Writing East Midlands
@writingeastmidlands.com
Supports, develops and champions writers from the East Midlands - supported by Arts Council England.
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linktr.ee/writingeastmidlands
Check out our Community Spotlight this week! 📚
Subscribe to our newsletter to have all new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox📥
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Subscribe to our newsletter to have all new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox📥
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February 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Check out our Community Spotlight this week! 📚
Subscribe to our newsletter to have all new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox📥
buff.ly/dNMOLhq
Subscribe to our newsletter to have all new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox📥
buff.ly/dNMOLhq
Tune in to Erewash Sound tomorrow morning for a surprise guest!
At 8.10 am, Molly and Rebecca will be chatting with Kirsty about how we support writers across the East Mids. Including opportunities for aspiring writers, work for established writers and our community writing projects. 🌈
At 8.10 am, Molly and Rebecca will be chatting with Kirsty about how we support writers across the East Mids. Including opportunities for aspiring writers, work for established writers and our community writing projects. 🌈
January 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Tune in to Erewash Sound tomorrow morning for a surprise guest!
At 8.10 am, Molly and Rebecca will be chatting with Kirsty about how we support writers across the East Mids. Including opportunities for aspiring writers, work for established writers and our community writing projects. 🌈
At 8.10 am, Molly and Rebecca will be chatting with Kirsty about how we support writers across the East Mids. Including opportunities for aspiring writers, work for established writers and our community writing projects. 🌈
Meet the writers joining us for our post-panel Q&A next week.
Featuring...
🍊 Ella King, author of Bad Fruit and Dear Darling.
🪶 Stephen Aryan, author of The Nightingale and the Falcon Series.
🔓️ Jamie Mollart, author of The Zoo and Kings of A Dead World.
Find out more ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
Featuring...
🍊 Ella King, author of Bad Fruit and Dear Darling.
🪶 Stephen Aryan, author of The Nightingale and the Falcon Series.
🔓️ Jamie Mollart, author of The Zoo and Kings of A Dead World.
Find out more ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
January 31, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Meet the writers joining us for our post-panel Q&A next week.
Featuring...
🍊 Ella King, author of Bad Fruit and Dear Darling.
🪶 Stephen Aryan, author of The Nightingale and the Falcon Series.
🔓️ Jamie Mollart, author of The Zoo and Kings of A Dead World.
Find out more ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
Featuring...
🍊 Ella King, author of Bad Fruit and Dear Darling.
🪶 Stephen Aryan, author of The Nightingale and the Falcon Series.
🔓️ Jamie Mollart, author of The Zoo and Kings of A Dead World.
Find out more ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
Only £15 for advice from a multi-award-winning author!
Irenosen Okojie was the 2025 judge of the Aurora Prize, director of Black to the Future, and author of Curandera and Butterfly Fish.
Want her insights into the publishing industry and life as an author? Find out here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Irenosen Okojie was the 2025 judge of the Aurora Prize, director of Black to the Future, and author of Curandera and Butterfly Fish.
Want her insights into the publishing industry and life as an author? Find out here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
January 30, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Only £15 for advice from a multi-award-winning author!
Irenosen Okojie was the 2025 judge of the Aurora Prize, director of Black to the Future, and author of Curandera and Butterfly Fish.
Want her insights into the publishing industry and life as an author? Find out here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Irenosen Okojie was the 2025 judge of the Aurora Prize, director of Black to the Future, and author of Curandera and Butterfly Fish.
Want her insights into the publishing industry and life as an author? Find out here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Updates to our Meet the Agents Day! 👀
On top of the panel of literary agents joining us next week, we've invited these stellar authors to share their experiences, tips and advice on the author-agent relationship. 🤝
Find out more about them all here ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
On top of the panel of literary agents joining us next week, we've invited these stellar authors to share their experiences, tips and advice on the author-agent relationship. 🤝
Find out more about them all here ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
January 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Updates to our Meet the Agents Day! 👀
On top of the panel of literary agents joining us next week, we've invited these stellar authors to share their experiences, tips and advice on the author-agent relationship. 🤝
Find out more about them all here ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
On top of the panel of literary agents joining us next week, we've invited these stellar authors to share their experiences, tips and advice on the author-agent relationship. 🤝
Find out more about them all here ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
Design our front cover! 📢 Open call seeking designs for the cover of our magazine, Pulse, with a commission fee for the successful submission.
