Read Watch Play: Gothic Novel Jam

Read Watch Play is a library partnership focused on running themed online book, film, game, and music discussions every month. 

During July it is also running a creative online jam around the theme of the Gothic novel. It runs from 1st to 31st July 2018, and is being hosted on the itch.io website. 

(Mary Shelley's Frankenstein)

What is a jam? 

The idea of a jam like this is to create something (e.g. game, music, art) over a set period of time focused on a particular theme. Read on for more context about our own particular Gothic Novel Jam. 

Why We Chose the Gothic Novel theme 

2018 is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein and the birth of Emily Bronte, writer of Wuthering Heights. Both novels are key works in the Gothic novel genre. So it’s a perfect opportunity to run a Gothic novel themed challenge this year. 

How to participate 

To get involved in Gothic Novel Jam participants need to make something creative inspired by the Gothic novel genre. Then by the 31st July upload or share it on the itch.io Gothic Novel Jam site, which is being used to host the online event. 

To participate you will need to create an online account on the itch.io website. Entries can include stories, poetry, art, games, music, films, pictures, soundscapes, or any other type of creative media response – it’s only limited by your imagination. All work produced by participants will remain their copyright. Both individuals and teams can get involved. 

As part of the jam we also want you to use at least one of the out of copyright images on the British Library Flickr account as inspiration for your submission. They’re freely available for anyone to use. We’ve listed sets of British Library Flickr albums on the Gothic Novel Jam itch.io page which you might find particularly inspiring, including ghoulish scenes, crumbling castles, and stormy landscapes; as well as an atmospheric set of British Library sound files. 

Though the Gothic novel is the main theme, we’ll also be announcing a sub-theme at the launch of the jam on 1st July. 

If you’re on social media you can also follow the #GothNovJam hashtag to see what others are creating for the jam. 

In summary 

• Produce something creative inspired by the Gothic novel genre & the sub-theme.
• Use at least one copyright free image from the British Library Flickr account as inspiration. 
• Upload or share your entry on the itch.io Gothic Novel Jam page by 31st July 2018. 

We look forward to seeing your Gothic themed creations at the end of July. 

Visit the Gothic Novel Jam page for further details and updates (https://itch.io/jam/gothic-novel-jam). 

Gary Green (Surrey Libraries)