Fifteensquared

Update 12/4/2013

The second Crossword Masterclass will take place in London on Saturday 13 July 2013. We’ll have the use of an easily accessible room on University College’s leafy main quadrangle off Gower Street, where lunch will be brought to us and there’ll exquisite coffee, fruit and other goodies available all day. I’m looking forward to a stimulating class, with a group of people representing a range of experience, from self-confessed dabblers to those who are starting to have their work published. I hope you’ll join us, and learn a lot about compiling from me and from each other.

Date: Saturday 13 July 2013. Time: 09:30 to 16:00

Venue: UCL South Wing, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

Accessibility Our room is on the ground floor, and is fully accessible to wheeled persons

Transport: By tube to Euston Square, Warren Street, Euston or Russell Square

By bus number 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134 or 390 to Gower Street or Warren Street

Full details from: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/find-us/public-transport

Cost £160 including lunch, coffee and snacks.

For full details and to book your place, go to: http://www.boatmancryptics.co.uk/index_files/CrosswordMasterclasses.html

There are also still a couple of places available on the Brighton masterclass, set for Saturday 8 June 2013, but act now if you’d like to spend a day by the sea!

If you can’t get to either the London or Brighton class, I’ll set up more classes further afield, wherever I know there’s a group of aspiring setters who’d like to come to them. If that describes you, please let your friends know and put them in touch with me, so that I know where to look.

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Update 17/3/2013

I’m now taking bookings for the first of my Crossword Masterclasses for aspiring setters, which will take place in Brighton on Saturday 8 June 2013.

We’ll have the use of a quiet, airy room in the charming Friends’ Meeting House in the historic centre of Brighton, where lunch will be provided by one of our characterful local cafes and there’ll be exquisite coffee, fruit and other goodies available all day.

The idea is that the class will provide a route into the world of professional setting, combining essential information about compiling techniques, requirements for publication and the use of software with discussion of issues such as quality and fairness, developing a style and managing the creative process.

I’m looking forward to a stimulating day, with a group of people representing a range of experience from relative newcomers to those who are nearly ready to have their work published. There’ll be an opportunity for students to present their own work in progress for constructive criticism and individual advice, and the whole day will cost £150, including lunch, drinks and snacks.

Whether you’re just starting out as a compiler, considering submitting work for publication or simply wish to develop a talent for your own satisfaction, I hope you’ll join us, and learn a lot about compiling from me and from the other participants.

For more details and to book your place, please follow this link:

http://www.boatmancryptics.co.uk/index_files/CrosswordMasterclasses.html

Date: Saturday 8 June 2013

Time: 09:30 to 16:00

Venue: Brighton Friends’ Meeting House,  Ship Street ,  Brighton  BN1 1AF

Accessibility: Our room is at the top of a flight of stairs. If you think you may have difficulty negotiating them, please contact me to discuss the options.

Transport: By bus to North Street ,  10 minute walk from Brighton Railway Station:

http://www.brightonquakers.co.uk/about-the-building-2/map-directions

Parking one minute away in the Lanes (Bartholomew Square) car park. Cheaper parking by park & ride from Withdean:

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1000782

Don’t worry if you can’t get down to Brighton, or if you’re busy on the day – I’ll be arranging a date in London later in the year, and I’ll set up more classes further afield, wherever I know there’s a group of aspiring setters who’d like to come to them. If that describes you, please drop me a line, then let your friends know and put them in touch with me, so that I know in which parts of the country to look.

Boatman

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Boatman has asked me to post the following on his behalf:

I’m thinking of running Masterclasses for aspiring setters, starting in London or Brighton and then looking further afield.

The idea is that the classes will provide a route into the world of professional setting, combining essential information about compiling techniques, requirements for publication and the use of software with discussion of issues such as quality and fairness, developing a style and managing the creative process.

Each class will include an opportunity for students to present their own work in progress for constructive criticism and individual advice, and the whole day will cost in the region of £150 (perhaps slightly more in London), including lunch.

I’d like to hear from anyone who thinks they might be interested, whether they’re just starting out as a compiler, considering submitting work for publication or simply wish to develop a talent for their own satisfaction. The more feedback I can get at this stage, the more closely I can tailor the classes to suit what people want.

This link contains more details and a way to get in touch.