🖌️ Drawings, digital art, photos & graphic design accepted
🎭 The theme: Masks
💰 Commission fee: £50
🗓️ 25th February 2026
🔗 bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
🖌️ Drawings, digital art, photos & graphic design accepted
🎭 The theme: Masks
💰 Commission fee: £50
🗓️ 25th February 2026
🔗 bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
January 29, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Design our front cover! 📢 Open call seeking designs for the cover of our magazine, Pulse, with a commission fee for the successful submission.
🖌️ Drawings, digital art, photos & graphic design accepted
🎭 The theme: Masks
💰 Commission fee: £50
🗓️ 25th February 2026
🔗 bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
🖌️ Drawings, digital art, photos & graphic design accepted
🎭 The theme: Masks
💰 Commission fee: £50
🗓️ 25th February 2026
🔗 bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
Derby young writers! 📢 We're teaming up with the Wildlife Trust to deliver FREE nature-themed creative writing workshops for budding young writers and aspiring environmentalists. 🌳✏️
In-person and online sessions available. Next session is 🌻4th Feb🌻
Sign up here for access ➡️ bit.ly/DWTYWG
In-person and online sessions available. Next session is 🌻4th Feb🌻
Sign up here for access ➡️ bit.ly/DWTYWG
January 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Derby young writers! 📢 We're teaming up with the Wildlife Trust to deliver FREE nature-themed creative writing workshops for budding young writers and aspiring environmentalists. 🌳✏️
In-person and online sessions available. Next session is 🌻4th Feb🌻
Sign up here for access ➡️ bit.ly/DWTYWG
In-person and online sessions available. Next session is 🌻4th Feb🌻
Sign up here for access ➡️ bit.ly/DWTYWG
Last week was WEM's 2026 Away Day! Together, we headed over to Attenborough Nature Reserve to reflect on our past programmes and make decisions about our activity plan for the coming years. 💭✏️
Big thanks to the staff at Attenborough Nature Reserve for having us. 🫶 Keep an eye out for more WEM news!
Big thanks to the staff at Attenborough Nature Reserve for having us. 🫶 Keep an eye out for more WEM news!
January 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Last week was WEM's 2026 Away Day! Together, we headed over to Attenborough Nature Reserve to reflect on our past programmes and make decisions about our activity plan for the coming years. 💭✏️
Big thanks to the staff at Attenborough Nature Reserve for having us. 🫶 Keep an eye out for more WEM news!
Big thanks to the staff at Attenborough Nature Reserve for having us. 🫶 Keep an eye out for more WEM news!
Reposted by Writing East Midlands
Hey, that's me!
I'm very grateful to @writingeastmidlands.com for inviting me to be part of their mentoring scheme for 2026. Looking forward to meeting the other mentees and learning more about what they're working on!
I'm very grateful to @writingeastmidlands.com for inviting me to be part of their mentoring scheme for 2026. Looking forward to meeting the other mentees and learning more about what they're working on!
Meet our third mentee: Phil W. Bayles! 👏
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Hey, that's me!
I'm very grateful to @writingeastmidlands.com for inviting me to be part of their mentoring scheme for 2026. Looking forward to meeting the other mentees and learning more about what they're working on!
I'm very grateful to @writingeastmidlands.com for inviting me to be part of their mentoring scheme for 2026. Looking forward to meeting the other mentees and learning more about what they're working on!
