The First IW Writers Jamboree
Organised by Medina Bookshop along with Creative Island and IW Creative Network, Monday’s inaugural meeting at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes was a great success, a packed room of over 100 writers abuzz with enthusiastic chatter. A succession of presenters told of numerous opportunities for the writing community and there was a chance for feedback and suggestions. Fish and chips (or tempura veg) were enjoyed by all and there was a definite consensus that this was a very worthwhile event and should be held annually.
As promised here is a collation of the information presented along with a few more ideas.
ISLE OF WIGHT BOOK AWARDS
The fourth Book Awards will be open soon to submissions for any book published in 2024 that contains some Isle of Wight content. Keep an eye on the website for updates from March
ISLAND WRITING GROUPS
There are a wide range of writers groups across the Island including Wight Writers, Island Writers, Mad Scribblers, East Cowes Creative Writing Group, and the Brading Station Writing Group, details of which can be found on the Medina Bookshop website.
Find Your Writing Tribe! 2023 – Medina Book Shop
IW LITERARY FESTIVAL
Last year’s festival benefitted greatly from several new events and activities that showcased local literary talent, from Writer’s Tables, to the wonderful 3-Minute-Pitch event. It is anticipated that this year will see more of the same. Watch this space:
Isle of Wight Literary Festival | Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
STORY FESTIVAL
This year’s festival takes place later this month at Quay Arts with a great selection of authors. Sue Bailie put out an invite for local authors of children’s books to get in touch if they were interested in getting involved in 2026’s event.
BREVITY
Author Hillard Morley gave a wonderful account of the great work being done by Anmarie Bowler in putting together the Isle Of Wight’s Literary Handbill ‘Brevity’ which is published 6 times a year. With their moto ‘Be Bold, Be Brief’ they are always open to submissions of short stories of fewer than 500 words. A great resource for local writers at all stages of their journey, they offer feedback on anything that is unsuccessful in making it to publication.
Brevity – The Isle of Wight’s Literary Handbill
NAKED FIGLEAF COLLECTIVE
Jean G Owen spoke of the wonderful work being done under this banner, from their Figgy Gig events, book launches, to their series of publications. Their twice yearly anthology Figlet is a lovingly curated collection of work by local writers that is open to all. To find out more, including how to submit work, visit their website.
Naked Figleaf Collective | Naked Figleaf Collective
BIOSPHERE FESTIVAL 2025 WRITING COMPETITION
Jean also told of this forthcoming competion for short stories and creative non-fiction on themes related to IOW Biosphere Festival. Open to IOW residents over 18yrs, the submission deadline is 30th April, entry forms can be obtained by emailing biospherewriting@gmail.com
Festival — Isle of Wight UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
ARTFULSCRIBE
We were pleased to hear a presentation from Matt West, director of ArtfulScribe, a not-for-profit writer development agency based in Southampton. They support emerging and continuing writers in Hampshire, Dorset, and the Solent region (THAT’S US!) to create new work and develop skills through writing workshops, live events and career-development opportunities. Their website is well worth a visit
ArtfulScribe | supporting writers and writing in Hampshire and Dorset
CREATIVE ISLAND/IW CREATIVE NETWORK
Gavin Stride of Creative Island closed the presentations with a rousing and very encouraging speech before sharing various opportunities, and introducing Georgia Newman of the Creative Network who’s job is to help it’s members make a living from their art, at £40 a year it’s well worth joining
Members’ directory – IW Creative Network
Creative Island – The Cultural Development Agency for the Isle of Wight
ISLAND VOICES
Gavin told of this multi Island competition being run from Orkney, with winners being included in a book gifted to participants and volunteers during the island games.
Some Orkney pieces are already available online here
The deadline for submission is 26th May, 2025. Submissions can be in any language. 250 words.
IW LIBRARIES
Gavin reminded people that the Isle of Wight Library service is always happy to have a conversation about using their spaces to host meetings or creative activities. They are also open to the idea of sets of books being offered to their reading groups.
Contact Louise Emery, who is the Development Librarian, Outreach and Promotion/Senior Library Assistant. Louise.Emery@iow.gov.uk
LITERATURE WORKS
Although they were not able to attend the event as hoped, we were pleased to learn of this organisation who are a home for creative writers in the South West, a charity in using words and stories to support creativity and wellbeing, championing the power of storytelling, writing and reading in all forms. The Isle of Wight is within their region and they have a range of relevant resources including:
Advice Surgeries – we can deliver these in partnership so that you can target your communities.
Word Space – Our inclusive, online talent development programme. 2025-26 cohort currently open for submissions up to the end of January.
Seed Bed – Our incubator for grassroots initiatives exploring the environment and ecology crises through creative words and stories.
Community Writing – socially engaged use of the artform co-creating word-based activity with existing community groups. Using stories to further the group’s main purpose or reason for being.
Poetry Cares – training local poets to deliver dynamic and interactive poetry and reminiscence sessions in Memory Cafés.
The home for creative writers in the South West – Literature Works
SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING/FORUM
It was suggested by several people that it would be good to have some forum for Island Writers, after giving it some thought we think that, for now at least, it would be best to direct everyone towards something that already exists, most obviously the very active Island Writers Facebook Group, whilst we acknowledge that not everyone has facebook accounts, there would be similar problems whichever format we were to choose.
BEMBRIDGE FORT
Tim Wander asked me to mention that the old Bembridge Fort is in the process of being renovated for use and that any writers groups, collectives or teams who might be interested in using the underground 65 seat theatre and soon some of the 8 offices for meetings or events should get in touch. timwander@compuserve.com
