Word Up North

Photo credit: Charlie Swinbourne

Happy #worldbookday!

To celebrate, here's the fantastically great Kate Pankhurst (@kateisdrawing) on stage @skiptontownhall last Sunday as part of @thewordupnorth's wonderful #StoryExplorerDay!

Huge thanks to everyone who came. Hope you're having another brilliant book-filled day today!

Return to Wonderland with Anna James (@acaseforbooks.bsky.social) at Skipton Town Hall on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 1.15-2.15pm as part of our #StoryExplorerDay!

Suitable for ages 7-9. Tickets £4 per person (adults & children). Book now! wordupnorth.org.uk/events/anna-...

Our Story Explorer Day is coming to Skipton for the first time on Sunday 1 March 2026!

Join us for a celebration of classic children's stories with exciting events & interactive activities for families with children aged 0-11 years.

Tickets and full event info:
wordupnorth.org.uk/whats-on/chi...

A Poet's Life Podcast is now available to stream!

Our podcast host Laura Strickland has been speaking to her fellow New Northern Poet’s Nóra Blascsók, Rachel Curzon, Nigeen Dara, Jamie Field & Vanessa Napolitano about their path to poetry and their poetry advice!

Listen now: buff.ly/PpgwPoz

Our New Northern Poets debuted their latest work at an amazing @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social showcase last month. They also took the chance to record the new series of the New Northern Poets podcast - focussing on the life of a poet. Keep your ears out - coming soon! 🎧

Running a workshop for @thewordupnorth.bsky.social in March. Come break some rules with me :)

@moette.bsky.social

@shahnazahsan.bsky.social

@londonbessie.bsky.social

Word Up North

You can book your space on any of our online workshops now at wordupnorth.org.uk or by calling us on 01943 816714 🖋️

Breaking the Rules in Poetry Saturday 14 March Online workshop Turn the rules of poetry on their head in this counter-intuitive workshop with New Northern Poet Nóra Blascsók.

We’ve all come up against certain ‘rules’ in writing before - guidance intended to improve our craft. But in this workshop, New Northern Poet Nóra Blascsók explains how breaking these rules can work as an exciting jumping-off point to push boundaries in your poetry.

Book now: buff.ly/39JzWvN

Writing YA Fiction Tuesday 3 March Online workshop Discover how to write for a young adult audience in this two-hour online workshop with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Was there a story you read as a young person that transformed your thinking, ignited your imagination and stayed with you long after you turned eighteen? Learn how to write your own YA masterpiece with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Book now: buff.ly/FYiu4Qh

Writing Food Saturday 21 February Online workshop Learn how to write about food in this two-hour online workshop with award-winning food writer, Shahnaz Ahsan.

Discover how to serve up a sensory feast on the page and have your readers craving seconds in this workshop with award-winning food writer, Shahnaz Ahsan.

Book now: buff.ly/Z9C6oQv

The Poetry Prescription Sunday 15 February Online workshop New Northern Poet and doctor Nigeen Dara shares how creativity can ease stress and burnout in this online creative writing workshop.

In this unique workshop, New Northern Poet and doctor Nigeen Dara shows you how poetry and creative writing can help to tackle feelings of exhaustion, cynicism and detachment and help you to care for your mental wellbeing.

Book now: buff.ly/mX8VOG1

Writing Folk Horror Fiction Wednesday 28 January Online workshop Delve into the dark side of folk stories in this horror fiction online masterclass led by Costa Award-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley.

Journey to the dark side of folklore and develop your wyrd writing in this folk horror fiction online masterclass led by Costa Award-winning author and 'master of menace' Andrew Michael Hurley.

Book now: buff.ly/HcWRiZP

Poetry in Motion Saturday 10 January Online workshop Make ordinary journeys, commutes and transitions extraordinary in this online poetry workshop with New Northern Poet Vanessa Napolitano.

