Society of Medical Writers

Patron – Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE President Prof Brian W McGuinness

somw.org.uk

Newsletter 24 / June 2015

Chairman: / Dr Dorothy Crowther / / Corner Croft Lonsties KESWICK Cumbria CA12 4TD
Finance Officer: / Dr Anne Barrett / / 23 Blenheim Way, MORETON in the Marsh GL56 9NA
Secretary: / Mrs Irene Ranner / / 8 All Saints Way Beachamwell SWAFFHAM Nfk PE37 8BT
Editor / Dr Neil Wilson / / The Old Vicarage, The Brow, Lothersdale KEIGHLEY BD20 8EQ
Competition Secretary / Dr Moira Brimacombe / / 10, BroadElmsLane, Sheffield S119RQ

Dear Fellow Writers

Because of a hospital appointment I arrived late for The Spring conference at the Art Workers Guild but what a friendly atmosphere and joyful occasion it was. Several new members were very welcome; it was lovely to see everyone. Many of us learned a new poetic format, a clerihew, more in the journal about that I believe. We look forward to welcoming people to the Academic Writing School at Apothecaries Hall in July (3rd) and our annual conference in Sheffield, 2nd – 4thOctober. I recommend both these events. Dorothy Crowther (Chairman)

somw / nltr 24 / June 2015

Winter 2014 Writing Competition. Congratulations to all the winners, as listed below. Winning entries will be published, as usual, in the next journal:

Short Stories:1stRichard Westcott; Joint 2ndOliver Eade; Commended Chris Madoc-Jones, Julian Randall & Paula Lawrence.

Poetry: 1stTeresa Black; 2ndRichard Westcott; Commended Chris Cameron, Keith Tattum, Richard Westcott & Garrett Igoe

Non-Fiction; 1stSuresh Pathak; 2ndCharmian Goldwyn; Commended Richard Westcott, Harold Selcon, Chris Madoc-Jones & Julian Randall

Spring Conference 2015, was held on Wednesday 8th April at the Art Workers Guild, London.This event,organised by Dr Mary Anderson,proved to be a popular occasion attended by some twenty delegates. Report in next journal.

Bacon Student Award 2015: entries now being accepted– details on the website or contact: Dr Richard Cutler, 30 Dollis Hill Lane, LONDON NW2 6JE. Tel: 0208 450 7991

Irish Medical Writers: For detailscontact Colin Kerr: or see their website.

Society of Apothecaries, Faculty of History Philosophy. The possibleliaisonof the SOA ( with SOMW continues to be discussed.

A joint meeting on ‘Academic Writing’will be held onthe morning of Friday 3rdJuly 2015 at the Society of Apothecaries, Black Friars Lane, LONDON EC4V 6EJ.Full details and booking details per attached information sheet. For more information contact: John Lockley -

NEW – SOMW Poetry Forum……enclosed with this mailing : Details & Rules. Contact Raymond Hume for more details:

Future Conference plans:

Autumn Conference & AGM 2015; Sheffield, 2nd – 4thOctober –programme & booking form attached. AGM agenda Committee nomination form also enclosed.

Reminders –

The Writing Competition. Please send Summer 2015 entries to the Competition Secretary, Moira Brimacombe, as soon as is practicable, but at the latest by30th July; entries for Winter 2015 by 30th January 2016. Please note that the entry fees have been changed: £7.50 for a single entry and £5.00 for each additional entry. Entry form enclosed with this newsletter or can be downloaded from the website. Non-members can now submit entries, so please encourage fellow writers whom you know to send in their work.

The Writer –Submissions for publication to the Editor, Neil Wilson, as soon as possible. Send text in Word (*.doc or *.docx) format pictures in JPEG (*jpg) format. Single spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font please.

SPECIAL NOTE: Submission dates have been tightened to give the editorial team more time. These are now - January copy- end November; July copy -end May.

Address / email changes. It has been noted that there are several anomalies in various listings held by SOMW. Please ensure that ALL changes are sent through the Treasurer, Ann Barrett, in order that the master database is correct. This applies in particular to email address changes.Hopefully we shall be usingelectronic communication more often in the future as the cost of posting paperwork is getting more expensive.We cannot communicate with you if you don’t tell us!!!!

Website (somw.org.uk) Do look at this to see what is currently happening within the Society and feel free to contact folk via its links.A volunteer is urgently needed to help with design & maintenance of this.

Press & Publicity Officer for the SOMW. Would you or a colleague be interested in ‘volunteering’ for such a post? Contact Secretary for details.

Visit our Facebook site.another communication option for members

ISBN numbers – 9 @ £15.00 each still available to anyone, not just SOMW members:- contact Mary

Anderson .

SOMW Listserver To become a member of this, email Membership is entirely at your discretion. If you join don’t like the experience you can leave at any time.

somw / nltr 24 / June 2015