Festival announcement! 🎺🎶
Beyond The Spectrum have announced their weeklong online creative writing festival. Featuring talks, panels and workshops celebrating writing as rest, as well as a keynote speech from the one and only Chris Packham! 🤩
Aimed at Neurodivergent writers but open to all. 🫶
Beyond The Spectrum have announced their weeklong online creative writing festival. Featuring talks, panels and workshops celebrating writing as rest, as well as a keynote speech from the one and only Chris Packham! 🤩
Aimed at Neurodivergent writers but open to all. 🫶
January 26, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Festival announcement! 🎺🎶
Beyond The Spectrum have announced their weeklong online creative writing festival. Featuring talks, panels and workshops celebrating writing as rest, as well as a keynote speech from the one and only Chris Packham! 🤩
Aimed at Neurodivergent writers but open to all. 🫶
Beyond The Spectrum have announced their weeklong online creative writing festival. Featuring talks, panels and workshops celebrating writing as rest, as well as a keynote speech from the one and only Chris Packham! 🤩
Aimed at Neurodivergent writers but open to all. 🫶
Author Emma Pass is leading our 6-week online course, Finish Your Novel. These are the books she's had published. 👀📚
Emma's bibliography includes young adult, historical and children's fiction, published by Penguin and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury.
Find out more about Emma's course ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
Emma's bibliography includes young adult, historical and children's fiction, published by Penguin and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury.
Find out more about Emma's course ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
January 23, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Author Emma Pass is leading our 6-week online course, Finish Your Novel. These are the books she's had published. 👀📚
Emma's bibliography includes young adult, historical and children's fiction, published by Penguin and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury.
Find out more about Emma's course ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
Emma's bibliography includes young adult, historical and children's fiction, published by Penguin and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury.
Find out more about Emma's course ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
Leicester-based writer Sabrina Mei-Li Smith is our sixth mentee! Say hi! 👋
In addition to writing about teaching creative writing for Bloomsbury, Sabrina has also been published by WithIntentions, Writers in Education, TigerShark, Ink Pantry Press and Feminist Trash. 📚
In addition to writing about teaching creative writing for Bloomsbury, Sabrina has also been published by WithIntentions, Writers in Education, TigerShark, Ink Pantry Press and Feminist Trash. 📚
January 22, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Leicester-based writer Sabrina Mei-Li Smith is our sixth mentee! Say hi! 👋
In addition to writing about teaching creative writing for Bloomsbury, Sabrina has also been published by WithIntentions, Writers in Education, TigerShark, Ink Pantry Press and Feminist Trash. 📚
In addition to writing about teaching creative writing for Bloomsbury, Sabrina has also been published by WithIntentions, Writers in Education, TigerShark, Ink Pantry Press and Feminist Trash. 📚
One month 'til award-winning author Irenosen Okojie joins us! 🤩
This masterclass is only £15 (!!) and covers invaluable topics for writers: Common barriers, the role of agents, rejection as fuel and more!
Book your tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
This masterclass is only £15 (!!) and covers invaluable topics for writers: Common barriers, the role of agents, rejection as fuel and more!
Book your tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
January 21, 2026 at 12:02 PM
One month 'til award-winning author Irenosen Okojie joins us! 🤩
This masterclass is only £15 (!!) and covers invaluable topics for writers: Common barriers, the role of agents, rejection as fuel and more!
Book your tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
This masterclass is only £15 (!!) and covers invaluable topics for writers: Common barriers, the role of agents, rejection as fuel and more!
Book your tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Meet Susie! 👋 Our fifth mentee and a writer with a diverse range of projects under her belt.
Susie has published two Kindle books, has a play currently in production with Buxton Opera House and is a regular Substack writer.
You can read more of her work here ➡️ susiehalksworth.substack.com
Susie has published two Kindle books, has a play currently in production with Buxton Opera House and is a regular Substack writer.
You can read more of her work here ➡️ susiehalksworth.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Meet Susie! 👋 Our fifth mentee and a writer with a diverse range of projects under her belt.
Susie has published two Kindle books, has a play currently in production with Buxton Opera House and is a regular Substack writer.
You can read more of her work here ➡️ susiehalksworth.substack.com
Susie has published two Kindle books, has a play currently in production with Buxton Opera House and is a regular Substack writer.
You can read more of her work here ➡️ susiehalksworth.substack.com
Creative commission: Work for artists, designers & photographers! 🖌️🎨
We want you to design our magazine's next front cover. 📚 Send in your ideas by 25th February, and the successful applicant will receive a £75 commission fee and publication in Pulse Issue No. 5!
