ABSOLUTE ZERO
***Please note the deadline for 2024 applications has now passed.***
Absolute Zero is a free year-long development programme led by me, Dr Anna Ploszajski, for writers of all styles and genres who want to experiment with writing about STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in their work. Think: crime fiction with a scientific sleuth, character-led narrative nonfiction, a comedy play set in a nuclear power station, poetic meditations on an AI-powered future…
I’m looking for folks who want to not only think outside the box when it comes to science writing, but put the box in a blender, pulp it, and re-form it into something entirely new.
Together, we’ll form a collective of 10ish like-minded friends who share a love for creativity and the written word. We’ll support each other to achieve our writing goals, hold each other to account, and lift each other up through the slog. Writers of all styles and genres are welcome; from long-form narrative nonfiction to comics.
What does it involve?
Being part of the Absolute Zero Collective involves:
- Committing to your personal writing practice
- Providing peer feedback at weekly ‘writing group’ style online sessions
- Creating work that adds to the collective’s collective output
To be part of the group, you will be expected to contribute to our joint body of work, a public record of how we’re experimenting with the form. Our outputs will be decided by the group, but might be all or a combination of:
- A podcast of readings of our writing
- A blog or published zine of our writing
- Live performance evenings of our writing (spoken word, theatre etc)
- Short- or long-form videos for YouTube and/or social media
- Other ideas that you bring to the table
You’ll also be supported with your personal writing goals, and we’ll help you gain access to the publishing industry and other industry professionals such as agents, editors, content creators and commissioners, if that’s one of your writing objectives.
How can i apply?
Please note the deadline for applications has now passed.
To be eligible for the programme, you will:
- Be a writer of narrative nonfiction, novels, flash fiction, short stories, poetry, screenplays, theatre plays, lyrics, musicals, comics or anything else I haven’t thought of
- Be passionate about communicating STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) concepts in writing (but you don’t need a formal STEM background to apply)
- Be based in or be willing to occasionally travel to London for meet-ups or gigs
- Not be earning the majority of your income from writing (unless you’re a journalist moonlighting as a poet or something)
- Be over 18 years old
In the application form, I’ll ask you:
- What have you written before?
- What do you want to write this year?
- What do you hope to get from the group?
- What will you uniquely bring to the group?
- (Optional) share the piece of writing or sample you’re most proud of (1000 words max)
The deadline has passed for 2024 applications.