Dear Writerly Friends,
November has blown in with its chilly mornings, colourful fireworks, and dark nights - best spent under a duvet with a good book.
Speaking of good books - it was wonderful to see so many of you at Birmingham Literature Festival last month! If you missed it, you can see some of the highlights we've shared on Facebook and Instagram.
Below you'll find your latest dose of writer wisdom, a fresh round-up of writer opportunities, and an invite to our Regional Writer Meet-Up taking place in Newcastle-Under-Lyme at the end of this month. |
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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 Jane Rogers shares what keeps her writing. |
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"Writing is my best way of understanding the world. When I write I can delve into things. Exploring ideas and contradictions in fiction helps me know what I think. Or at least, it helps me to better grasp the complexity of the situation I’m exploring. I write in order to think. Zadie Smith said it better than I ever can: I write in order not to sleepwalk through my life.
For example, in The Testament of Jessie Lamb I wanted to explore the transition from child to adult – the heady moment when a girl realises she, not her parents, is responsible for her own life and decisions. For her parents, it’s the moment when they feel her reject all their loving care. We have all been children, many of us are parents. I wanted to explore the extraordinary business of reaching adulthood, and the conflict embedded in that, from both sides. I’m not writing to find an answer, I’m writing to explore all sides of a question, and that deep engagement with the material is hugely satisfying. Yes, I should add that – I write because I love it!"
Jane has written 10 novels, including Mr Wroe’s Virgins, which she adapted into an award-winning BBC 2 drama serial. She has written drama for TV and radio, and published 2 collections of stories, most recently Fire-Ready, which featured on ‘Book at Bedtime’ earlier this year. She is a Professor of Writing and teaches writing at all levels. |
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Online Courses and Workshop |
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| In a two-hour live Zoom session, author, creative writing teacher, and editor Ken Preston - who has independently and traditionally published over 20 novels - will introduce you to the real landscape of self-publishing: what it actually involves, the choices available to you, and how to take your first confident steps.
The workshop will take place on Thursday, 14 January 2027, 7 PM - 9 PM GMT.
Cost: £35. Bursaries available. |
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Across 5 live Zoom sessions, fiction writer Jane Rogers will explore with you the craft of short story writing, focussing on one specific topic in each session. By the end of the course, you will have completed at least one story, and revised it with helpful feedback from your tutor and peers.
This course will run on Tuesdays from the 19th January to the 16th February, 19:00-21:00 GMT.
Cost: £175. Bursaries available. |
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| Across 5 live Zoom sessions, West End and Terrence Rattigan Finalist playwright Caroline Summerfield will teach you the skills required to write and develop your stage plays. Learn how plays are structured, create interesting plots, characters, dialogue, and discover your voice as a writer. This course will run on Mondays from the 22nd February – 22nd March 2027, 19:00-21:00 GMT Cost: £175. Bursaries available.
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Join us for a free morning of networking for emerging and established writers from across the West Midlands and beyond.
With guest speakers Peter Stones, Arts Council England and Lisa Blower, Novelist and Producer. Hosted by Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands.
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.
Lisa Blower is an award-winning short story writer and novelist. |
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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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Careers in Writing Event - Last Chance to Book! |
Spark Young Writer Groups - Bookings Live! |
Bookings are 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. Taster sessions available! |
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Freelancers' Handbook and Resources Directory |
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Introducing the first co-created Freelancers’ Handbook and Resources Directory by Arts Council England, offering practical support to the 30% of the workforce operating as freelancers across the cultural sector and the organisations that work with them.
Created in response to data and insight from the 2024 Cultural Freelancers Study which surveyed more than 5,000 cultural freelancers, the Freelancers’ Handbook is a practical guide covering essential topics including contracts, fees, funding, tax, business development, and professional wellbeing. |
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The handbook includes chapters on:
- ‘How to grow your network and win business’ by Rachel Mapplebeck;
- ‘Peer Support Networks: Why they matter and how to find yours’ by Leila d’Aronville;
- ‘Fair Play: Overcoming barriers in the cultural sector’ by Caitriona Shoobridge, and;
- ‘Promoting mental health and equality for freelancers’ by Dr. Furaha Asani.
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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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