Excitement - and nerves as well

If I had some disappointments at Cultural eXchanges, the Demon Crew Launch very much made up for it.

A wide variety of written forms were on display. There weren't just books; prose and poetry appeared on t-shirts, plates, posters and websites. There were something that appealed to pretty much everyone. The audience were allowed to look around the room before, after and during the break in the presentation.

The presentation served as in introduction. Students explained what inspired them as well as their decisions and choices they made in producing pieces. What was even more inspiring was that some of the writiers have been offered publishing deals for their work. That could be me in three years' time! - there's a thought to make me excited and nervous at once.

The amount of material on offer to look at, read and even buy was vast and very, very interesting. An inspiring afternoon!

Matthew Goostrey.

Talent to break down walls

Today, I looked into the future. About 2 years into the future to be more precise. What did I feel? Fear? Awe? Anticipation? All of the above.

The Demon Crew showed publications of the 3rd year Creative Writers, and after seeing them on display, I can honestly say I feel safe in the knowledge that this generation of writing is in good hands. Ranging from poetic plates to fairy-tales turned on their head, multi-vocal poetry performances to a guide of "How to be an Award Winning Boyfriend", the event was a success. If talent was a tangible thing, the walls of Clephan 2.29 would be breaking open due to the sheer amount within it.

Beforehand, I must admit, I was afraid that all the pieces would be pretty much the same thing. Thankfully I was proved wrong. There were vast differences between the pieces of work, and each one was uniquely important to the writer. Clearly a lot of effort (and money) had been put into them. There were also so many angles to the different pieces of work, some of them purely humorous or entertaining, others tackling serious issues, like discrimination against homosexuals.

I feel I can speak for all the first year Creative Writers when I say "Oh god, I hope I can live up to that."

Sarah Kate Beckett

Looking to the future

The publication launch by Demon Crew undergraduates was a ‘last but not the least’ occasion in my week at Cultural eXchanges.

I was amazed at the amount of talent these third year Creative Writing students had, especially since I'm a first year on the same course.

The wide range of mediums students used to showcase their publications was intriguing. They ranged from short story and poetry pamphlets, mix and match playing cards, and whole websites, to mugs as witnesses, poem bags and podcasts as virtual tours from the past. I was always left wondering what the next person to read would present to us.

It was a very enriching experience for me as it really got me thinking of the many possible publication ideas I may wish to use in my final year. I thoroughly enjoyed the occasion and it was a great end to my Cultural eXchanges week.


Maryam Sameja

Demon Crew launch spectacular

The Demon Crew Launch was a smorgasbord of Creative Writing delights to tickle and tantalise your literary taste buds. Honestly, if you missed it, you really did miss out.

Will Buckingham’s warm welcome and the audience’s rapturous applause throughout gave the event an amazing vibe. The range of work displayed by the Third Year CREW students was awesome and inspiring. We were actively encouraged to read, look, touch, feel and talk so that the whole experience was fun and informative.

Creations ranged from traditionally printed pamphlets, to more unusual writing forms: a deck of playing cards, in which each card contained a 52-word story, a fun Poetry Generator with 10,000 possible poetic combinations and a series of posters that packed a powerful message. Nimble-fingered students created poetry on bags and clothing. Stories adorned plates, napkins and even mugs. Podcasts, websites, ebooks and an EP of original songs were offered by the more technologically and musically intelligent students. A wide range of media were employed to great effect and it was obvious from the high quality of writing, that it had been crafted with much love, enthusiasm and passion, which is a credit to both the Creative Writing staff and their students.


Sparkles

Demon Crew and proud of it

The room was bustling as excited students with proud tutors and organisers greeted us for the Demon Crew Creative Writing Launch.

The Demon Crew Launch is a chance for DMU's own third year students to exhibit and read their own work, which today was full of inspiring ideas.

Will Buckingham (Senior Creative Writing Lecturer at DMU) introduced each writer in turn and they had two minutes to introduce their piece and offer some background if they wished.

Pieces ranged from poetry on plates, clothing, bags, a deck of cards, to already successful e-books, and from crime fiction to music websites.

Although the whole the Launch lasted two hours my concentration and enthusiasm never faltered as the creativity of all of the pieces and the humility of their creators kept me listening.


Celia Wilding

Cultural Overview

Well what a fantastic week! I think I speak for everyone who attended Cultural eXchanges in saying that it was an excellent experience. A big well done to the Faculty of Humanities - and especially the Arts Management staff and students - for all their hard work and effort!

Personally, my highlight of the week is split between the Postgraduate students and the Demon Crew presentations. Both set of students did a superb job of showcasing their work, and the standard was incredible. It made me excited about the next two years I have at De Montfort University.

The Postgraduates taking Creative Writing had the ambition to go far and the quality of the writing to make this possible. Their passion for their work really came across.

The Demon Crew student publication launch was packed and we were treated to cakes, biscuits, sweets and drink. The work ranged from poetry, short stories, scripts, magazines, prints etc. There were quite a few pieces intergrating social technology, keeping writing modern which was very smart. All the students presented their pieces in distinctive ways, either using humour or strange props that reflected their pieces. Overall a brilliant event.

Of course Blake Morrison was great to watch. It's always nice to see an author perform their work. The same could be said for Sean Bonney and Maggie O'Sullivan. I was glad that I went out of my Writing-English comfort zone with the 60x60 concert, experiencing music as well.

On the final note I have to say I am looking forward to Cultural eXchanges 2012 already! If you didn't have the chance this year, make sure you come along next year!

A Degree of Creativity

When you're being served apple juice in a wine glass, you know you're in for a treat. And I'm not just talking about the selection of toffee eclairs, cupcakes and - Will Buckingham's personal favourite - pink shrimps, that were on offer.

Demon Crew's Student Publications Launch at Cultural Exchanges showcased some of the finest work produced by the Universities third year students. With a wide selection of performances on offer - poems on puzzles, post-it notes and in concrete form, audio performances from radio to song, not forgetting extracts of prose and general talks about the publication process - the turn-out was tremendous.

Each performer was received heartily by the crowded audience and the atmosphere was buzzing with electricity. The Creative Writing team (Kathleen Bell, Will Buckingham, Simon Perril and Johnathan Taylor) have clearly built a great rapport with their students across the board; humour, jibes and jabs were well-receive.

Laughs aside, the event was a great success and, for me personally, an insight to my future. As a first year student, I attended the event with certain expectations. These were surpassed; beyond any doubt each piece performed was a credit to the creative staff at De Montfort University and a to the high level its students have achieved.

Cultural Exchanges is one of De Montfort's biggest yearly events and already I look forward to the next one for more 'posh' apple juices, free cakes and hopefully a pink shrimp or two, if I can get there before Will! And I'm also looking forward to more performances and inspiring works from DMU's most talented creative writers.


(Thanks to Pamela Hallam & Alex Bliss for the authorising use of the photo above.)


Holly Hookway

Free Biscuits! now that I've got your attention ...

You know you've had a truly inspiring day when you can't get your thoughts in order for your next creative piece. Having experienced some of the work of twenty-three of De Montfort University's third year students I feel far more motivated than I have in some time to sit and simply write.

Today I learnt that I've been taking the creative side of creative writing for granted. Ordinarily I would sit down, pen and paper in hand, and write prose. I'd never before considered using post-it notes or jigsaw puzzles, let alone printing T-shirts as a medium for my words - until now, that is.

The collection of works at the Demon Crew publication event was truly inspirational for the mixed audience of university students, fellow writers and the general public. I feel this event has opened my eyes to new realms of possibilities just waiting to be explored, and I can't wait to get started.

And did I mention there were free biscuits?


Samantha Inglis

Eclairs! Where?

Arriving at the Demon Crew launch bleary-eyed, I was surprised at just how many people had turned up for the event. It was packed.

Ten minutes in and I was rather pleased I had dragged myself out into the unexpected cold - I had found something to aim for. In two years time I'll be one of those students, presenting a final year publication project. I can't yet grasp that fact just yet, they're work is at such a high and imaginative standard, a standard that seems quite distant to me. Jigsaws, post-it notes, T-shirts, concrete poetry - surely my slurring brain would never conjure up such things?

The more I watched and listened though, the more I realised something. These ideas and pieces hadn't come to their writers overnight; they had worked hard and edited harder to get their work to the standard it is. Two years ago, they probably sat in a blue plastic seat and thought, 'I can't do that!' whilst stealing chocolate eclairs, just like me.


Terri Baker

Something to look forward to

The Demon Crew Creative Writing Launch was probably one of the most inspirational events that I have attended. Twenty-three students read from their work or discussed the process of writing in just two hours.

The themes varied from dating tips to loss. Some pieces made the audience laugh and one almost brought me to tears.

It surprised me how much I could relate to some of the things that had been written. I had thought that there would be a huge difference in themes and issues between first year and third year students, but I recognised many of the topics that were discussed.

One writer spoke about the difference in accents and displayed it on T-shirts. I found myself nodding in agreement to the things she said about having an accent that is different to the majority.

One piece that really stood out for me was the collection of poems written on post-it-notes. I had never thought of doing poetry in that way; it is definitely something that I would like to try out.

We were shown so many different ways of writing and presenting work - so many ideas for our own future experiments.


Leonni Secondino

The Demon Crew dazzle in launch

Today, I looked into the future . . . well, sort of. As the final year Creative Writing students presented their projects, I saw what I'd be doing in two year's time. And I was intimidated.

