Gather with us this festive season for an evening of captivating storytelling celebrating British folklore and Lally MacBeth’s book, The Lost Folk. Featuring accompanying music from folk singer Georgia Shackleton ⭐ Thu 4 Dec, 6.30pm, NCW. Book now: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/the-l...

It's #RealLivingWageWeek ⭐ For the sixth year running, we're proud to support the national Living Wage Campaign and Norwich’s status as a Living Wage city with an original poetry commission. You can read and listen to the new poem by Ruth Beddow, titled ‘Doing the maths’, here: buff.ly/vh2aEm7

⏰ Last chance to join the November writing challenge Sign up now – just £30 for 30 days of writing prompts: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/chall... Beat your writer's block and build a daily writing routine! #writingchallenge #30daychallenge #TheWritingLife #writingprompt

📢 Introducing … Kane John Mills 📢 Kane will be representing @exetercityoflit.bsky.social ! Kane will be performing live in Dublin!

Hot off the press! 🔥 We're so excited to share our new season brochure. Pick one up today from bookshops and venues across Norwich to explore our jam-packed programme of live events, courses, workshops, and more! You can also download a digital copy here: buff.ly/17Md1Zs

Norwich, are you ready for an evening of dynamic poetry? 🎤 This November, Bad Betty Press presents poetry from Desree, Hasti, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, and Kareem Parkins-Brown. Sign up on the night for a three-minute open mic slot! Tue 4 November, 7pm, NCW. Book now: buff.ly/KwRcQ1D

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, poets Erica Hesketh and Jenny Pagdin delve into the poetry of motherhood, and how they each share their ‘emotional truth’ in their writing. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/FaTbjKT

Join the NCW team! There's still time to apply to become our new International Programmes Manager. Working closely with the Programmes team, you will effectively manage our international strand of work. 📅 Deadline for applications: 10am, Mon 6 October. Find out more and apply: buff.ly/yjxUpp1

Next week! 📅 There's still time to book your tickets to see award-winning Argentine author Mariana Enríquez discuss her first work of non-fiction in translation, Somebody is Walking on Your Grave. Wed 1 October, 6.30pm, The Octagon Chapel, £10 (£8 conc). Book now: buff.ly/lwgG1kP

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, poet, editor, and literary activist Vanessa Bell sits down with NCW's Chief Executive Peggy Hughes to discuss how her travels have transformed her as a writer and as a person. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/wkLyVrQ

Ready for a season of productivity and progression? ✍️ Situated in the unique Grade-I-listed Dragon Hall, our Writers’ Room contains free, bookable desk space on Thursdays and Fridays each week. Bookings for October open. Find out more: buff.ly/XJO2lpy #NorwichCityofLiterature #CityofStories

We’re delighted that English PEN & @writerscentre.bsky.social are collaborating again this year to highlight and promote events and activities taking place across the UK and online in celebration of International Translation Day 2025. #ITD2025 View the programme ⤵️ www.englishpen.org/translation/...

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, illustrator Hayley Wells delves into the importance of representation in children’s books. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/tK9dZuk

It's just four weeks to go until we welcome Mariana Enríquez to Norwich! Join her on an extraordinary gothic journey through the world’s cemeteries as she discusses her new non-fiction book, Somebody is Walking on Your Grave. Wed 1 Oct, 6.30pm, The Octagon Chapel. Book now: buff.ly/eO27hGw

Looking to reconnect with your creative practice? Join coach & author Julia Forster for @thelitconsultancy.bsky.social‬'s Amplify programme. Make tangible progress, gain insight into your writing, & discover an engaged writing community as you find your momentum. bit.ly/TLC-Amplify-25

Applications are OPEN for Emerging Translator Mentorships 2025–26! ✍️🌍 Mentees receive six months of personal mentoring, as well as invitations to industry events for their professional and creative development. Deadline: 11.59pm BST, Sun 31 August nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/get-involved...

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, bestselling author Pat Barker shares insights about the art of retellings, and the craftsmanship and research needed to write reimaginings of classic literature. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/P2thCZy

Would you like to win signed editions of David Nicholls' bestselling novels? 📚 Join us at The Great Norwich Book Quiz for the chance to win literary prizes! Hosted by our Chief Executive, Peggy Hughes, the night will be filled with bookish brilliance, delicious food, and lively literary company.

We're hiring! We're looking for an attentive and skilled team leader and problem solver to lead our small Finance team. 📅 Deadline for applications: 10am, Tue 9 September. Find out more: buff.ly/Nl7ruiK

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, award-winning writer Val McDermid shares insights on writing contemporary crime fiction, and the importance of learning patience as a writer. Produced by National Centre for Writing. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/kWAhMQP

Are you interested in applying to the Escalator New Writing Fellowships 2025/26? Join mentor Ayanna Lloyd Banwo for a friendly Q&A session where she will discuss the programme and share advice for early career writers. Wed 13 August, 1–2pm, online, free. Register now: buff.ly/UpDRqJ9

The City of Literature Christmas Market is back at NCW this November ⭐ We're so excited to be inviting regionl publishers and presses, zine-makers, artists and makers, writers, illustrators, and writing community groups to take part! Deadline: Mon 8 September. Find out more: buff.ly/Ehh1dZA

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, Singaporean writer Wen-yi Lee shares insights into building a writing career, the importance of representation in literature, and the process of taking a project from conception to completion. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/dNwnpKb

Feeling lucky? Join us for the first edition of The Great Norwich Book Quiz, an evening of bookish brilliance, delicious food, and lively literary company. Keep an eye out for a sneak peak of some of the prizes, coming soon... 👀 Thu 2 October, 6pm, NCW. Book now: buff.ly/QUgkmzZ

Are you ready for Norwich Pride? 🏳️‍🌈 We’ll be stationed in The Forum all day to celebrate LGBTQIA+ writers, creators and communities. There may even be a special giveaway... 👀 Saturday 26 July, 10am–5pm, The Forum. See you there! #NorwichCityofLiterature #VisitNorwich #Norwich #NorwichPride

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, prize-winning poet and writer Michael Pedersen shares his experience writing between genres, and how pushing the boundaries of literary categories can enhance your writing. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/FSddUUx

Call for Applications! Open to translators who are Black, Asian or from Ethnically Diverse backgrounds working from any language into English, especially those connected to diaspora and heritage language communities. nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/writing-hub/...

