{"id":15,"date":"2011-11-29T23:44:59","date_gmt":"2011-11-29T23:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/?page_id=15"},"modified":"2011-12-16T00:40:42","modified_gmt":"2011-12-16T00:40:42","slug":"work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/work\/","title":{"rendered":"Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I write in a range of genres, but mainly poetry and fiction. The scripting work I\u00a0have done for radio so far has been facilitated by two producers &#8211; Vibeke Venema and Aasiya Lodhi of the BBC &#8211; who helped me understand the requirements of radio and spent a lot more time than they should have going over my work with me. Vibeke&#8217;s work with me paid off handsomely, with pick of the week selections from both the Guardian and the BBC.<\/p>\n<p>My philosophy as a writer is that talent and desire come first; form is secondary. I am always happy to learn and take on new challenges. My work as an editor and curator is very different from my work as a writer and lecturer, but I find that the variances constantly stimulate me to look at things from endlessly new perspectives. If you have something in mind, the best thing to do would be to <a title=\"Contact Nii\" href=\"http:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/contact\/\">contact me<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><ul id='GTTabs_ul_15' class='GTTabs' style='display:none'>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_0_15' class='GTTabs_curr'><a  id=\"15_0\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Workshops'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Workshops<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_1_15' ><a  id=\"15_1\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Talks'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Talks<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_2_15' ><a  id=\"15_2\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Panels'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Panels<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_3_15' ><a  id=\"15_3\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Lectures'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Lectures<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_4_15' ><a  id=\"15_4\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Curating'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Curating<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_5_15' ><a  id=\"15_5\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Judging'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Judging<\/a><\/li>\n<li id='GTTabs_li_6_15' ><a  id=\"15_6\" onMouseOver=\"GTTabsShowLinks(' Gallery (at Work)'); return true;\"  onMouseOut=\"GTTabsShowLinks();\"  class='GTTabsLinks'> Gallery (at Work)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs GTTabs_curr_div' id='GTTabs_0_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Workshops<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>I have run workshops for several schools and organisations, including the Arvon Foundation (where I have taught poetry and fiction), Spread the Word (where, as an industry expert, I have run sessions on the fine points of editing and submissions for practising authors) and English PEN. I have also led workshops in universities as far afield as the USA and the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_1_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Talks<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>My talks generally centre around writing (with a particular focus on hybridity) and cultural issues. My literary foundations are West African. I read mainly work from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia while growing up. The rhythm, structure and standards of realism of many of the stories I was told influence my work and &#8211; by extension &#8211; the way I read. Of course, Ghana being an ex-Western colony, I\u00a0read perhaps more Western fiction than the average Western child has to read, and though I\u00a0didn&#8217;t feel deep connections with a lot of the work, it left traces of itself in my psyche. In my talks I reflect these effects on the audience to emphasise the importance of reading with an awareness of one&#8217;s grounding and I explore the latent political implications of the &#8216;position&#8217; from which one engages with culture.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_2_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Panels<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Much of my panel work is literature-based, but I have also participated in radio panels such as BBC Radio 3&#8217;s 2005 Nightwaves programme on Myth alongside Margaret Atwood and A.S. Byatt, which focused more on the mythology and culture. I was a co-judge with Juliette Mitchell (Penguin), Peter Straus (Rogers, Coleridge &amp; White), Caroline McCarthy (The Literary Consultancy) and Ellah Allfrey (Random House)on the panel for Spread the Word&#8217;s Novel Pitch in 2009. In my work as an editor I have contributed as a panellist at several events, including the Scottish Universities Insight Institute&#8217;s series on Cultural Policy and Independent Publishing.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_3_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Lectures<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>I lecture in creative writing as well as editing. In creative writing, my open lectures tend to relate to my main areas of exploration as a writer &#8211; the <em>reinterpretation of language<\/em> (which I\u00a0approach through voice in fiction and juxtaposition in poetry),<em> micro-cultural conflicts<\/em>\u00a0(the idea that the smallest difference in constitution creates conflict such that a man at 5.00pm is in cultural conflict with himself at 5.02pm the same day), and\u00a0<em>power<\/em>\u00a0(how it is used, adapted, carried etc.). Other recurring themes are the ideas that,\u00a0<em>love is irreversible<\/em>,\u00a0<em>family is inescapable<\/em>\u00a0and that\u00a0<em>capitalism and humanism are in constant opposition<\/em>. I do however lecture to fit within a course structure when required.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_4_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Curating<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>I am the founding curator of the African Writers&#8217; Evening in London and related events such as AWE: NY and the African Book Market at the Free Word Centre. I also curated aromapoetry and the Borders Charing Cross poetry programme for 6 years. My shorter run events include Outdooring, a platform for writers to share unreleased work, where the likes of Chris Cleave and Hisham Matar read from their first novels before they were released, and the National Theatre-commissioned Bringing the House Down, which was the best-selling spoken word showcase in the UK for two years running. I currently guest curate the poetry reading series for the Baobab Cultural Center in Rochester, New York and I will be curating a section of the Pop Up Children&#8217;s Festival in London in 2012.