Behind the Scenes at TUFTB: Crafting Stories & Inspiring Change
Turn Up for the Books gives 18-25 year olds in County Durham the chance to go behind the scenes of Durham Book Festival and learn more about the arts and literature industry through workshops, talks and hands-on event programming experience, culminating in programming their own event as part of Durham Book Festival. This year, the participants devised an event on Writing from Conflict, featuring authors Ibtisam Azem, Yeva Skalietska, and Peace Adzo Medie.
Here, Agnibeena Ghosh reflects on the skills she’ll take from the programme as she looks towards a career in literature.
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It was through a department-wide email from Durham University’s English department that I first learned about the Turn Up for the Books opportunity. Already interested in the publishing world, I was encouraged to explore this hands-on programme, which promised not only practical skill-building but also a closer look into the industry I hoped to be part of through event planning and industry discussions. My time on this programme provided insights and experiences that go far beyond the typical classroom setting.
Our journey began on Day 1, with an in-person session in the Studio at Gala Durham. We dove into the world of publishing through an Industry Insider discussion featuring Rosie Catcheside from Faber & Faber and Alice Mullen from the Poetry Book Society about their careers. Learning from these experts gave me a deeper understanding of what it takes to build a successful career in publishing, especially in specialized areas like poetry and independent presses. This talk gave vital insight into some different roles available in the publishing industry and the skill set required to excel in them.
Event planning was another big component of our training, allowing us to collaborate creatively and strategically to plan our event for Durham Book Festival, which we decided would focus on writing from conflict. Throughout the summer, I personally worked with other participants to draft the event copy and put together a press release throughout the course of my experience. It’s one thing to write for yourself; it’s quite another to craft a message that has to capture the essence of an event and resonate with a public audience.
Day 2 introduced us to the marketing side, featuring Carys Vickers and Jude Lowes from New Writing North, followed by a pop-in session with publicist Emily Thomas from Hachette Childrens. This session was full of practical insights into the strategies used to bring books and events to a broader audience. Understanding how to create an effective marketing plan and the role of PR in literary events was something I never realized I would need, but now I feel much more equipped to promote my future projects effectively.
Day 3 began with a reviewing workshop with Cal Revely-Calder from The Telegraph. Professor Hannah Brown, who chaired our upcoming event, joined us, provided guidance on the questions to pose to our speakers – authors Yeva Skalietska, Ibtisam Azem and Peace Adzo Medie – which brought clarity and focus to our preparations. The day ended with some fieldwork around Durham, where we put up posters and distributed bookmarks to local businesses. It was truly fulfilling to see our hard work reaching the community firsthand.
Finally, it was the day of our event – Writing from Conflict – on October 12 at Gala Durham. The authors brought narratives from conflict zones into conversation – I was struck by the depth and impact of each author’s story. Yeva Skalietska’s memoir about fleeing Ukraine as a child was particularly moving. Her reflections on peace resonated deeply, as did Ibtisam Azem’s exploration of historical memory and displacement and Peace Adzo Medie’s insights into personal trauma and friendship.
Reflecting on our journey on the final day, I realized how much the programme has given me: skills in event planning, marketing, collaboration, and the art of bringing stories to life. This experience wasn’t just about organizing an event but about creating a space where voices from conflict zones could resonate with an audience ready to listen and empathize.
Turn Up for the Books has been an unforgettable experience, and it’s made me more confident and excited about my future in the literary world.