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Writing East Midlands
@writingeastmidlands.com
Supports, develops and champions writers from the East Midlands - supported by Arts Council England.

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Merry Christmas 🎄🎅 From the WEM team!

However you celebrate, we're wish you a day of laughter, joy and merriment. 🫶 (And hopefully some writing-related gifts under the tree! 📖🎁)
December 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Introducing our Youth Advisory Board members 🎉

📙 Via Macnab
📘 Katherine Monk-Watts
📗 Leo McFaul

Our Youth Advisory Board are enthusiastic writers aged 18-25, presenting a valuable perspective and insight on challenges and opportunities and bringing new ideas and energy to Writing East Midlands.
December 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Seasons greetings! ☃️❄️

The Writing East Midlands team are now away from our desks until Monday 5th January 2026 for a much needed Christmas break! 🎄 We'll still be checking our emails for anything urgent and posting to socials.

So keep an eye out for any news from us! 👀 See you in the new year! 👋
December 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Christmas shopping for a writer you know? 🎅 Here's a quick and easy last-minute present to bulk out their stocking. 🎄

Show your partner, friend or family member that you believe in them and their ambitions with a truly thoughtful gift this Xmas.🎁 Only £25 - tickets available here ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
December 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
🍄🦆 The winners have been announced! 🌱🌻Read the winning entries to our nature prize for young writers in our digital anthology, published here ➡️ bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE

A huge well done goes out to all who entered this year's comp and a massive congratulations goes out to all of our winners! 👏🥳
December 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
So excited to work with the English Heritage Trust and Junction Arts on the Margaret Cavendish Mind Lab project at Bolsover Castle! 🏰

We'll be inviting local young writers to seek inspiration from the creative world of Margaret Cavendish via a series of workshops filled with wonder and exploration.
December 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Introducing the winners of the Aurora Prize for Writing 2025! 🎉

Our Second place Short Fiction winner is Dave Pescod with 'The End of Our Tether' 🪢

Dave began writing by composing songs, then crafting jokes for BBC radio and TV - you can find more of Dave's work at davepescod.co.uk 🖥️
December 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
In March 2026 we're publishing Issue No. 5 of PULSE and want you to get involved!

The theme for this issue is 'Masks' 🎭
We'd love to see a variety of interpretations, the more creative, the better!

Full details here:
bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2
December 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
"Not another Agents Day"—said no one ever!! 🤭 Our most popular event is BACK for February 2026, bringing you yet another super-team of super-agents for an essential publishing panel. ✍️

More names TBC. 👀 Tickets only £25! Book yours before they sell out! ➡️ bit.ly/AGENTSDAY
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Poets! 📢 If you want to know what the Editor/Director of Nine Arches Press is looking for in poetry, have a read of what Jane Commane has to say in the Agents' Corner of Pulse Issue No.4! ✍️

Thanks so much for your contribution, Jane, and for helping us to share our magazine with the world. ❤️🌎
Have you got the latest PULSE magazine from @writingeastmidlands.com?
INTERESTING. INFORMATIVE. PROVOCATIVE - What matters to writers now.
This 'Writing The Truth' Issue includes a piece by our own Editor/Director Jane Commane.
writingeastmidlands.co.uk/for-writers/...
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Meet our third place poetry winner and the poem she entered with! 🏆

This is Kate MacAlister and her poem 'self exam: finding your cervix', chosen for its impressive command of language, structure and meaning.

Congratulations, Kate! 👏🎆
December 16, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Oli Isaac is the second place poetry winner of the 2025 Aurora Prize! 🎉

Their poem 'Lorca was my grandma's favourite poet' won our hearts through its juxtaposition of two lives, and what this connection means for love, family and identity.

You can give them a follow on Instagram: @oliisaac_ ✨
December 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Join us in giving a warm welcome to our brand new Marketing and Admin Assistant: Liv Saunders! 👋

...And a big congratulations to Molly Ellson, who's taken on a new role within the team. 🎉

Find out what these WEMsters are up to by heading over to our website. And don't be afraid to say hello! 🤗
December 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our community spotlight this week...

