Blog

  • Words in the City | Leeds

    We are very excited to confirm that Words in the City will be returning in May 2018, with a new home right in the centre of Leeds! Words in the City is our poetry and spoken word weekend bringing together a diverse, exciting collection of voices to celebrate the magic…more

  • 2017 Chapbook Battle

    At the 2017 Festival, Poet in Residence Daljit Nagra hosted a Chapbook Battle. Poets representing independent presses from across the UK were invited to read a selection of their own work and work by other people published by the same press, across a series of rounds until a winner was…more

  • In 20 Years Time

    At the 2017 Young Writers Summer School Amy Richardson wrote this poem exploring issues around Mental Health which we wanted to share. In 20 Years Time I want to sit in front of a pile of papers and not struggle for breath To drink caffeinated tea with no heaving, pounding…more

  • 2017 Walter Swan Trust Poetry Competition Results

    1st Place: Kathy Osgerby – Leaving Spurn Point 2nd Place: Nairn Kennedy – Mr Arkwright’s Mind 3rd Place: Michael Farry – Stanstead Airport Highly Commended: Andrew Bramwell – Wisdom of the Primary School JUDGE’S COMMENTS: Daljit Nagra 1st Prize: Leaving Spurn Point – Kathy Osgerby A poem can be its own…more

  • Ilkley Young Writer Wins Forward Student Critic Prize

    Annabelle Fuller, who is a member of Ilkley Young Writers, recently won the Forward Prize/ emagazine Student Critics Competition. We asked her to tell us how she found out about the prize and why she entered. I heard about the Forward / emagazine Student Critics Competition on the Young Poets’…more

  • Read the 2017 Festival Newspaper

    Make a Newspaper in a Day and the Press Pack give Young People the chance to be journalists – reviewing Festival events, interviewing authors and publishing their work in the Festival Newspaper. Here is the 2017 edition of the Moors Observer!

  • 2017 Press Pack Reviews

    Ben Faulks: What makes me a ME? Reviews by our young Press Pack team Ben Faulks strode confidently out on to the stage, a huge grin on his face and I can’t say it was as I expected. I’d seen Mr Bloom before, starring in CBeebies show “Mr Bloom’s Nursery”…more

  • Opportunities for Young Writers

    This is just a sample of the opportunities available to young writers in the region but there are plenty more if you keep your eyes open. Courses Part time adult creative writing classeshttp://www.swarthmore.org.uk/https://www.wea.org.uk/find-your-local-wea?r=yorkshire-humber Writers Festival day, Leeds Trinity University (18+) March/April http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/events/humanities/leeds-trinity-writers-festival Playwrights and New Writing, West Yorkshire Playhousehttps://www.wyp.org.uk/playwrights-and-new-writing/ Youth…more

  • c.Johannes Hjorth

    Jade Cuttle – The Poetry of Trees

    Apprentice Poet in Residence Jade Cuttle tells us why she is leading a workshop on listening to trees. I’ve always been really inspired by the humble-hearted wisdom and resilience of trees, so I’m looking forward to finding some writers who’d like to muse and marvel at these magnificent creatures with…more

  • Festival Directors Top Pick’s

    With over 250 events covering everything from Indian feasts to radical technologies our programme has something for everyone but we know it can also be difficult trying to decide what to see. But don’t worry, Festival Director Rachel Feldberg has picked her top 5 must-see events to help you narrow…more