Come and join us for a Festival of Writing facilitated by Greater Manchester Women's Equality Party: an afternoon of creative thinking, reading, writing and inspiration. This is a free event but donations are welcomed to support our chosen charity: Safety4Sisters

Introduction – 1.15pm

Introduction and welcome with a reading by Manchester/London poet and activist Steph Pike. Steph performed some of her amazing work at the launch of the Manchester Branch of WEP at The Pankhurst Centre five years ago. We welcome her back today to give a reading of 'Suffragette City' and tell us a little about what inspires her as a poet, activist and performer.

Workshop One – 1.30pm

Poetry – Helen Shay

Helen will facilitate a fascinating workshop exploring how poetry can be used to express feminist issues. Helen is an accomplished spoken word performer based in the North, currently serving on the Society of Author’s Poetry & Spoken Word Group Committee. As a WEP founder member, she believes spoken word can empower the voices of women and be a tool for change.   

Workshop Two – 2pm

Self-publishing – Jen Eden

Do you have that first draft of your novel ready? A collection of poetry hidden in notebooks? Jen Eden leads this fantastic workshop packed with advice on how to get your writing out there and how to set about self-publishing your work.

Workshop Three – 2.30pm

Creative writing – Emma Milsom-Franks

With two degrees in English and on track to become a teacher, get your pens and paper ready to get involved with Emma Milsom-Frank’s interactive workshop that looks at simple writing techniques to evoke memory and imagination. 

Workshop Four – 3pm

Plot Sequencing/Character Development – Eloise Bonney

Have the story but not sure where to begin? Eloise Bonney has a degree in writing and has written her very own short plays. Join Eloise as she sets out how to get started with plot sequencing and character development.

Meet and greet – 3.30pm

And relax! After our workshops, pop along to our meet and greet where you'll be able to ask authors and artists for their tips on writing.

Launch of COVID-19 Stories Project – 4.30pm

Greater Manchester Women's Equality Party aim to capture the stories local women through the lockdown and the Covid pandemic and create an important archive of those experiences.

*All of the writers and workshop leaders are giving their time freely for this event. Please do consider supporting their work at future events or through their publications.

END – 4.45pm

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festival-of-writing-tickets-130957953765

Donations: https://www.safety4sisters.org/donate