWG)\nThe Scriptwriters Group (SWG) is a community of scriptwriters and broadcasters. It represents writers and makers across digital\, broadcast\, AV and theatre. \nWe support members and associates by providing professional\, individual advice\, negotiating collective minimum terms agreements with organisations such the BBC\, and lobby on policy and legislation to promote the interests and protect the rights of scriptwriters. \nIn addition\, we manage a series of seminars\, panel discussions and ‘in conversation’ style events throughout the year\, on matters of concern and interest to members working across these industry sectors. We also publish interviews and develop resources for publication on the SoA website and via our quarterly journal\, The Author. \nThe Group is made up of an elected committee and the Group Chair is Rhiannon Tise. Whilst the committee directs the work of the group\, the day-to-day administration is handled by Co-Administrators Sophia Jackson and Theo Jones. Contact either Sophia or Theo with any scriptwriting-related topics\, concerns or suggestions that you might wish to raise with the committee. \n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email SJackson@societyofauthors.org with ‘How to make a successful audio drama’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nPlease either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/industry-insider-how-to-write-pantomime/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,Scriptwriters Group ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Industry-Insider_How-to-write-pantomime-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261111T173000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261111T190000 DTSTAMP:20260717T125524Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T125524Z UID:10002138-1794418200-1794423600@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Translators Association end of year review and online social DESCRIPTION:Join the Translators Association (TA) for their end of year review and online social. Find out what the committee has been doing this year and look ahead to 2027\, meet the committee informally and hang out and chat with other TA members. \n  \nProgramme\n\nEnd of year review: Find out what the TA committee has been doing this year and look ahead to 2027. Including time for Q&A. (30 mins)\nMeet the committee informally and hang out and chat with other TA members online via Zoom and in a variety of different themed breakout rooms hosted by the committee (60 mins)\nBreakout rooms\n\nThemes will be notified nearer the date and are subject to change depending on the interests of the attendees.  Attendees are welcome to join or leave rooms as they wish. Please contact Catherine Fuller if you would like to suggest a particular topic for discussion. \n  \nAbout the Translators Association (TA)\nThe Translators Association (TA) provides a source of expert advice for individual literary translators and is also a collective voice representing the profession as a whole.  \nTranslators automatically become a member of the TA on joining the SoA. \nThe TA is run by a committee of 8 members and coordinated by Catherine Fuller and Ambre Morvan. Catherine and Ambre are also members of the SoA Contracts Advisory team \n  \nAccessibility \n\nAttendees have the option to turn on the live captions\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the registration form below. This event is for SoA Members only. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/translators-association-end-of-year-review-and-online-social/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,Translators Association ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TA-end-of-year-review-and-online-social-4.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261116T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261116T120000 DTSTAMP:20261022T085000Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261022T085000Z UID:10002340-1794826800-1794830400@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Industry Insider – The big conversation: the future of publishing DESCRIPTION:Chaired by SoA’s Chief Executive\, Anna Ganley\, who will be joined by President of the Association of Authors’ Agents\, Hellie Ogden\, Managing Director of the Booksellers Association\, Meryl Halls\, and CEO of the Publishers Association\, Dan Conway. They will discuss the potential challenges and opportunities in the books and publishing industry as we look ahead to 2027. \n  \nOnline Industry Insider events – free for all + donation \nAll donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking\, please do so when registering for the event below. \n  \nOnline \n\n\n\nIndustry Insider – The big conversation: the future of publishing | Monday 16 November\, 11.00-12.00\nAGM online member social | Wednesday 18 November\, 11.00-12.00\nSoA Annual General Meeting | Thursday 19 November\, 17.00-19.00\n\n\n\n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Anna Ganley – Chief Executive\, SoA (3 mins)\nAnna Ganley (SoA) chairs a discussion with Hellie Ogden\, Meryl Halls and Dan Conway (40 mins)\nQ&A with audience (15 mins) \nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Elsa Robert – Executive Administrator\, SoA \n\n  \nThe Line-up\nAnna Ganley\, Society of Authors                   \nAs Chief Executive\, Anna is responsible for overseeing the running of the Society of Authors and driving the SoA’s mission of empowering and supporting authors in the UK. Working closely with the SoA’s board of directors (Management Committee)\, Anna ensures that SoA’s activities and campaigns remain aligned with the SoA’s core mission. \nAnna sits on the board of the International Authors Forum and is a member of the London Book Fair Advisory Board. \nBorn in Sunderland\, Anna grew up on the north-east coast. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Durham and her MA in Management from Durham Business School. \n  \nHellie Ogden\, Association of Authors’ Agents\nHellie is co-head of the UK Book division and Partner at WME. She is the current President of the Association of Authors’ Agents. She represents fiction\, children’s books and non-fiction and enjoys bold storytelling\, moving prose and vivid\, thought-provoking characters. She is actively taking on new clients and as an editorially focused agent\, she has a keen interest in helping to develop and nurture debut writers. Hellie was shortlisted for Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2025. She represents a number of global bestsellers and award-winning writers and often speaks at writing conferences and mentors debut writers. \n  \nMeryl Halls\, Booksellers Association\nMeryl Halls has been Managing Director of the Booksellers Association since 2018 and was named FutureBook Person of the Year in 2020. A leading advocate for bookselling\, she chairs the Book Trade Charity\, serves on the Board of Bookshop.org\, the British Retail Consortium Policy Board and the Executive Committee of the European and International Booksellers Federation. She is also a former Vice Chair of the Independent Retailers Confederation and former Trustee of World Book Day. \n  \nDan Conway\, Publishers Association\nDan became CEO of the Publishers Association in 2022\, having previously been the membership organisation’s Director of External Affairs. Alongside his role at the Publishers Association\, he is a Board Trustee for World Book Day\, Non-Executive Director at Publishers’ Licensing Services\, and a Board Member of the Creative Industries Council. \n  \nSend us your questions\nIf you would like to send questions in advance\, email ERobert@societyofauthors.org with ‘The big conversation: the future of publishing’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nPlease either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/industry-insider-the-big-conversation-the-future-of-publishing/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,AGM week ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Industry-Insider_The-big-conversation_the-future-of-publishing.