Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong

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Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong
Eds. Melanie Ho & Simon Overton
Hong Kong Writers Circle

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The Hong Kong Writers Circle has released its sixth anthology of some of Hong Kong's best English-language writing from the past year. Measurement: Sketches from Hong Kong probes into the different ways we measure our lives, examining not only the days and hours that pass, but the distances across countries, oceans and continents and the smaller moments in between.


From a right-angled triangle to a tall nose, from a break-up that never seems final to the last seven days of bachelorhood, Measurements illuminates both the significant and distinct moments in our passing lives.


Edited by Melanie Ho and SCC Overton, Measurements features some of Hong Kong's most exciting writers, including Jane Wallace, Ian Greenfield, Mike Bishop, Edmund Price, Ryan Harper and Shobha Nihalani.


The 36 fiction and non-fiction vignettes also play with length and form, with a selection of 250-word postcard stories, flash fiction pieces under 1,000 words and longer short stories, memoirs and essays. The collection also features the winners of the HKWC's Postcard and Flash Fiction competitions, with Greenfield taking the honours for his short take on a daily Hong Kong sport and Lorraine McLelland winning the Flash Fiction contest for her entry "Birthday".


Measurements is available at select Hong Kong bookstores and online at Paddyfield.com for $120. HKWC members can purchase the book for $65 by contacting Melanie Ho (melalho@gmail.com) or Simon Overton (sccoverton@gmail.com). If you are not a member and wish to join the Hong Kong Writers Circle contact Ryan at hongkongwriterscircle@gmail.com for membership information. American and British availability is scheduled for February, 2011 and will be available from leading wholesalers and on-line retailers.

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Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong

UPDATED in January 2011: Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong is now available from Paddyfield. 

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Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong
Eds. Melanie Ho & Simon Overton
Hong Kong Writers Circle

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We are very happy to say that Hong Kong Writers Circle's Measurements: Sketches from Hong Kong, edited by Melanie Ho and Simon Overton, is now published and is available for pre-Christmas order here. The book showcases the best creative works by HKWC members and is the sixth yearly anthology from the group.

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More information and updates about the publication will be made available presently.

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HKWC NOVEMBER WORKSHOP - THE CLICHE: 29 November

THE HONG KONG WRITERS' CIRCLE NOVEMBER WORKSHOP - THE CLICHE: 29 November, 2010

Just Write workshop will focus on the cliche, some of the ones you hate, some of the ones we hate and some of the ones that were used in Measurements, the 2010 HKWC anthology. No preparation is required, just RSVP your attendance to melalho@gmail.com or on the HKWC Facebook page.

Admission is free of charge for members and pay-what-you-can for non-members.

Just Write: The Cliché

Date: Monday, 29 November 2010

Time: 7.30 - 9.00 pm

Venue: Upstairs at The Fringe, Hong Kong

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Is Hong Kong a nurturing environment for writers?

What is it like being a writer in a place like Hong Kong? Is it a nurturing environment?

Is Hong Kong a nurturing environment for writers? Absolutely. You just need to open up yourself and participate. However, the city will not be nurturing if you hide in your cubical or apartment.

Hong Kong has so much going on: the Hong Kong Writers' Circle, established in 1991, continues to support local writers and the members of which founded or were and still are members of many other literary groups in Hong Kong; the University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong are offering Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing programmes; the Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society organises regular events open to the public and The Hong Kong International Literary Festival brings together local and international writers in March in October each year;¹ there are English publishers such as Chameleon Press, Haven Books, Proverse and Signal 8 Press; there are dedicated people who run regular poetry readings at Joyce Is Not Here, Kubrick and Peel Fresco Music Lounge and the group Poetry OutLoud has been around for a long time; there are English publications such as Muse Magazine and Culture that often cover literary elements. Of course, Asia Literary Review, Yuan Yang and Renditions consistently publish excellent creative works over the years.

Writers in the city should take the initiative and connect with other people. And I hope in some small ways Cha is helping foster an encouraging writing environment in Hong Kong as well.

Do check out the newly-launched Hong Kong English Literature Database, prepared by Professor Elaine Ho and her team of contributors from the School of English, the University of Hong Kong. The website contains a rich corpus of anglophone writing about Hong Kong; short summaries and critical comments on more than 100 titles are provided on the site. You can see here for a detailed introduction to the project. Also of relevance is the article "Language Policy, 'Asia's World City' and Anglophone Hong Kong Writing". 

See more questions and answers here. 
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¹Starting from 2012, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival will take place in October.

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