Literary artists spread the word

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By Alexis Akwagyiram BBC News

The London Literature Festival, which finishes this weekend, is an opportunity to celebrate not only the written word, but also the spoken word. Fledgling writer Steven Camden is one of those trying to help people develop a love for words.

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Literary artist Polarbear in action on stage

To fans of the UK's burgeoning spoken word scene, Steven Camden is Polarbear.

Three years ago the idea of being a headline act at an internationally-renowned literary festival would have reduced him to laughter. It would have been ludicrous.

But now, at 29, the writer - whose big break came when a power cut at a gig where he was rapping forced him to perform a capella - will be doing exactly that at the London Literature Festival.

He will be performing his hour-long monologue, If I Cover My Nose You Can't See Me, which weaves together the seemingly disparate stories of a 28-year-old man stuck in a dead-end office job and a 10-year-old boy who struggles to differentiate between imagination and reality.

Like much spoken word, his performances combine poetry, theatre and live graphics. Other performers work with a musical accompaniment, but all artists within the genre attempt to deliver their words in an engaging style.

'Paid to talk'

"Spoken word is an immediate way to share a story - it's one person standing in front of a group of people and taking them on a journey with words," Camden says of his love for a literary style which has outgrown its roots as an off-shoot of the UK's underground hip-hop scene.

"It's all about your point of view. One person may think a piece of work is amazing, but others might think it's terrible. Also, it's a bit crazy being paid to talk," he said.

But there is a less glamorous side to the work done by the Birmingham-born writer.

He is one of several artists who use their unconventional presentation of stories to promote reading by working in conjunction with schools and local authorities to arrange workshops.

Our work has proven social and creative benefits, including reducing crime, improving self-confidence and self-expression Geraldine CollingeApples & Snakes

"It's important to get someone writing about themselves. We get few opportunities to write about ourselves and it's cathartic. People often surprise themselves," says Polarbear of the average three days a week he spends in workshops, during which participants write poetry, short stories and, sometimes, just their thoughts.

"I hope they're inspired so that they don't think writing is just something that happens at school."

Reading abilities among UK children have been edging up over the last few years, with 84% of 11-year-olds achieving the required standards last year.

But, earlier this month, Children's Laureate Michael Rosen said ministers were making a "big mistake" by not putting enough emphasis on reading for pleasure and criticised a "tests and targets" culture.

Adult literacy is also a pressing issue.

A recent National Audit Office report revealed that, in England, 56% of adults have literacy skills below the level of a good GCSE.

Writing projects cater for a wide range of people from children to jail inmates

But what, if anything, can writers do to alleviate these problems?

Since the early 1990s, Apples & Snakes - England's leading performance poetry organisation - has arranged workshops in schools, prisons, hospitals, youth centres and libraries to develop literacy and communication skills.

Geraldine Collinge, the organisation's director, is convinced that the work of writers provides an invaluable service for young people "particularly within those who are not traditional learners", whom the National Curriculum and mainstream institutions may not be able to reach.

She says: "We focus on developing long-term projects with young people as collaborators, participants, artists and audience - particularly those at risk and from disadvantaged backgrounds."

She says they often give young people the chance to produce writing that "reflects their experiences within their community".

Many writers say their work can provide a creative outlet

"Our work has proven social and creative benefits, including reducing crime, improving self-confidence and self-expression, providing the building blocks of literacy and providing positive role models," she says.

Her observations were echoed by writer Roger Robinson, 40, who has spent the last 15 years combining his work with workshops involving young people in an array of locations, from a six-month stint as writer-in-residence at a city academy, to work with young offenders and excluded schoolchildren.

"Every artist has a responsibility to teach. By teaching, I'm fulfilling my social contract. When I teach, the youngsters find a key to their emotional development," he says, adding with pride that he recently learnt that a former pupil is now a full-time writer.

"Just being creative helps young people to grow. I teach them to be confident with words and express themselves better, which provides a long-lasting form of confidence. If you can express yourself, the world is a different place."

Words have certainly made the world a different place for Steve Camden.

Summing up his thoughts on headlining a major literary festival, all he says is: "It's crazy to think people will pay to see a Brummie talking."

<i>Polarbear will perform at the London Literature Festival on Friday and Saturday in Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London. </i>