You can find my short story 'The Liar' in this latest edition of Pulse by @writingeastmidlands.com; a creative exploration of truth-telling from the perspective of a pathological people pleaser

Read the fifth edition of Pulse here! ➡️ bit.ly/WEMPULSE The latest issue of our digital magazine has launched! 🎉 Exploring the theme 'Masks' and examining a writer's relationship to concealment in their writing. 🎭️ Featuring articles on AI, public persona, ND masking, trust and betrayal, and more.

Time for a weekend round up ⛅ Self Editing courses, Poetry Open Mics in Mansfield and Nottingham, Children's short story competitions AND MORE! Check out ALL NEW opportunities and announcements here: buff.ly/XrSJS5S

NEW interview with Carson Wolfe! We chatted with the author of Coin Laundry at Midnight ahead of its launch with Button Poetry this Spring. 🏪✍️ For a 5-minute read about queer storytelling, getting publishing as a poet and writing for competitions, click here ➡️ bit.ly/WEMWOLFE

Really lovely feedback from our online writing festival! ❤️ Still going 'til Saturday with recordings available for all sessions, even the ones you've missed. More info here: bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Online Sunday activity for 10-17s! FREE but signup essential 👉️ bit.ly/WUWYWD Young writers, you're invited to join our day of creative writing exercises, games and FUN. Aimed at Neurodivergent kids and teens, led by Neurodivergent authors and poets, but OPEN TO ALL. 🫶 Secure your place! ✍️

Who's speaking at our free writing masterclass for 18-25s? 🤔 Meet author, editor and publisher Nicci Robinson! 👋 As Co-director of Global Wordsmiths, Nicci has lots of experience in the writing industry and is ready to share her tips for building a writing career. ✍️💼 Register here ➡️ bit.ly/WIYCT

LAST CHANCE for full festival tickets ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26 Our online writing festival kicks off this evening with a talk from Kate Oliver of the Radical Rest Network. 🎟️ Full access tickets will be on sale until the end of this week, with recordings available for any sessions you miss.

LAST CHANCE for full festival tickets ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26 Our online writing festival kicks off this evening with a talk from Kate Oliver! 🎟️ Full access tickets will be on sale until the end of this week, with recordings available for sessions you miss. Book yours on our website. 💻️

What does a festival illustrator do? 🤔✏️ Meet Camille Aubry! 👋 She'll be illustrating our online creative writing festival next week. 🎨🖌️ Find out more about what she'll be up to and about our weeklong festival, here. 👉️ bit.ly/BTSILLUSTRATE

THREE DAYS TO GO! ✍️📚 Book your online writing festival tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26 Featuring Keynote Speaker Chris Packham and a whole host of authors, publishers, poets and editors. Find out more on our website! 💻️

Yesterday, I had the privilege of leading a @writingeastmidlands.com BtS taster session with @literatureworks.bsky.social and gosh what a wonderful group!! So much talent, so much creativity, so much humour, so much joy. Neurodivergent writers are magic - thank you for trusting me with your words!

Kids and teens aged 10-17 are invited to our day-long festival for young writers next Sunday! ✍️🎉 🤓 Fun & educational workshops 💻️ 100% online & 100% FREE 🫶 Aimed at Neurodivergent young people but open to all! Book your young writer's free ticket here 👉️ bit.ly/WUWYWD

Speaking at our online writing festival in less than one week...!! 👀 Give a warm welcome to Kate Oliver, K Angel, Susie Wilson and Caroline Stancer! 👋 Make sure you've booked tickets to their talks, here! 👉️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Hi WEM friends! ☀️ We have a brand new collection of events, opportunities and competitions listed on our website - including Script Sharing in Corby, Irish reading groups in Nottingham and Swadlincote Festival of Words!💥 Click here to get involved: buff.ly/Wei9MKT 🧡

Find out what a real career as a writer looks like. ✍️💼 Our free masterclass and Q&A for 18-25s is here to give you an honest glimpse into the writing industry and your options going forward. Free to join but sign up essential, click here for more ➡️ bit.ly/WIYCT

Our weeklong online writing festival starts next week! 🎉 Remember: ALL sessions will be recorded for ticketholders. 🎥 If you can't make it on the day, we've got you covered! 🎟️ Tickets to all 15+ events: £30. Tickets for individual sessions: £5. Concessions available. BOOK HERE. ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

