Writer's News
500 Words
BBC Breakfast to relaunch children's writing competition

The children's writing competition 500 Words is to be relaunched by BBC One's Breakfast programme, three years after it was dropped from Radio 2.
First launched by Chris Evans on Radio 2's own breakfast show in 2011, the popular UK-wide contest continued with his successor Zoe Ball until 2020.
It will return in September, again backed by the Queen Consort Camilla.
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Derby Poetry Festival
5th - 8th October 2023

Often referred to as DPF, Derby Poetry Festival is a four-day poetry and literature festival held in the centre of Derby. We are dedicated to developing new writing talent in Derby and bring excellent work to the city. DPF has just entered it's fifth year, and 2023 is set to be bigger and better than ever.
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2023 Poetry Competition
Fosseway Writers
Deadline 8th April 2023

Our 2023 poetry competition is now open and, in a head-spinning break from tradition, there is NO THEME! That’s right, you can send us that limerick you wrote on Mongolian Throat Singing, or the Ode to Roy (Keene). Whatever you think will appeal to our judge, the awesome Leanne Moden. As always, our competitions are open to all, anywhere in the world.
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Nottingham Year of Stories
Nottingham City of Literature

In Summer 2023, Nottingham’s new Central Library will open its doors to the public. This long-awaited opening is the start of a new chapter for Nottingham and will be celebrated across the city with a whole Year of Stories and storytelling.
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Writer's Diary
Traditional Publishing: What Novelists Need to Know
with Emma Pass
Writing East Midlands
Online
29th March

Your manuscript’s complete at last, your final edit made – but now what? If you’ve been considering traditional publishing but don’t know where to start, or you need advice on how to improve your submission package, this 6-week, online course could answer any questions you might have before embarking on this next stage of your writing journey.
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March Pint of Poetry
Stamford Poetry
Stamford Arts Centre
29th March

Once again we meet to share our poetry. Also, make sure you know the details of this year's Poet Laureate for Stamford competition, Deadline in April. Have a chat with some of the previous holders of the post to find out what it entails.
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Writing Collaborations, Collaborating to Write
Creating Supportive Communities, with Barbara Cooke
Creative Writing Leicester
University of Leicester
29th March

This talk will focus on the different types of collaboration that make up the professional life of a writer, editor and academic. Barbara will be drawing on her own experiences of poetic co-creation, collaboration with an illustrator, and setting up and participating in writing retreats to show that while writing is usually a solitary act, no writer need ever be alone.
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Do or Die Poets
Sobar Social presents
Sobar, Nottingham
31st March

The Sobar Social is back with poetic vengeance! Join us and our resident poetry crew The do or Die poets for a joint celebration of creativity, recovery and performance.
Expect great poetry, a great open mic session and an amazing headliner the form Do or Die Poets alumna BETH PARKER. Hosted by the ever awesome MIGGY ANGEL!
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Jess Green: Farewell Leicester
Upstairs @ The Western
31st March

BBC Slam Champion, Jess Green is an award-winning performance poet and script writer for theatre and TV. She began to garner a following in 2013 with her viral poem, Dear Mr Gove and has since performed at Glastonbury, Latitude, Bestival and BBC 6 Music Festival. She’s featured on BBC 6 Music, E4, BBC5Live, ITV and BBC Breakfast as well as in The Guardian, Huffington Post, The Independent and The Spectator.
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Louise Fazackerley
Word Wise #64
Sophie Sparham
Dubrek Studios 67 Bridge Street Derby
31st March

With work rooted in word-witchery and the working class, Louise explores the synergy between poetry, voice and movement in a way that makes the ugly beautiful and the mundane fantastical. Winner of BBC Radio 3 ‘New Voices’, European Slam Finalist and support artist for punk legend Dr. John Cooper Clark, Louise is a true, Northern powerhouse. Welcome to her world of darkly humorous poetry.
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The Writers’ Conference 2023
Writing East Midlands in partnership with University of Derby
University of Derby
1st April

The Writers’ Conference returns in April 2023, bringing writers from all over the region, and beyond, together with the industry, for a day of inspiration and networking. Get your creative juices flowing, discover new pathways and make connections.
Hosted at the University of Derby, this will be a day of workshops, panel discussions and talks – including from keynote speakers (to be announced).
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My Car Plays Tapes
John Osborne
Stamford Poetry
Cellar Bar Stamford
5th April

My Car Plays Tapes is the new storytelling show by writer, theatre maker and Radio 4 regular John Osborne about minimum wage jobs,, cars that don’t work and being reunited with your old cassette collection.
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Run Your Tongue Spoken Word Open Mic
feat. Nancy Dawkins
Vegan Bar, 94 Granby Street, Leicester
6th April

We are back for another edition of Run Your Tongue - the spoken word open mic night where everyone is welcome and anything goes!
We are delighted to welcome the fantastic NANCY DAWKINS to headline for us this time:)
Join us for a weird and wonderful evening of words at the amazing new DONALD WATSON'S VEGAN BAR, Leicester.
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A Journey Through Lost Britain
with Matthew Green
Five Leaves Bookshop*
14a Long Row, Nottingham
6th April

From an Orkney settlement buried in sand five thousand years ago to a medieval city mouldering beneath the waves of the North Sea, Britain’s landscape is scarred with the haunting and romantic remains; these shadowlands that were once filled with life are now just spectral echoes.
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Live from the poets corner
at the playwright
NOTTS POETRY
The Playwright, Nottingham
6th April

Live from the poet's corner at the playwright is a monthly spoken word open mic evening inviting anybody to get up and share some words, featuring poetry from a range of spoken word artists, poets and musicians.
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Speech Therapy
Bunkers Hill, Nottingham
7th April

Speech Therapy on Good Friday promises more goodies than the Easter Bunny. Our rising star Jack Coverdale will be giving us a feature set along with a full length set from a long-standing friend of this long-running night of ours ...Lytisha Tunbridge.
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advert
Oh My Nottz Spoken Word Listings
Get your event noticed
Oh My Nottz Writer's Block page
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Club Night
Parcel of Rogues (tbc)
with Cath Edwards and Fran Hollinrake
Litchfield Storytellers
Online
11th April

You will be able to join us from the comfort of your favourite armchair
- we will be streaming live and recording!
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advert
The Vicar of Dibley
Bonington Theatre, Arnold, Nottingham
26th - 29th April
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DIY Poets
at Nottingham Poetry Festival
Francis Patrick McMahon
City Arts - Nottingham
26th May

DIY Poets will host a mental health themed evening of poetry at Nottingham City Arts.
Come along and perform your poems.
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