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261118T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261118T120000 DTSTAMP:20261021T142603Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261021T142603Z UID:10002235-1794999600-1795003200@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:AGM online member social DESCRIPTION:Join us for a pre-AGM online social for SoA members to chat informally with fellow members\, SoA staff\, and Committee members. Whilst we can’t promise drinks and nibbles\, we’ll make every effort to ensure you meet new people and have meaningful conversations. \nYou can register for this year’s Annual General Meeting here \nThis event is for SoA Members only. Not a member? sign up here \n  \nAGM Week 2026\nWith discussions around all aspects of the business of authorship we ask how authors and publishing professionals can work better together and how authors can find support if they need it. \nOnline \n\nIndustry Insider – The Big Conversation: the future of publishing | Monday 16 November\, 11.00-12.00\nAGM online member social | Wednesday 18 November\, 11.00-12.00\nSoA Annual General Meeting | Thursday 19 November\, 17.00-19.00\n\n  \nHow it works\nAfter an initial introduction\, we will throw open the break-out rooms which will be hosted by Committee members and supported by a member of staff. There will be two rounds of 20-minutes. \nThe main Zoom room will remain open to help members get in and out break-out rooms. When the second break-out room session ends\, we will reconvene in the main Zoom room to close. Everyone is welcome in any room. \nJust like any in-person social event\, we encourage you to drop into any break-out room\, and we hope you can chat with fellow members.  The break-out rooms are intended to be purely social. \nThe breakout rooms will be: TBC \n  \nProgramme\n\nWelcome\, introductions and housekeeping from Anna Ganley – Chief Executive\, SoA and Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin – Chair of the SoA Board (3 mins)\nBreakout rooms hosted by SoA staff and Board members for informal chat\, networking and information sharing (40 mins – two 20 mins sessions)\nReturn to the main room for general discussion (15 mins)\nSummary and closing comments (2 mins)\nThis event will be moderated by Elsa Robert – Executive Administrator\, SoA\n\n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nSoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details\, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID\, please email info@societyofauthors.org. \nFor event or registration questions\, email events@societyofauthors.org. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/agm-online-member-social/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,AGM week ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AGM-online-member-social-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261119T170000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261119T190000 DTSTAMP:20261023T084212Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261023T084212Z UID:10002234-1795107600-1795114800@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:SoA Annual General Meeting 2026 DESCRIPTION:Join us online this November for our 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) hosted via Zoom. The AGM is conducted online to allow access to as many members as possible. \nYour votes and participation are important to us. We encourage all Full Members to vote at the AGM or to appoint a proxy and register a voting instruction in advance. Associate Members are encouraged to attend but cannot vote.  \nVoting is managed securely and confidentially by Mi-Voice. They will contact all Full Members with instructions on how to vote\, both on the day or in advance by appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf if you are unable to attend the AGM. If we have an email address on file for you\, Mi-Voice will email you directly. If we only have your postal address\, they will send you printed voting instructions.  \nAt the AGM\, resolutions are put to a vote via electronic poll. If you have voted by proxy\, you may attend the AGM but you will be unable to vote.  \nAny questions? Email events@societyofauthors.org. \nWe are hosting a pre-AGM onlinie social for all SoA Members\, which you can register for here \n  \nAGM Week 2026\nWith discussions around all aspects of the business of authorship we ask how authors and publishing professionals can work better together and how authors can find support if they need it. \nOnline \n\nIndustry Insider – The Big Conversation: the future of publishing | Monday 16 November\, 11.00-12.00\nAGM online member social | Wednesday 18 November\, 11.00-12.00\nSoA Annual General Meeting | Thursday 19 November\, 17.00-19.00\n\n  \n5pm – SoA AGM Agenda\nThe Society of Authors’ AGM is open to Full Members and Associate Members of the SoA only. \nA. Introduction and welcome by Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin\, Chair of the SoA’s board (Management Committee). \nB. The SoA’s ‘Year in Review’ video. \nC. Report on the year’s activities. \nD. Report on the elections to the board.  \nE. To consider and\, if thought fit\, to pass the following Resolutions: \n\nResolution 1: that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2025 be approved.\nResolution 2: that the annual report and accounts for 2025 be approved.\nResolution 3: that the full-subscription members nominated by the Management Committee to become SoA Fellows be ratified. See the nominated members here.\n\nF. Discussion of AI use in the publishing industry and the role we can play. \n  \nImportant information – please read: \nNo additional resolutions have been received from the Management Committee or from groups of 10+ Full Members (in accordance with our Articles). Should any groups of 10+ Full Members wish to submit a Resolution for consideration at the AGM\, please contact the SoA at your earliest convenience\, and by Friday 2 October 2026. We will circulate the full and final wording for the 2026 AGM Resolutions together with voting instructions week commencing Monday 19 October 2026.  \n  \nAccessibility\n\nAttendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript\, to watch with subtitles\nIf you require BSL interpretation for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nBooking\nSoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details\, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID\, please email info@societyofauthors.org. \nFor event or registration questions\, email events@societyofauthors.org. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/soa-annual-general-meeting-2026/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:#SoAatHome,AGM week ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SoA-AGM-2026.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR