Bournemouth Writing Festival

The Bournemouth Writing Festival is an annual event inspiring people of all ages to write in all its forms from fiction, poetry to the stage. Following its inauguration in 2023, the festival has quickly established itself as a collaborative platform for writers, authors and literary experts to come together to learn and create. For more details on the 2024 Bournemouth Writing Festival, see below!

Taking place from Friday 26th April to Sunday 28th April 2024, the much-anticipated event will once again bring together a diverse community of writers, authors and writing professionals for a weekend of learning, inspiration and collaboration.

Following its successful first year – which saw 75 events and activities from more than 100 writing experts and professionals and nearly two thousand tickets sold – the 2024 festival again promises to offer tips, guidance, advice and inspiration for writers at all stages of their writing journey.

From talks, workshops and masterclasses to networking events and panels, a plethora of events and activities to inspire writers to write is being planned. In 2023, best-selling author Heidi Perks spoke about writing thrillers on the South Coast whilst horror writer Matt Shaw explained how he created to make a career from self-publishing. AFC Bournemouth partnered with the festival to launch a creative writing competition for primary schools whilst Richard & Judy-winning author Chris Aziz led a writing workshop on the beach.

The 2024 Bournemouth Writing Festival promises to be filled with more free and ticketed events and activities to inspire writers to write, including:

Talks, panels, masterclasses and workshops by renowned authors and writers. The festival will once again feature a line-up of authors, poets, journalists, screenwriters and industry experts, offering a range of inspiring talks, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops. From starting out, techniques and tips to enhance your prose, editing, querying and choosing the traditional vs self-publishing route, there is something for every writer to progress their writing and get it out into the world.

1:2:1s. New for 2024 is the chance to pitch your manuscript to literary agents and to get personalised feedback on aspects of your writing from writing professionals in private sessions. Marketing, plotting, querying, characterisation, agenting, pacing, funding - an expert will be available to help with your specific needs (price per session to be confirmed).

Inspiration to Write. The festival will host a variety of unique indoor and outdoor activities and events to help stimulate creativity. You’ll never have a blank page with the breadth of writing professionals and ideas at your fingertips.

Networking. The Bournemouth Writing Festival is not only a platform for learning but also an excellent opportunity to connect with local writers, agents, publishers, and other industry professionals. The festival's vibrant atmosphere and funky venues encourage meaningful networking and potential collaborations.

Poetry Hub. New for 2024 will be our Poetry Hub – an exclusive venue where poems and poets are in abundance! For complete beginners to seasoned pros, there will be activities, talks and inspiration-galore to get you writing.

Events for Children. We’re planning activities and events to inspire children to read and write, including workshops, trails and activities designed specifically for children.

The main festival hub will be at the Pavilion Dance South West. More information on the festival's schedule, speakers, and ticketing details will be released in January when tickets go on sale. Gift vouchers are now available on the website.

Paul Kinvig, COO of the Town Centre BID commented, “The first Writing Festival was a huge success and just what Bournemouth needed, bringing together creatives, writers, students and local businesses with an energetic focus. It demonstrated that towns outside of London are hubs of creativity and imagination. We are pleased to continue our support and can’t wait to see what’s on offer in 2024.”

Festival Director, Dominic Wong, said, “The buzz and community feel around the first Writing Festival was tangible, evidenced in our continuing networking events and private Facebook group. We’ve already had interest from national agents, publishers and companies wanting to get involved. 2024 promises to be bigger and better!”

The Bournemouth Writing Festival is supported by the Town Centre BID and Solid Imagery Photography. This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Arts Council England.

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