New Writing North

30/08/2026

Are you an enthusiastic reader looking for experience working events? Or maybe you're interested in charity volunteering?

Apply to join our pool of volunteers to receive training and opportunities to help behind the scenes at literary events throughout the year, beginning with Durham Book Festival this October. No previous experience necessary!

Deadline 11 September: https://newwritingnorth.com/event/festival-and-events-volunteers/

26/08/2026

It’s not long until Culture House Sunderland opens on 12 September, providing a new home for the city library alongside events and immersive exhibitions.

We’re celebrating this exciting new venue by bringing brilliant authors to Sunderland over the next few months. Come to Culture House with us and share the joy of books together!

On Saturday 19 September, Robert Rutherford and Sarah Mellor will discuss their Northern crime novels, followed by a talk from Brian Groom about his colourful history of the British Isles. This Reader’s Day is a great opportunity to spend a relaxed few hours in the building just a week after it opens, meeting authors and other Sunderland book-lovers. Buy one ticket for access to both talks, plus refreshments.

On Thursday 19 November, bestselling novelist Adele Parks comes to Culture House Sunderland to talk about her stellar writing career and her latest psychological thriller: Eyes On You.

And on Thursday 11 February, crime-writing legend and Vera creator Ann Cleeves joins us to look back at her career and celebrate the release of her fortieth novel, The Dying Light.

Featherbed Books, Houghton-le-Spring's independent bookshop, will be on site selling books for you to get signed at all these events 📚

Tickets are available to book now – see you in Sunderland? 🌞

https://newwritingnorth.com/whats-on/

24/08/2026

Connor Dorrian reads his poem ‘Sundered’ from the second edition of Scraps, an anthology of new writing from young people with a connection to the North of England.

Scraps is currently open for submissions of standalone prose and poetry on the theme of ‘transformations’ until 31 August.

The anthology invites new work from writers aged 18-30 who are from, or currently living in, the North of England. Full details at the link in bio!

21/08/2026

20/08/2026

“It really ignited my love of writing again and I’m starting new projects as a result.” Start Writing participant

Our Start Writing workshops are back again and we kick-off with the wonderful writer Susannah Ronnie who will be leading a six-week workshop in Prudhoe Library.

Start Writing courses are purposefully designed to be supportive learning environments for those who are picking up a pen for the first time or those looking to hone their craft. Participants will be exploring many genres, including poetry, prose of scriptwriting.

The course comprises six 90-minute workshops running every Friday lunchtime from 18 September to 23 October.

We will be announcing further Start Writing workshops soon but if you are a Prudhoe resident this is a brilliant opportunity.

The Start Writing workshops are funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

https://newwritingnorth.com/event/start-writing-creative-writing-workshops-at-prudhoe-library-2/

19/08/2026

“As a first-time novel writer, the chance to receive bespoke mentoring from Johnson & Alcock is invaluable in taking the next steps towards publication.” Sarah Hunt, winner of the Great Northern Read Award at the 2024 Northern Writers' Awards.

This year we were able to give genre fiction its moment at the Northern Writers’ Awards thanks to a new partnership with Johnson & Alcock Literary Agency. The brand-new Great Northern Read Award looked for the most immersive, gripping and page-turning novel by an unpublished writer, across genres including crime, mystery, historical, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, book club fiction and more.

The inaugural winner, receiving £2,500 and a structured programme of mentoring with Johnson & Alcock to help move her manuscript toward publication, is Sarah Hunt.

Her winning novel draft, The Fox at the Door, is engrossing and beautifully observed with a dark mystery at its heart, and was also selected for the Greene Door Project in 2025.

Sarah writes across literary fiction, theatre and poetry (having had two plays produced in London and Bath and reaching the second round of the Bridport Prize for poetry) and is currently developing her second novel which explores memory, female friendships and the enduring impact of our early experiences.

19/08/2026

Budding scriptwriters.... apply for our Channel 4 Northern Talent Network Script Hubs in Newcastle and Darlington by 1 September. You should have some experience writing scripts or be practising in another form, such as fiction or poetry, but do not need to have a commission. 😊

Over a six-month period, ten writers in each Script Hub collaborate on a series of peer group sessions and professional development workshops. Each group is led by an experienced facilitator writer, with the workshops featuring guest writers, producers, and other broadcast professionals.

The Newcastle Script Hub, run by writer Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock, is for neurodivergent TV scriptwriters, and aims to be accessible and ND-friendly. These six sessions, held at One Strawberry Lane, will start on Saturday 10 October 2026.

The Darlington Script Hub, run by writer Gavin Williams, will focus on writing genre TV. These six sessions, held at the Darlington Hippodrome, will start on Saturday 3 October 2026.

To book tickets https://newwritingnorth.com/event/channel-4-northern-talent-network-script-hubs/

18/08/2026

“My time at Northumbria has stretched me as a writer, and now, together with this award, it’s given me the confidence to write beyond what I previously thought I could.” Victoria Flemming

As well as supporting the whole Northern Writers’ Awards programme and hosting our awards ceremony, Northumbria University offers a specific award each year to current students and recent alumni writing in any genre or form. The winner of the Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award receives £2,000.

The 2026 winner is Victoria Flemming, a writer across poetry, song and script, originally from the US and currently studying for her Master’s in Creative Writing at Northumbria University.

Her original songs have featured in the television shows Grown-ish, Atlanta, Black Lightning and more. As a product of moving several times in her formative years, Victoria’s poems often explore themes of identity, home and the natural world. She is currently working on a new stage musical.

14/08/2026

We are recruiting two Readers-in-Residence to plan and deliver sessions in community settings, using our Durham Book Festival Big Read and Little Read as a gateway to promote reading for pleasure 📚

The Big Read and The Little Read are part of a targeted programme with Durham County Council to create joyful, high-quality cultural experiences to tackle low literacy, support school readiness and address unequal access to opportunity. This year’s Big Read is The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, and our Little Read is The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band by Giles Andreae and Nick East. The programme will take place from 14 September to 31 October 2026.

We are looking for a Reader-in-Residence for each book who is a confident, creative and skilled facilitator, experienced in working with communities, children or families and with a good understanding of inclusive engagement practice.

Find out more and apply by 2 September: https://newwritingnorth.com/vacancies/