If you've been seeing us post about Words Unwound, our upcoming online writing festival, and you want to know what it all means, read this ➡️ bit.ly/WIBTS In our latest blog post, Head of Progs Rebecca Morris-Buck talks our Beyond the Spectrum programme: what it is and who it's for. 🌈

We have 17 speakers joining us for our online creative writing festival - here are just 4 of them! 👋 As the festival is part of our BTS programme for Autistic writers, all of our speakers are Neurodivergent and will be approaching their topic from a ND perspective. More info ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Exciting news - our online writing festival now has its own resident artist! 🖌️🎨 At the end of March, Camille Aubry will be joining us for Words Unwound and illustrating our week of panels, talks and workshops. Check out her drawings from last year's festival. And for more info ➡️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Our writer internship programme invites you to this free spring social and masterclass for writers aged 18-25. 🌻✍️ Open to all - you don't have to be a WEMTern to join! Sign up here 👉️ bit.ly/WIYCT

CJ DeBarra, Charlotte Faulconbridge, Antonia King and Jess Telling are just some of the writers, poets and performers speaking at our online writing festival. ✍️🎉 All talks recorded & available to ticketholders. Taking place at the end of March, book your tickets here 👉️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Hey WEM friends 👋 Here are this week's community spotlights with competitions, events and opportunities from across the Midlands and beyond! 🧡 For a full listing of upcoming events and opportunities, check out our website: buff.ly/aMMIk2M

Full lineup of events at our weeklong online festival for writers. ✍️ Taking place at lunchtimes and after dinner to fit around your schedule. Recordings of events available if you can't make it on the day. 🎥 🎟️ Tickets to individual talks can be purchased. Get yours here 👉️ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Tickets to individual festival panels and workshops are just £5 each! 🎟️😍 Here's a little something for aspiring scriptwriters followed by a pitching workshop for Neurodivergent writers. ✍️ For the scriptwriting panel ➡️ bit.ly/SCRIPTPANEL For the ND pitching workshop ➡️ bit.ly/NDSTORIES

Big thanks to Gainsborough Old Hall for inviting our Gainsborough Young Writers' Group along for this unique tile-making workshop. 🎨🖌️ Led by ceramic artist Jen Holtridge. Our young writers had buckets of fun getting stuck in to this community project and making a hands-on contribution. 🫶

All set up at the Creative Industries Expo! 🙌 This mini expo for Northants/MK/Beds secondary schools has been organised as part of National Careers Week and Northampton Film Festival. Today, Sophie's repping both Writing East Midlands and Beyond the Spectrum! 👋 Thanks for having us! 🫶

Speaker reveal ✨ Meet some of the authors, editors, publishers and performers joining us for our 100% online writing festival at the end of this month. ✍️ Featured here: Lauren McMenemy, Via MacNab, Kit Whitfield and Victoria Villasenor. 📚 🎟️ Book your tickets here: bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Last Saturday we joined Derby Book Festival for their World Book Day Party, giving out free books and magazines, and chatting all things WEM and Beyond the Spectrum! 📚️📖🌈 Thanks to everyone who came along for a natter and to all the young writers who joined us to make their very own bookmark. ✍️🫶

Any SFF writers out there? 🧙‍♂🚀 Check out these workshops, talks and panels from our upcoming online writing festival. Tickets to individual sessions available. Plus access to recordings if you can't make it on the day. Find out more here ➡ bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Hi folks 👋 check out our next community spotlight here! Events, competitions and opportunities from the Midlands and beyond! 🧡 Full listings posted on our website: buff.ly/Np47MEp

More talks, panels and workshops from Beyond the Spectrum's 100% online creative writing festival! 💬✍️ Remember: You can buy tickets for individual sessions (£5 each) or for all 15 (just £30). Recordings available if you can't make it on the day. See the full lineup here: bit.ly/BTSFEST26

HUGE news! WEM Mentoring Scheme alumnus Lauren-Jane Bowyer has signed with Mushens Entertainment. Lauren-Jane's debut, HORRID, is to be represented by literary agent Maria Whelan, who joined us for our most recent Meet the Agents Day. Congrats to Lauren-Jane! 🎉 Read the full story: bit.ly/LJBBLOG

Apply before this Wednesday: ➡️ bit.ly/LUTTERWORTH Writers and illustrators are needed for this children's storybook project. Especially those with facilitation experience! Fill out the form by midnight on 25th Feb 2026 to be considered.