Your daily commute to work. The bus into town. A train out of the city. These journeys might feel unremarkable, but there’s a spark of a poem within each of them. Explore how to turn the ordinary extraordinary in this workshop with New Northern Poet Vanessa Napolitano.

Book now: buff.ly/xUT5tTc

Word Up North online writing workshops 2026 wordupnorth.org.uk 01943 816714

We're delighted to reveal our programme of online writing workshops taking place in early 2026. Ignite your imagination and develop your writing at any of our poetry, fiction and food writing workshops. And, as they're all online, you don't even have to be up north to take part!

wordupnorth.org.uk

@nblascsok.bsky.social

Word Up North

You can book your space on any of our online workshops now at wordupnorth.org.uk or by calling us on 01943 816714 🖋️

Breaking the Rules in Poetry Saturday 14 March Online workshop Turn the rules of poetry on their head in this counter-intuitive workshop with New Northern Poet Nóra Blascsók.

We’ve all come up against certain ‘rules’ in writing before - guidance intended to improve our craft. But in this workshop, New Northern Poet Nóra Blascsók explains how breaking these rules can work as an exciting jumping-off point to push boundaries in your poetry.

Book now: buff.ly/39JzWvN

Writing YA Fiction Tuesday 3 March Online workshop Discover how to write for a young adult audience in this two-hour online workshop with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Was there a story you read as a young person that transformed your thinking, ignited your imagination and stayed with you long after you turned eighteen? Learn how to write your own YA masterpiece with award-winning writer Liz Hyder.

Book now: buff.ly/FYiu4Qh

Writing Food Saturday 21 February Online workshop Learn how to write about food in this two-hour online workshop with award-winning food writer, Shahnaz Ahsan.

Discover how to serve up a sensory feast on the page and have your readers craving seconds in this workshop with award-winning food writer, Shahnaz Ahsan.

Book now: buff.ly/Z9C6oQv

The Poetry Prescription Sunday 15 February Online workshop New Northern Poet and doctor Nigeen Dara shares how creativity can ease stress and burnout in this online creative writing workshop.

In this unique workshop, New Northern Poet and doctor Nigeen Dara shows you how poetry and creative writing can help to tackle feelings of exhaustion, cynicism and detachment and help you to care for your mental wellbeing.

Book now: buff.ly/mX8VOG1

Writing Folk Horror Fiction Wednesday 28 January Online workshop Delve into the dark side of folk stories in this horror fiction online masterclass led by Costa Award-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley.

Journey to the dark side of folklore and develop your wyrd writing in this folk horror fiction online masterclass led by Costa Award-winning author and 'master of menace' Andrew Michael Hurley.

Book now: buff.ly/HcWRiZP

Poetry in Motion Saturday 10 January Online workshop Make ordinary journeys, commutes and transitions extraordinary in this online poetry workshop with New Northern Poet Vanessa Napolitano.

Your daily commute to work. The bus into town. A train out of the city. These journeys might feel unremarkable, but there’s a spark of a poem within each of them. Explore how to turn the ordinary extraordinary in this workshop with New Northern Poet Vanessa Napolitano.

Book now: buff.ly/xUT5tTc

Word Up North online writing workshops 2026 wordupnorth.org.uk 01943 816714

We're delighted to reveal our programme of online writing workshops taking place in early 2026. Ignite your imagination and develop your writing at any of our poetry, fiction and food writing workshops. And, as they're all online, you don't even have to be up north to take part!

wordupnorth.org.uk

Ilkley Literature Festival Home page -

Check out the full programme at ilkleylitfest.org.uk

#ILF25 #Ilkley #Bradford #bookfestival

Did you know we also programme and run the annual Ilkley Literature Festival? Ilkley Lit Fest is the longest-running book festival in the north (and the first in the north!). ILF runs until Sunday 19 October, with events on topics ranging from politics & poetry to comedy & cavapoos (yes, really). 📚

Huge thanks to our partners at BBC Arts, @bradford2025.co.uk , @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and to the people of Bradford.

📸 the brilliant Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer