Words and Women, which supports and celebrates women writers has launched its own crowd-funding appeal to raise money for a new website and to support its growing success.

A voluntary organisation run by Lynne Bryan and Belona Greenwood in their spare time; they are seeking to raise £3,500 by the end of August 2017 and they are asking people to become supporters by offering small donations of £5 and £25.

In return for their generosity, £5 supporters will receive advance notice of events and competitions planned for 2018.  The supporter’s name will also appear on the sponsors’ page of a new 2018 publication, the Words & Women compendium.

Become a Super Supporter for £25 and that donor will receive advance notice of events and competitions planned for 2018.  The donor’s name will appear on the sponsors’ page of our new 2018 publication, the Words & Women compendium, and they will receive a free copy of the compendium which will be published on the 8th March, International Women’s Day. Their name will also be entered in a prize draw for a bumper selection of books by women writers, published in the UK.

The organisation which began as a simple reading event five years ago has gone on to host vibrant and eclectic reading events, make a film, hold a garden festival and commission new work. Supported by Arts Council East, About, gave four women writers the opportunity to produce new work for page and performance.  Last year, Rural Writes in partnership Norfolk Library and Information Service, mentored 30 women living in the countryside to produce an anthology of life writing. 2016’s fifth year celebration at Norwich Arts Centre featured not only great readings but the unique sound of Karen Reilly and the Neutrinos.

This year, the launch of Words and Women: Four saw a collaboration with local artists and Chalk Circle Theatre Company to present a week of happenings.  The organisation has gratefully received private sponsorship for its annual short prose competition from Hosking Houses Trust and Jill Dawson and Gold Dust Mentoring which meant it could offer a national prize to women over 40 and enhance the value of its regional prize. Belona Greenwood and Lynne Bryan were shortlisted for the Women In Publishing New Venture Award 2015 & 2016, for Saboteur Best One-Off Event 2015 and Best Anthology 2014.

Words and Women needs a website and investment in a virtual office.  It needs to generate sustainable income so it can continue to support and celebrate women writers at all stages of their careers and so it can provide mentoring for those voices who find it hard to get heard.

There are great plans for 2018: The Year of Publishing Women and the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in the UK. But Words and Women need your support!

For more information and to donate go to: www.wordsandwomennorwich.blogspot.co.uk