More info ➡️ bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
We want you to design our magazine's next front cover. 📚 Send in your ideas by 25th February, and the successful applicant will receive a £75 commission fee and publication in Pulse Issue No. 5!
More info ➡️ bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
January 19, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Creative commission: Work for artists, designers & photographers! 🖌️🎨
We want you to design our magazine's next front cover. 📚 Send in your ideas by 25th February, and the successful applicant will receive a £75 commission fee and publication in Pulse Issue No. 5!
More info ➡️ bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
We want you to design our magazine's next front cover. 📚 Send in your ideas by 25th February, and the successful applicant will receive a £75 commission fee and publication in Pulse Issue No. 5!
More info ➡️ bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
Check out our Community Spotlight for this week! 📚
January 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Check out our Community Spotlight for this week! 📚
FREE & ONLINE afterschool club for Neurodivergent teens! 🌈⬇️
Our fortnightly creative writing workshops build confidence, encourage imagination and offer an emotional outlet for 14-17s. ✍️ Supporting their self-expression and mental health. 🫶
Register your young writer here 👇
bit.ly/BTSPOETRY14-17
Our fortnightly creative writing workshops build confidence, encourage imagination and offer an emotional outlet for 14-17s. ✍️ Supporting their self-expression and mental health. 🫶
Register your young writer here 👇
bit.ly/BTSPOETRY14-17
January 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM
FREE & ONLINE afterschool club for Neurodivergent teens! 🌈⬇️
Our fortnightly creative writing workshops build confidence, encourage imagination and offer an emotional outlet for 14-17s. ✍️ Supporting their self-expression and mental health. 🫶
Register your young writer here 👇
bit.ly/BTSPOETRY14-17
Our fortnightly creative writing workshops build confidence, encourage imagination and offer an emotional outlet for 14-17s. ✍️ Supporting their self-expression and mental health. 🫶
Register your young writer here 👇
bit.ly/BTSPOETRY14-17
Say hello to our new resident fantasy writer! 🧙♀️✨
Ellen Taylor is our 4th mentee, teaching Psychology at UoN by day and writing by night. ✍️🌕 She has been published in anthologies and literary magazines. Her short story 'Stella Polaris' was awarded runner-up for the Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award.
Ellen Taylor is our 4th mentee, teaching Psychology at UoN by day and writing by night. ✍️🌕 She has been published in anthologies and literary magazines. Her short story 'Stella Polaris' was awarded runner-up for the Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award.
January 16, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Say hello to our new resident fantasy writer! 🧙♀️✨
Ellen Taylor is our 4th mentee, teaching Psychology at UoN by day and writing by night. ✍️🌕 She has been published in anthologies and literary magazines. Her short story 'Stella Polaris' was awarded runner-up for the Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award.
Ellen Taylor is our 4th mentee, teaching Psychology at UoN by day and writing by night. ✍️🌕 She has been published in anthologies and literary magazines. Her short story 'Stella Polaris' was awarded runner-up for the Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award.
💫 NEW DATE 💫
Our online masterclass with award-winning author Irenosen Okojie is coming to your screens this February! 🖥️ Tickets are only £15 with concessions and bursaries available.
Book yours now before we run out ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Our online masterclass with award-winning author Irenosen Okojie is coming to your screens this February! 🖥️ Tickets are only £15 with concessions and bursaries available.
Book yours now before we run out ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
January 15, 2026 at 12:01 PM
💫 NEW DATE 💫
Our online masterclass with award-winning author Irenosen Okojie is coming to your screens this February! 🖥️ Tickets are only £15 with concessions and bursaries available.
Book yours now before we run out ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Our online masterclass with award-winning author Irenosen Okojie is coming to your screens this February! 🖥️ Tickets are only £15 with concessions and bursaries available.