📝 @derbypoetryfestival Prize 2025

📖 @literacy_trust Young Poet Laureates Award

🌍 @wearefootnote x @counterpointsarts refugee and migrant writers prize 2026

🌈 @queerlituk collection seeking LGBTQ+ voices
December 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Write for our magazine! 🚨

The next edition of Pulse launches in March 2026, we're looking for a 500-word piece or 30-line poem to publish, with the successful writing receiving a £50 commission ✍️

Deadline for submission is Weds 17th Dec 2025 at 11:59pm.
Full details here:
bit.ly/WRITE4PULSE
December 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Say hello to Ash stokes! 👋 Our regional short fiction winner of the Aurora Prize for Writing 2025! 🎉

Ash's story 'Provident' explores the meaning of home, family and poverty, using a captivating voice that our readers were truly taken by.

Read it on our website now.
December 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Multi-award winning poet and Royal Society of Literature fellow, Joelle Taylor presents an inspiring masterclass; if your poem were a film and you the director, what would you show your audience? 📽️

📅 Weds 10th December, 7-8pm
🖥️ Online (via Zoom)

Book your space here:
bit.ly/joelletaylor...
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
LAST CHANCE for writers! ⚠️✍️

Want the chance to speak to a multi-award-winning published author and ask all your questions about writing, publishing and getting an agent? 🙋 Lucky you: Irenosen Okojie is joining us for an ONLINE masterclass NEXT WEEK.

Tickets here 👉 bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN
December 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
⚠️ WEATHER WARNING ⚠️ It's snowing spoken word! 🌨️

Next week, the Speak Easy collective for 15-25s meets for the last time this year! Join us for a festive open mic and a very merry meetup for emerging and young poets. 🎄🎤

Save you space and meet your people, here ➡️ bit.ly/SPEAKEASYC
December 6, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Our community spotlight this week...

🌌 Constellation poetry showcase

📻 New project 'Transmissions'

📚 Newark Book Festival 10th Birthday

🐧 Penguin Books WriteNow programme

🌱 GLL Literary Foundation programme
December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Last chance to apply! 🚨📢

What it is: FREE feedback on your writing from a professional editor. ✍️
What you can enter: Novels, short stories, poetry and submission packages. 📝
Who can enter: East Mids writers on low income (find out if you're eligible on our website!)

Apply here ➡️ bit.ly/FREEREADS
December 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Writer internship for 18-25s ✍️ Apply now 👉 bit.ly/WEMTERNS

The ALCS WEMTerns internship programme closes 🚨 in two days 🚨 What you need to apply: Answers to a couple of quick Qs about your writing and a written extract. 🤓📝

That's all! Get yours in before this Friday at 11.59 pm.
December 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Introducing our third place short fiction winner: Rozie Kelly! 🎉

Rozie's iridescent story 'The Woman Who Turned into a Jellyfish' well and truly charmed us with its beautiful evocation of a changing relationship! 🪼🌊

If you want to read more of her work, find her on Instagram @rozeamee 🪸
December 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Writing East Midlands
TLC Free Reads is hugely valuable if you are trying a different direction & you're not sure whether it works yet. I applied on 2 separate occasions & had many helpful comments. 2x novellas completed as a result.
Before the countdown to Christmas, it's the countdown to our Free Reads Scheme: Applications close NEXT WEEK! 😱

Apply now and receive free feedback on your writing (from a professional editor!) to kick off the new year! 🎉

Find out more here ➡️ bit.ly/FREEREADS
November 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Introducing the winners of the Aurora Prize for Writing 2025! 🎊🏆

First up: Our First place poetry winner, Ishita Uppadhayay, whose intriguing poem 'Uxbridge Moon' fascinated our readers and our judge!

You can follow them on Instagram at @ishitaupp and you can read their piece on the WEM website ✨
November 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM