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2020 Programme
Saturday 10 October
Bristol Short Story Prize Awards
Join writers, agents, publishers and literature lovers from around the world as the Bristol Short Story Prize reveals the winner of its 13th annual competition.
Friday 16 October
Rosana Amaka in Conversation
Rosanna Amaka writes of people moving between worlds, and asks how we can heal and help each other – join her in conversation with Novelist Dr Sanjida O’Connell as they discuss Amaka’s irresistible and powerful debut novel: The Book Of Echoes.
Saturday 17 October
The Bristol Festival of Literature 2020 Writers' Retreat
The Bristol Festival Of Literature Writers’ Retreat has become one of our most popular events in recent years so book your slot early to avoid disappointment. This event is aimed at writers who want to get published and comprises four separately bookable sessions with industry experts.
Poets 4 The Planet
Interbeing: Poets 4 The Planet is a national forum of writers responding to the climate crisis.
Sunday 18 October
Imagine: Writing Bristol's Future
Bristol Climate Writers is a network of writers of all genres using creative techniques to explore and interpret issues based around climate change. This workshop event is based on the understanding that in order to move toward a sustainable Bristol, we need to start imagining new possibilities for today.
Monday 19 October
Colston: Fact And Fiction with Roger Ball, Mark Steeds and Ros Martin
From Wulfstan To Colston is a major new study of the abolitionist tradition in Bristol that was released just days before the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was toppled and dumped in the Floating Harbour.
Heating Up with the Bard Of Windmill Hill
Join the award-winning poet, lyrical comedian and stand-up philosopher for an evening of lyrical musings inspired by climate change.
Tuesday 20 October
SPEL
SPEL is a poetry and acoustic music open mic providing an intimate, friendly space to read or
perform or listen to local poetry and acoustic music.
Storytelling Across Diverse Media
A Novelist, a Screenwriter, a Comic Creator and a Visual Storyteller walk into a Literature event…
Wednesday 21 October
Stepping Out with Bristol Writers’ Group
A collection of short stories exploring travelling and journeys to tie in with the release of new zine Stepping Out.
Thursday 22 October
Landscapes: A showcase of work by The Diverse Creative Writing Group
Performance by members of the Diverse Creative Writing Group for adults with Autistic Spectrum Condition.
Dream Haiku with Asha Sahni
Take a journey into the world of dream haiku, crafting short poems in response to your dreams during this workshop.
Novel Nights: Taking Risks As A Writer with Julie Cohen
Julie Cohen chats to Novel Nights about taking risks in a writing career, overcoming writer’s block and challenging the status quo. This author talk and Q&A is hosted by David Lloyd.
Friday 23 October
Stories of Strong Women – Inspirational Female Authors
Women inspiring women! Bristol authors Jane Duffus, Elle Spellman and Heather Child discuss women whose writing has blazed a trail.
Burning Eye Presents
Burning Eye Books is a southwest indie publisher, and the largest producer of spoken word/performance/slam/stand up poetry in the UK.
Saturday 24 October
Literary Walk
Volunteers from the Long John Silver Trust will lead this literary walk from King Street to Merchants’ Landing following the route of the Treasure Island Trail which celebrates Bristol’s link with Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island.
Georgia Calling
Georgia is the first country partner of the Bristol Festival of Literature and we are delighted to be able to host three of the county’s leading literary figures.
Hidden Gems
From landmine-sniffing rats to the mysterious ‘red gene’... Bristol novelists Ali Bacon, Jean Burnett, Kerry Postle and Heather Child share the three most amazing things they found out while researching their books.
Sunday 25 October
Story Sunday – The Great Escape with Just Write Bristol
A showcase of original fiction written and performed by local writers
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