Autumn 2025
There are so many ways to take part in New Writing North’s programme this autumn
Find out all about our events, groups, activities and projects for writers, readers, and young people.
For Writers
The Jerwood Fellowship for Emerging Writers
Applications open from 3 September
The Jerwood Fellowship for Emerging Writers at New Writing North will be awarded to three early-career published writers, currently living anywhere in the North of England. Each writer will receive a bursary of £10,000 and a bespoke package of support, including mentoring, over the course of a year.
The Northern Writers’ Awards 2026
Submissions open from 1 October
The Northern Writers’ Awards are England’s biggest writer development programme. They are free to enter and offer support, mentoring, placements, publication and cash awards to new, emerging and established writers in the North. The 2026 portfolio includes two new awards: one for writers of commercial and genre fiction, and one for picture book illustrators.
Script Hubs
Applications open from 11 August
In partnership with Channel 4, Script Hubs provide peer support and networking to writers across the North. This autumn, applications are opening for two new Script Hubs: one for writers living in Cumbria, and one for Global Majority writers anywhere in the North.
TV Pilot Scratch Night
24 September, Alphabetti Theatre
Hear script-in-hand readings of the opening pages of four new TV pilots from North East screenwriters, alongside live constructive feedback from an experienced industry panel of producers and script executives.
Find out more and book tickets for the tv pilot scratch night
West End Writes
West End Writes is a programme of creative writing activity in the West End of Newcastle. It is based out of our Creative Writing Hub at the John Marley Centre and includes a multilingual writing group, creative workshops for older male residents and weekly drop-in activities where people can try new things and get support from New Writing North on their writing journey.
The programme is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and we work with a number of partner organisations to run creative activity for people of all ages.
For Readers
Durham Book Festival
Durham Book Festival takes place 10–12 October at Gala Durham, Clayport Library and Collected Books. Audiences can also join in online.
Get ready to be challenged, inspired, entertained, and swept away as some of the hottest names in books descend on the city.
With over 25 events across three days, delve into history, humour, poetry, and fiction.
Five event highlights are on sale now, and the full programme will be announced in August.
Celebrating Newcastle Writers: Eva Ibbotson and Winifred Watson
29 October, Tyneside Cinema
Eva Ibbotson and Winifred Watson were two brilliant authors, who blazed a literary trail from their homes in 20th century Newcastle. We’re delighted to celebrate these Newcastle writers with Francesca Beauman from Persephone Books, and Eva Ibbotson’s daughter, Lalage Bosanquet.
Find out more and book tickets for Celebrating Newcastle Writers
Book of Crow Tour
18-26 September, venues across County Durham
Acclaimed North East writer Anna Barker’s stunning poetry collection Book of Crow is brought to life in this special touring production with recorded music from Durham band The Shining Levels. Presented as a dialogue between a woman and a belligerent crow, the piece swings between heartache and humour as it explores loss and the emotions that orbit it.
The David Cohen Prize for Literature 2025
4 November, online
The David Cohen Prize for Literature is one of the country’s most distinguished prizes. Worth £40,000, it recognises a living writer from the UK or Republic of Ireland for a lifetime’s achievement in literature.
Join us on the livestream as the winner of the 2025 David Cohen Prize for Literature is revealed.
The Bee
The Bee is a literary magazine, an online platform, a podcast, and the heart of a writing community. Discover some of the best new working-class writing by new and established working-class writers and visual artists, with new content being added regularly.
Writing as Refuge with Sulaiman Addonia
14 October, 1b Books
Join acclaimed Eritrean-Ethiopian-British writer Sulaiman Addonia in conversation with writer Preti Taneja, as they explore intergenerational histories, colonial trauma, and the impact of the UK asylum system on young refugees, through the lens of his third novel, The Seers.
For Young People
Young Writers’ Groups
Do you enjoy being creative? Do you have a story to tell? Do you want to meet other young writers? Join one of our Young Writers’ Groups!
We run Young Writers’ Groups in libraries and community spaces across the North East, and First Edition for 18-25 year olds in Newcastle. Signups for all our groups will be opening soon.
We also run summer activities and other one-off projects, so you can get involved in our Young Writers programme the whole year round. All our groups are free to attend.
First Edition Anthology Open Call
Submissions open until 1 September
First Edition is New Writing North’s writing group for 18-25 year olds, based in Newcastle and facilitated by professional writers. We meet weekly during term time to write, share ideas and give peer feedback. We offer a place to connect, develop skills across different forms of writing and gain industry insight.
We’re calling for young Northern writers based anywhere in the North to submit writing on the theme ‘Pushing Boundaries’, to be published in a printed anthology later this year. You might be a poet, a prose writer, an artist working with words, writing fiction or non-fiction – all writing is welcome.