As you may know, I am the Memoir Director of WhitLit, a new literary festival coming to Whitstable from May 8-11, 2014.
Here’s a full programme of events. During WhitLit our authors will be telling us some great stories. But we know that Whitstable has its own stories to tell. And that’s why I’ve launched the Whitstable MemMaps project.
Below you will find a simple map of our town. Please print the map and embellish it with your memories and stories of the town in any medium you like. You can use words, poetry, lyrics, art, photographs, doodles, and collage – there are no limits! You may wish to contribute memories of special occasions, relationships, significant moments in your life relating to family, friends, work, love and fun. We would like your stories about good and bad times in Whitstable in as much or as little detail as you wish, whether you are a local or a visitor and whether they are your own stories or ones you’ve been told. Your memories might match places on the map, or not. You can add your name or remain anonymous. You can contribute more than one MemMap.
Please scan and email your map to [email protected] or take it to:
The Whitstable Shop (WIT), 34 Harbour Street, Whitstable, CT5 1AJ
Whitstable Library, 32 Oxford Street, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1DD
Harbour Books, 21 Harbour Street, Whitstable, CT5 1AQ
Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre, 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1AF
More maps can also be collected from the above venues.
The completed maps will be seen
www.whitlit.co.uk
twitter.com/WhitstableLit
facebook.com/whitstableliteraryfestival
and examples displayed throughout town during the festival
I am hugely excited about the Whitstable MemMap project, which came about after I read an amazing book called Mapping Manhattan by Becky Cooper. Becky distributed blank maps of the Big Apple and the stories they unearthed were incredible from the simple and complex to the funny and the touching. I immediately thought that I would love to do the same for Whitstable and when I got involved with WhitLit, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. There are great stories everywhere and I’m expecting gems – tiny delicate gems and great, big flashy ones – from Whitstable. Do email me [email protected] or call me on 07710 721389 if you or someone you know needs assistance to complete a MemMap. You can tweet me @MarnieMemoirs. Please use the hashtags #MemMaps and #WhitLit.
On Saturday, April 12, WhitLit founder Victoria Falconer and I will be in town distributing MemMaps and WhitLit programmes. Do come and see us for a chat. We will be at the WIT in Harbour Street, outside Barclays in the High Street, and the library in Oxford Street throughout the day.
As part of WhitLit, on Friday, May 9, I am running a Write Your Own Memoir workshop. It’s at the library from 11am until 12.30pm and costs £5. To find out more about my company, Your Memoir, through which I help people write and print their memoirs, please visit my website. The Your Memoir Facebook page is here.
I am very grateful to Hope Fitzgerald, an artist and photographer from Faversham who kindly gave her time and expertise to create the Whitstable MemMap. You can tweet @HopeFitzgerald2.
We are also very grateful to the WIT for sponsoring the Whitstable MemMap project.
The Whitstable MemMap project was inspired by Mapping Manhattan by Becky Cooper.
