Dear Writerly Friends,
It's back to school, back to work, and back to more reasonable temperatures...Until it's too cold of course.
Here we are to kick off September with some writer wisdom, news from our writing community, and our latest round-up of upcoming opportunities for writers. |
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Here, we turn the spotlight on writers and the wisdom that keeps them going. In each feature, a writer shares the best advice they’ve ever received or the reason they return to the page, even on the hard days.
This month, author Jan Edwards reflects on what keeps her writing. |
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"As I enter my eight decade, why do I write is a question I still ask myself. It certainly isn’t for the money! I have sold dozens of short stories over the years, and have a number of novels out there, but I invariably kept a day job; especially in the early days. Many of those jobs have been book related it's true - bookseller, librarian, publishing assistant etc (when I wasn’t slaving for the family business) but day jobs nevertheless.
The short fiction I place in anthologies with main stream publishers in recent years have mostly been commissioned, which is both good and scary. I’m not a slow writer so much as a compulsive re-writer; invariably coerced into relinquishing manuscripts because the deadline is about to whoosh past in a fiery blur. It gets no better (possibly even worse) with novels and I never get away with less than half a dozen drafts before I am even vaguely satisfied with what I’ve produced.
Yet I continue to write, no matter how painfully, frustratingly, infuriatingly time-consuming that process frequently becomes. Why? For the simple reason that I love it."
Jan Edwards was a Master Locksmith, librarian, publishing assistant, bookseller, editor and other things she can’t recall off hand. She appears in over 60 fantasy, horror and crime anthologies. Her WW2 crime series, Bunch Courtney Investigations garnered an Arnold Bennett Book Prize. She belongs to both the Crime Writers Association and British Fantasy Society. |
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Bham Lit Fest: Tickets are selling Fast! |
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There is so much for writers to get involved with at Birmingham Literature Festival this October.
We have programmed writer workshops across many genres including non-fiction, poetry, playwriting, and on many topics including genre-blending, observation, merging fact and fantasy, style, layered narratives, and finding the way.
We have two walkshops taking place over the festival weekend, a free event for writers called The Journey to Publication on the Saturday morning and two open mic events for poets run by Verve on the Sunday.
You can join us as we inaugurate the new Birmingham Poet Laureate (and Birmingham Young Poet Laureate) at a special event which will feature poems performed by outgoing Poets Laureate as they hand over the roles.
Our festival writer-focused events and workshops tend to sell out so we advise you book early to avoid missing out. |
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Online Course - Last Chance to Book |
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| A 5 week online course introducing you to the art of writing true stories rooted in your lived experience.
The course runs on Tuesdays from 8th September - 6th October 2026, 19:00-21:00 BST
Taught by writer J B Smith.
Cost: £175. Bursaries available. |
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| Join Helen Cross this October to write a complete audio drama over five sessions.
These live, interactive online classes will introduce you to the industry and allow you to learn the skills necessary to write drama for BBC radio and podcasts!
The sessions will run on Tuesdays from 13th October - 10th November 2026 from 19:00-21:00 BST/GMT via Zoom.
Cost: £175. Bursaries available.
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Join us for a free afternoon of networking for emerging and established writers from across the West Midlands and beyond.
With guest speaker Peter Stones, Arts Council England. Hosted by Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands. Refreshments will be available.
Venue: Newcastle Library, Castle House, Barracks Rd, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL
Date/time: 28th November 2026, 11:00 - 12:30 GMT
Speaker Bio: Peter Stones is the Relationship Manager for Literature (Midlands) at Arts Council England. Peter has a keen interest in comics and graphic novels, AI, poetry and reader development. |
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Room 204 Writer Liz Hyder’s new young adult novel The Teller of Tall Tales, with illustrations by Tom de Freston, will be published by Pushkin Press on 22nd October.
A coming-of-age tale that explores the growing relationship between a young teenager and their estranged grandmother, it’s a book about family secrets, lies, and the power of stories to see us through the most challenging of times.
Hannah Gold, author of best-selling children’s book The Last Bear, called it “both timeless and contemporary… a book to treasure.”
To purchase the book, please visit here! |
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New Opportunities for Writers |
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We want to help creative writers in the region in as many ways as possible. One of the ways we do this is by collating and sharing the relevant writer opportunities we come across each month in this newsletter.
To be able to list the maximum amount, we have created a dedicated page which we update with the latest opportunities, open to applications now- click below to view. |
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Here, we share upcoming writer-focused events happening locally and sometimes further afield. |
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Spark Young Writer Groups - Bookings Now Live! |
Bookings are now open for Spark Young Writers Groups starting September 2026!
Led by professional local writers, sessions are designed to be fun, engaging and give young people a dedicated space to write creatively, with free bursary places available for those that need them.
This year, we are hosting groups in 16 locations, plus 3 online groups, with both Junior and Teen options available.
Spaces are limited – book yours via our website. |
Join our Spark Young Writers Team |
Volunteer with the Spark Young Writers team and be part of delivering 240 children’s writing workshops across the region. With a mix of in-person and online groups, you can support your local community, or join our writers on Zoom from your living room! |
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| Birmingham Literature Festival are now recruiting volunteers for this year’s festival.
As a volunteer, you will work alongside staff to make the festival happen. The role is varied, and a great opportunity to get volunteer experience in the writerly world.
Volunteers will be required for a shift of approximately 4 hours between Thursday 8th and Sunday 11th October 2026. Apply now to join our 2026 volunteer team by completing this short form. |
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You can expect:
- Supporting the get in and get out at venues, including lifting and carrying boxes and setting up equipment
- Greeting and welcoming audiences and writers
- Managing audience Q&A for events with roving mics
- Leafleting
- Distributing partner's marketing material
- Feedback forms
Thank you for helping us make Birmingham Literature Festival 2026 our best yet. Deadline for expression of interest: Monday 14th September 2026.
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If you have any questions, comments or relevant events you would like us to share, please reply to this email.
See you next month! Until then you can keep in touch by following our social media channels below.
Best wishes,
The Team at Writing West Midlands |
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Writing West Midlands is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. |
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