DMU lecturer Jonathan Taylor kicked off the event by introducing the group, who then took a few minutes each to share their ideas, and read from their work. Each student expressed their ideas with clarity and confidence, and I was impressed with the variety of publications: poetry, short prose, radio drama - even a jigsaw puzzle!

It was clear that every writer had put time and effort into their work, and had come up with interesting, modern ideas. Copies of the projects were displayed around the room, giving the audience a chance to have a closer look.

The event ended with a talented acoustic performance by Morton Piercewright, and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I wish all the students good luck in the coming months, and success for the future.

Lauren Simmonds

Well done, class of 2010!

After the initial embarrassment of walking into the wrong lecture theatre, I managed to fine the right room for the Student Publication Launch. Most of the final year Creative Writing students lookws more nervous than I need to say.

I wasn't looking forward to it. Two hours seemed far too long to sit down and listen to other people talk about their work. Little did I know what a treat was in store for me.

After a short introduction from Jonathan Taylor the first group took to the podium. No doubt their stomachs dropped as they faced the audience of around 60. But what a marvellous job they did. Jordan Bacon, Tom Haymes and Rob Cotterell started the launch with a bang and soon got the audience in fits of giggles as they interpreted the language of the north for the benefit of southerners.

Highlights of the second half included T-shirts for dogs to raise money for charity. Good thinking Alexia Polemidioti, but I have to agree with Jonathan Taylor that there should be a range for cats too. There was also ia rather raunchy, graphic but humorous poem from Simone Byer and a website from Lauren O’Brien, who combined fashion and writing with fascinating results.

I’m left with a heavy feeling in my stomach from the realisation that at this point in two years I’ll be standing up there - most definitely quivering like a leaf and crying for my Mother. It was an outstanding event and I can’t deny that all deserve recognition for their hard work over the past three years.

Well done, class of 2010!

Natalia Chrystalla Boileau

How awful!

As I sat watching the third-year, soon-to-be-gone creative writing students discuss their work, it was difficult to think that I and my fellow first years would also inevitably have to face this daunting task at some point too.

How awful.

The third years had produced all sorts of publications, from menus to poetry books, websites, short stories, table mats and even dog T-shirts. One by one they told us why they chose to do their pieces and made it seem almost simple.

All the time my cowardly self was thinking, "Jolly good - but rather you than me standing up there." Yet most of the students seemed calm and genuinely proud to be showing their work.

I only hope that in around two years time I'll feel that way - and that the years don't go too quickly.

Leigh Connelly

More than a bunch of readings

I attended the creative writing launch, to check out what I'd be doing in two years time, and wasn't sure what to expect - maybe just a bunch of readings?

But, no it was actually really good, and I was impressed by everyone! To think that will be me, not too far in the future, is scary!

There was a strong sense of creativity in the pieces and the way they were presented. It was obvious the whole group was passionate about writing.

Some of the highlights in the session were Claire Baldwin's Japanese poetry on postcards, Simone Byer who gave a strong reading of her poem "It's been a while", Tom Gray's poetry on wooden blocks (different, but it worked really well), Becki Griffiths' fantastic website based around women's views about getting older, Jennifer Jumbo's poetry based on her religion, George Martin and his professional-looking website, Tom Newport's placemat poetry, not to mention the dog T-shirts... a little bizarre, but really funny and with a good message.

The huge array of different ideas, both in terms of presentation and ideas was fantastic, and gave me lots of ideas to think about. It was definitely the highlight of cultural exchanges so far!


Gemma Carey

Launching the Demon Crew

The Demon Crew Launch was definitely not what I was expecting. I feared some boring, normal readings or monotonous droning, but was really impressed with how much work had gone into all of the pieces - not to mention the pure guts it must have taken to stand up there and read and show their own work. There was quite a range: postcards, train tracks, websites ... even doggy t-shirts.

Not only was all the work of an exceptional standard, the students were all great performers. They really knew how to work the audience so that we were laughing when they wanted us to, and silent and thoughtful when that was needed.

I only hope they haven’t set the bar too high for when I get to that stage in a few years time. I’m starting to practise my cues now.


Rachel Robson

Next, my Japanese T-shirt website

On Thursday morning all the final-year students studying Creative Writing showcased their work at DMU's Cultural Exchanges week. I have to say, I was seriously impressed. This was no bog-standard poetry/prose reading. We saw everything from writing on the body, to dog T-shirts and D-I-Y poetry on wooden blocks.

The dedication, passion and imagination of the students was infectious, and somehow I came away wanting to create a Japanese poem on a t-shirt with a website on the back.

Who knew creative writers could be so... well, creative?


Naomi Marcus