Book yours now before we run out ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
Meet our third mentee: Phil W. Bayles! 👏
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Meet our third mentee: Phil W. Bayles! 👏
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
With a background in writing both advertising copy and reviews, Phil applied to our Mentoring Scheme to work on his first novel. His short fiction has been published by Twisted Ink, 50-Word Stories and Silly Goose Press. 📚
Find out how to secure a literary agent from the agents themselves. 📝
The third agent joining us our panel discussion in February is none other than Davinia Andrew-Lynch, founder of ANDLYN and co-founder of the FAB Prize.
See who else is joining us ➡️ bit.ly/MEETAGENTS
The third agent joining us our panel discussion in February is none other than Davinia Andrew-Lynch, founder of ANDLYN and co-founder of the FAB Prize.
See who else is joining us ➡️ bit.ly/MEETAGENTS
January 13, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Find out how to secure a literary agent from the agents themselves. 📝
The third agent joining us our panel discussion in February is none other than Davinia Andrew-Lynch, founder of ANDLYN and co-founder of the FAB Prize.
See who else is joining us ➡️ bit.ly/MEETAGENTS
The third agent joining us our panel discussion in February is none other than Davinia Andrew-Lynch, founder of ANDLYN and co-founder of the FAB Prize.
See who else is joining us ➡️ bit.ly/MEETAGENTS
Author Emma Pass is the tutor leading our brand new 6-week online course, Finish Your Novel. 📚🎉
If you don't know Emma, she's the author of four novels for both teenagers and adults published by Penguin Random House and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury. 🐧
Book your tickets ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
If you don't know Emma, she's the author of four novels for both teenagers and adults published by Penguin Random House and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury. 🐧
Book your tickets ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
January 12, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Author Emma Pass is the tutor leading our brand new 6-week online course, Finish Your Novel. 📚🎉
If you don't know Emma, she's the author of four novels for both teenagers and adults published by Penguin Random House and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury. 🐧
Book your tickets ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
If you don't know Emma, she's the author of four novels for both teenagers and adults published by Penguin Random House and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury. 🐧
Book your tickets ➡️ bit.ly/FINISHNOVEL
Check out our community spotlight this week! 📚
January 11, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Check out our community spotlight this week! 📚
Introducing our next 2026 mentee: Rose Shenton! 👋🎉
Rose is a 29-year-old transwoman and King's College graduate with a BA in English Literature. Her spy thriller, 'The Performance', was shortlisted for the best unpublished thriller at the 2024 Nashville Claymore Awards.
Rose is a 29-year-old transwoman and King's College graduate with a BA in English Literature. Her spy thriller, 'The Performance', was shortlisted for the best unpublished thriller at the 2024 Nashville Claymore Awards.
January 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Introducing our next 2026 mentee: Rose Shenton! 👋🎉
Rose is a 29-year-old transwoman and King's College graduate with a BA in English Literature. Her spy thriller, 'The Performance', was shortlisted for the best unpublished thriller at the 2024 Nashville Claymore Awards.
Rose is a 29-year-old transwoman and King's College graduate with a BA in English Literature. Her spy thriller, 'The Performance', was shortlisted for the best unpublished thriller at the 2024 Nashville Claymore Awards.
Our Mentoring Scheme mentees have been confirmed. Here's who we're going to be working with in 2026. 👀⬇️
First up: it's Aoife O'Connor! ✨ Aoife is a poet, producer, the founder of She Speaks, co-director of Derby Poetry Festival and vice-chair of Forward Arts Foundation board of trustees.
First up: it's Aoife O'Connor! ✨ Aoife is a poet, producer, the founder of She Speaks, co-director of Derby Poetry Festival and vice-chair of Forward Arts Foundation board of trustees.
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Our Mentoring Scheme mentees have been confirmed. Here's who we're going to be working with in 2026. 👀⬇️
First up: it's Aoife O'Connor! ✨ Aoife is a poet, producer, the founder of She Speaks, co-director of Derby Poetry Festival and vice-chair of Forward Arts Foundation board of trustees.
First up: it's Aoife O'Connor! ✨ Aoife is a poet, producer, the founder of She Speaks, co-director of Derby Poetry Festival and vice-chair of Forward Arts Foundation board of trustees.