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_5_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Judging<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>My work as both writer and editor means I am always judging writing in some capacity. I have been a judge for London Arts Board and the Arvon Foundation and I was an inaugural judge for the Golden Baobab Prize (for writing for children in Africa). I am a member of the panel of judges for the 2011\/2012 Commonwealth Prize.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n\n<div class='GTTabs_divs' id='GTTabs_6_15'>\n<span class='GTTabs_titles'><b> Gallery (at Work)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\r\n\t\t<style type='text\/css'>\r\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\r\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\r\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\r\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\r\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\r\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\r\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\r\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t<\/style>\r\n\t\t<!-- see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php -->\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-15 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail gallery1'><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n\/\/ <![CDATA[\r\n\tjQuery(document).ready(function () {\r\n\t\tjQuery(\".gallery1 a\").attr(\"rel\",\"gallery1\");\t\r\n\t\tjQuery('a[rel=\"gallery1\"]').colorbox({maxWidth:\"95%\", maxHeight:\"95%\",title: function(){ return jQuery(this).children().attr(\"alt\"); }, });\r\n\t});\r\n\/\/ ]]>\r\n<\/script>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/cebu_009-590x434.jpg\" title=\"Lecturing at Cebu Normal University\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/cebu_009-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"Lecturing at Cebu Normal University\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption94\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">Lecturing at Cebu Normal University<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Giving a lecture on how reading aloud influences (and should influence) the dynamics of poetic line and structure.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/cebu_050-590x442.jpg\" title=\"After the lecture\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/cebu_050-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"After the lecture\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption95\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">After the lecture<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Posing with students after Nov 2011 lecture at Cebu Normal University<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/niireads_figura1-590x393.jpg\" title=\"reading at Norwich Millennium Library\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/niireads_figura1-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"reading at Norwich Millennium Library\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption96\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">reading at Norwich Millennium Library<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Reading at Norwich Millennium Library as part of the 2010 Norwich Summer Reads Programme. Photo by Martin Figura<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels2_nii.jpg\" title=\"reading in Brussels\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels2_nii-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"reading in Brussels\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption97\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">reading in Brussels<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Giving a bilingual French\/English reading in Brussels<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/compere_sky.jpg\" title=\"Is everybody happy?\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/compere_sky-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"Is everybody happy?\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption98\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">Is everybody happy?<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Hosting local council event in West London in 2005<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC04327-590x442.jpg\" title=\"live at Trafalgar Square\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC04327-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"live at Trafalgar Square\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption99\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">live at Trafalgar Square<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Performing at a live showcase in Trafalgar Square, London in 2002<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/po_n_mo.jpeg\" title=\"Host with the...\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/po_n_mo-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"Host with the...\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption100\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">Host with the...<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Hosting live music and poetry showcase at Poetry n Motion (2004)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/poland_live-590x442.jpg\" title=\"Slamming\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/poland_live-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"Slamming\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption101\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">Slamming<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">At a poetry slam in Poland (circa 2004)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/story11-590x442.jpg\" title=\"Telling Tales\" rel=\"gallery1\" rel=\"wp-prettyPhoto[g15]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-content\/uploads\/story11-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"Telling Tales\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/dt><dd class=\"gallery-caption\" id=\"caption102\"><span class=\"imagecaption\">Telling Tales<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"imagedescription\">Storytelling session for primary school kids in London. (Possibly 2007)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>jQuery(document).ready(function() { if(GTTabs_getCookie('GTTabs_15')) GTTabs_show(GTTabs_getCookie('GTTabs_15'),15); });<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I write in a range of genres, but mainly poetry and fiction. The scripting work I\u00a0have done for radio so far has been facilitated by two producers &#8211; Vibeke Venema and Aasiya Lodhi of the BBC &#8211; who helped me understand the requirements of radio and spent a lot more time than they should have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":97,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"work.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90,"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15\/revisions\/90"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/niiparkes.com\/open\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}