Young Norfolk Writing Prize winners announced! 🏆 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the region’s biggest creative writing competition. Read the winning entries and find out more: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/writing-hub/winners-announced-for-the-young-norfolk-writing-prize-2025/

Coming to NCW this autumn! Join Raymond Antrobus for a ground-breaking and much-needed examination of deafness in his memoir The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound. This event will be BSL interpreted. Wed 17 September, 6.30pm, NCW. Book now: buff.ly/rwjIAXs

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, prize-winning writer Julia Armfield shares insights on world building in horror fiction, and writing catastrophic, intense circumstances. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/J0BmZXg

📢 Vote now! The Norwich City of Literature Award recognises outstanding contributions by individuals or organisations to the region’s literary ecosystem – whether through community engagement, publishing innovation or literary advocacy. Deadline to vote: 12noon on 28 July. buff.ly/vXxyewQ

This #RefugeeWeek we’re pleased to be hosting Stories of Discovery, a collaboration between English+ and @writerscentre.bsky.social, bringing together one organisation that teaches the English language and another that focuses on the creative uses of language. cathedral.org.uk/events/exhib...

Norwich, are you ready for an evening of live poetry? 🎤 We're so excited to welcome European Poetry Festival back to Dragon Hall next week for an evening celebrating words, performance, and the potentials of collaboration. Thu 3 July, 6.30pm, NCW. Book now: buff.ly/klhEVS8

A little garden-themed reading list selected by me for you up on @writerscentre.bsky.social! 🌿🌿 nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/writing-hub/...

Happy #IndependentBookshopWeek 📚 Norwich City of Literature boasts a selection of wonderful independent bookshops to get lost or find yourself in. How lucky are we? Treat yourself to a new book this week, and buy indie!

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, writers Eleanor Anstruther and Simon K Jones discuss the world of Substack, and how they use the platform to publish and share their work. Produced by National Centre for Writing. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/d35fRMm

Celebrate #RefugeeWeek with us! 🎉 Take part in immersive storytelling with Sara Stanley ('One Button and the Sea'), hear traditional stories from those with lived experience of refuge, and try your hand at Moomin-themed activities. Sun 15 June, 10am–3pm, NCW. buff.ly/PZhdVXR

Happy #VolunteersWeek ⭐ Thank you to anyone that has ever volunteered with NCW, supported our City of Literature weekend at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, and to the Dragon Hall Heritage Volunteers who keep the building's colourful history alive.

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, bestselling author André Aciman discusses the intricacies of writing romance, from the magic of first meetings to the nuances of portraying older characters falling in love. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/gsoU4Nw

Apply for ILX 2025! A global digital exchange for writers, publishers, agents & more to connect & shape the future of literature. Apply by 9am, Tue BST 1 July at nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/writing-hub/apply-international-literature-exchange-25/ #LitExchange #WorkWithWords #GlobalWriting

Enter the Young Norwich Creative Awards 2025! Each award offers a prize of £1,000 and a year’s mentoring. Open to 16-25 years olds who live, work or study in Norwich. Don't miss out on your chance to win! Deadline: 9am Mon 2 June For more information and to apply: buff.ly/qG2QNB9

Huge congratulations to Escalator New Writing Fellows Lauren Van Schaik and Muti’ah Badruddeen on being shortlisted, and to NCW Academy alum Maria Jackson on being longlisted, for the Women's Prize Discoveries 2025 👏👏👏 👏👏👏 Find out more: womensprize.com/meet-the-202...

Join us in the rebellious act of reading! For the third year, we are joining forces with The Book Hive to deliver an international edition of Page Against the Machine, with reading events taking place across the world on Saturday 24 May 📚 Explore all featured cities: buff.ly/oTQuLGw

Introducing The Bee 🐝 The Bee is a new showcase of working-class writing from the UK and beyond. It creates an online space which provides support, community, and development opportunities for new and emerging working-class writers which will launch later this summer.

📅 TONIGHT! Join Lisabelle Tay, Heather Parry, and Yan Ge as they explore how the body and the bodily serve as powerful lenses for examining trauma, grief, and the experience of inhabiting perspectives and bodies beyond our own. Stream here: buff.ly/SKDuNnR

📣 New podcast! In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, writer Joanna Miller shares her insights into writing strong female characters in historical fiction. 🎧 Listen and find out more: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/writing-hub/...

⏰ The countdown is on for City of Literature weekend at Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2025 — and with it, five workshops to inspire, ignite creativity, and develop your craft. Find out more: buff.ly/gNBDl0O

COMPETITION TIME! 📚 To celebrate #WorldBookNight, we're giving away a copy of Seán Hewitt's Open, Heaven to one lucky ticket holder! Described by Brandon Taylor as ‘God’s Own Country meets Heartstopper’, Open, Heaven is the story of two teenage boys falling in love in the English countryside.

⏰ THIS EVENING! What can translation teach us about the importance of preserving cultural literature? Join Phương Anh, Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Thi, and Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng as they discuss the creation of archives and the ways we document and shape our futures. Watch here at 7pm BST: buff.ly/AmsrAZB

We’ve got merch at @writerscentre.bsky.social now 😘