Tomorrow is your last chance to signup! 📝 Click here to find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/DERBYYWG Our NEW writing group for Derby young people aged 11-16 meets online this Wednesday and in person this Saturday. If you know any emerging authors or aspiring environmentalists, send them our way! 🌳✍️

Try out our Beyond the Spectrum creative writing programme led by and for Autistic writers. ✍️🌈 For a FREE online taster session for writers in SW England, click here ➡️ bit.ly/BTSLW For FREE online & in person (Lincoln) taster sessions open to all, click here ➡️ bit.ly/BTSMILLA

🧑‍🎨 Poets & creatives aged 15-25, here are your Saturday plans... 👉️ bit.ly/SPEAKEASYC Looking for something new to do tomorrow afternoon? 👀 Come along for Speak Easy's next Open Mic, meet other creatives and discover your local poetry scene.

Our first Derby young writers' free online workshop is next Wednesday, sign up here ➡️ bit.ly/DWTYWG We're running afterschool activities for 11-16s interested in writing, storytelling and nature, with occasional in person meetups on a Saturday. 🪴✍️ In partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. 🦡

Some pics from our last Bolsover young writers' group! 📷️ Our young writers were joined by artist Rachel Hayes who encouraged them to use art as means to access their imagination and inspire new stories. 🎨🖌️ Just look at all these gorgeous landscapes! 🏔️

Free Saturday morning activity for 10-17s in or around Gainsborough! ✍️🫟 We've been running our fun, creative & educational young writers' groups for years, led by trusted and experienced creative writing tutors. 🧑‍🏫 Next workshop takes place 14th March. Sign up here ➡️ bit.ly/GAINSBOROUGH...

Writers and illustrators wanting for an exciting new job opportunity! ✍️🖌️ Creative Leicestershire and Lutterworth Library are looking for creative practitioners to help create a children's book about local unsung heroes. Deadline: 25th Feb 2026. Apply here ➡️ bit.ly/LUTTERWORTH

Are you a digital artist looking for commissions?🧑‍🎨 If so, our magazine is seeking designs ideas for our next front cover and we want YOU to enter! 🫵 Submit your drawings, graphic designs, digital art or photography by next Wednesday for the chance to win a fee of £75. 🔗 bit.ly/DESIGNPULSE2

Looking for something literary to wind down your Wednesday night? ✍️✨ TOMORROW evening, award-winning author Irenosen Okojie is joining us online to talk about her craft for just £15. Great for writers, readers and those seeking inspiration. Save your space here ➡️ bit.ly/AURORAIRENOSEN

Speak Easy is BACK! 🎉 And better than ever. The spoken word collective for 15-25s is kicking off the year with their first open mic of 2026. 🎤 Whether you're performing or there to support your local poets, come along ready to hear some powerful poetry this Saturday. 🔗: bit.ly/SPEAKEASYC

So grateful for all the support and mentorship received from @writingeastmidlands.com - who've supported members of St Ghosty since 2024 ❤️

Some thoughts on my wonderful experience so far with the @writingeastmidlands.com mentoring scheme.

Joining us for Beyond the Spectrum's online writing festival? 🎉 Here's part one of the lineup. Words Unwound is our weeklong celebration of Autistic writing, with talks, panels and workshops from Autistic writers, for ALL to enjoy. 🫶 More events to follow. Visit our website, here: bit.ly/BTSFEST26

Upcoming events, opportunities and competitions form the Midlands and beyond! ✨️ See our 'Whats On' page for more info! buff.ly/E5JpWRV

Calling all 11-16 year olds in Derbyshire! 🌿 FREE nature writing workshops just announced! 🦊 Sign up here: bit.ly/DWTYWG

Happy Valentine's Day, Love WEM xox 💖💕 On a day dedicated to romance (and libraries, since it's also Library Lovers' Day!) the WEM team wanted to recommend some of our favourite love stories! Let us know your recommendations! 💗