Creating audio anthologies from writing competitions is a recent endeavour. Having successfully published one on the Echoes.xyz app following the Sydney Gardens Tree Weekender in Bath in November 2021, Walk Listen Create have now teamed up with MK Lit Fest and The Parks Trust to bring a collaborative anthology of new writing to a different audience. The Soundwalk locates a growing collection of pieces of original writing in individual locations in Great Linford Manor Park, Stonepit Field and Stanton Low Park in Milton Keynes.

 

In 2022, Walk Listen Create ran a writing competition inviting people to submit poetry and stories of up to 250 words on the theme of “Walking Home”. They published a printed chapbook of the anthology and invited the authors to record themselves reading their work. Since then, they have reached out to MK Lit Fest to establish a collaborative project. The resulting audio anthology, available as a SoundWalk called Walking Home - Milton Keynes, draws on these existing audio recordings and incorporates:

 

• recordings of selected poems and short stories from MK Lit Fest’s MinK #1 and #2 printed  anthologies

• recordings of poems from the winners of The Parks Trust’s 2022 Poetry Competition.

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To hear these pieces, download the Echoes app and search for for "Walking Home - Milton Keynes". The map and player for the audio anthology will open immediately. You will get the best audio quality by using noise-cancelling headphones, but the headphones that come with your smartphone will be adequate.

 

The individual recordings are set to play automatically as you reach their linked locations (although you can turn off Autoplay within the app if you wish.) We recommend downloading the anthology if you'll be listening on the move, as a sufficient signal for streaming may not always be available outdoors. You can also play them on demand wherever you may be.  Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you.