Writing in the time of covid-19

My Daily Walk By Judith Wilson My daily walk’s not yet forbidden, With people out, all faces hidden, No, not masks from t-shirts made But looks on faces so afraid. Stand back apart, at least two metres Avoid the stumbling social tweeters, The joggers cough as they pass by Walkers stand quite still and sigh. As I walk back along the road To the refuge … Continue reading Writing in the time of covid-19

Historical Fiction Writing Competition

Welcome to the Altrincham Word Fest Historical Fiction Writing Competition! We are challenging pupils in Altrincham schools to produce a work of historical fiction of up to 1 000 words. We would like you to write a story that is based on an event, situation or person relevant to the history of Altrincham, Manchester or of your own hometown. We would like your story to … Continue reading Historical Fiction Writing Competition

The Song of Peterloo

‘The Song of Peterloo’ by Carolyn O’Brien is set in Manchester in 1819 where the cotton mills are making the owners rich whilst the millworkers are poorly paid and working in difficult even dangerous conditions. Many of the mill workers are drawn to radicals like Henry Hunt who are agitating for reform and plans are being made for a peaceful gathering of tens of thousands … Continue reading The Song of Peterloo

2020 Programme

May 3rd (Sunday) Independent publishers book fair    High street bookshops are full of books from a small number of large mainstream publishers, most based in London. However, the North West is home to a great variety of small independent publishers producing great work by little known and emerging authors. Our book fair will provide an opportunity for local people to discover fantastic work by the … Continue reading 2020 Programme

Manchester’s Lost District: Life before the Arndale Centre

Local writer, Keith Warrender is the author of several books about Cheshire and Manchester and he has just produced ‘Manchester’s Lost District: Life before the Arndale’. It may seem that the Arndale Centre has been dominating the centre of Manchester forever. In fact, the shopping centre was built in the 1970s to replacing a warren of streets, squares and courts, remnants of a much older … Continue reading Manchester’s Lost District: Life before the Arndale Centre

That’s What She Said

  That’s What She Said is a monthly open mic event that showcases the best new writing and performance by women and non-binary writers. It features well known headliner acts and offers a supportive environment for emerging authors to perform a mixture of performance, poetry and storytelling. That’s What She Said usually takes place in the centre of Manchester but we are delighted to say … Continue reading That’s What She Said