News and Opportunities for Writers: June 2020

May 27, 2020 Liv Chapman

With many events and festivals cancelled, the writing community has transferred a lot of its activity online. Search on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #amwriting or similar and you’ll find lots of resources. News from Room 204: Annabel Brightling (2019 intake) and her writing group Script Sirens have a produced a four-part dark comedy […]

Writing West Midlands reveals the 2020 cohort of Room 204

April 14, 2020 Liv Chapman

We are delighted to announce the new cohort of 15 Room 204 writers-in-development, who join over 130 others who have been part of the scheme since its inception in 2012. Every year, Writing West Midlands opens its doors to submissions from emerging writers from across the West Midlands region, writing in all genres, from poetry […]

Coronavirus: suspension of all events till May

March 17, 2020 Liv Chapman

In line with the Government and Public Health England’s advice of Monday 16 March, we are suspending all public activity due to take place in March and April. This includes: All Spark Young Writers’ groups meeting across the region Short courses and writing workshops for adult writers Room 204 writer in development gatherings Everyone with […]

Submissions open for Room 204 Writer Development Programme

November 21, 2019 Liv Chapman

Once a year, we open our doors to submissions from new and emerging writers to send us their prose, poetry, scripts or spoken word to be in with a chance to be part of the next Room 204 group. Room 204 – our flagship year-long programme of career development for writers in the West Midlands – is open […]

West Midlands Writers at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, Kerala, India

January 28, 2019 Liv Chapman

A group of writers from the West Midlands will be representing the region as guests at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, Kerala, India from Thursday 31st January to Sunday 3rd February 2019. The trip has been arranged by Writing West Midlands working with the Festival. The writers attending from the West Midlands are poet […]

Room 204: End of 2018 Good News

December 20, 2018 Heddwen

The Room 204 writers have had a very successful 2018. After some prompting, they shared with us some of the brilliant work they have done this year. It seems to have been a very busy year for the cohort and we are more than proud to share their good news with you. Applications for Room […]

Inspiration from Australia: news from Room 204 writer Justina Hart

May 24, 2018 Liv Chapman

We asked our Room 204 writer Justina Hart to tell us about her recent research trip to Australia: It’s February 2016 when I receive the email from Writing West Midlands nominating me to attend a London conference, Weatherfronts, that will involve working with scientists to generate new writing responding to climate change. (Like all other […]

Room 204 18/19 writers announced

April 26, 2018 Liv Chapman

We are delighted to reveal this year’s cohort of Room 204 writers. With over 170 applications, competition was very tough, and we’re very excited by the talent on show from the 15 writers who make up this year’s group. The group will undertake a year-long programme of writer development, and join over 100 writers who have […]

Room 204: From Our Own Alumni

February 5, 2018 Liv Chapman

As we recruit the new group of Room 204 writers-in-development with our open call for submissions, we asked some of our previous Room 204 writers to tell us a little bit about what they gained from being part of the scheme. Don’t forget the deadline for submissions for this year’s scheme is 28 February! We’ll […]

Birmingham Literature Festival announces journalist and writer Sathnam Sanghera as Guest Curator

January 11, 2018 Liv Chapman

The award-winning journalist and author of The Boy with the Topknot will take on the role of Guest Curator for the 2018 Birmingham Literature Festival (4-14 October). Birmingham Literature Festival, which celebrated its 20th year in 2017, has today announced that journalist and writer Sathnam Sanghera will join the team as Guest Curator. Sathnam, who […]