The Writing Squad

Theodore appointed as Reader-in-Residence - The Writing Squad

For the upcoming Crossing the Tees Book Festival, Squad writer Theodore Forcer has been chosen as the Reader-in-Residence for Hartlepool Libraries. They will be running a series of relaxed workshops to help people engage with archival materials in a hands-on way.

Really enjoyed recording The Poems We Made Along The Way, a splendid podcast hosted by @gregorykearns.bsky.social Gregory asks really interesting questions! I’ll let you know when it’s going to be available.

New blog from me on detoxifying the most toxic of debates: immigration.

In the context of polarisation, epistemic threats, and record high distrust, we need a much more in-depth, nuanced, and informed conversation.

We need public deliberation.

All lines lead to Leeds today as Katie Hales caters for our inner magpie - playing with collage and the unexpected to fuse new ideas and writing.

Bunker Talk #161: Jamal Gerald - The Writing Squad This event is part of Bunker Talks. Bunker Talks invite artists and researchers to talk about who they are and what they do. Curated by the Performance Research Group at Manchester School of Art and…

Bunker Talks creates a space for critical encounters, presentations, provocation and dialogue as part of a civic conversation. Jamal Gerald has been invited to speak about his practice - catch him on Tuesday 3rd at Manchester's Poetry Library.

Recently Published In… - The Writing Squad

Take a look at recently published writing by Squad members including Kym Deyn, Tallulah Howarth, Kit Byford, Ellen Waters and Tadgh Gibson.

Kym & Katherine Awarded Jerwood Fellowships - The Writing Squad

The Jerwood Fellowships at New Writing North have been awarded to three early career published writers, currently living in the North of England - kymdeyn.bsky.social, Katherine Horrex, and J.A. Mensah - two of whom are Squad writers! Congratulations all.

Clementine and CroppaChoppa’s Slumber Party - The Writing Squad The noughties called…and it said you’re invited to “the most fun night of comedy” (MCR Wire), hosted by Rosalie Minnitt as Clementine, and resident Sleepoverlord Charlotte Cropper!

Charlotte Cropper is taking Manchester’s cult comedy sleepover to London with a suitcase packed full of games, prizes and gossip, as well as mischievous mascot Bertie the Bear.

Grab your pals, your pyjamas, and get ready to have the best night of your life!

One Mic Stand - The Writing Squad The Forward Prize Young Poets Summit take over One Mic Stand Slam! Young poets from around the country compete for the title and a cash prize. Expect an International Headliner, and Squad writer,…

Get yourself down to the Blues Kitchen in Manchester for the fantastic One Mic Stand this Thursday! Young poets from around the country compete for the title and a cash prize. Expect an International Headliner, and Squad writer, Nara Rasool representing the Writing Squad.

Fahad Awarded the Arts Foundation Literature Fellowship - The Writing Squad

A huge congratulations to Fahad Al-Amoudi, who has been awarded the Arts Foundation Futures Awards Fellowship for Literature!

Voiced Festival: Writing and Mosaics Workshop - The Writing Squad Come along to this unique workshop combining visual art and writing based on the theme of spoken language and dialect. Led by writer and photographer Lydia Hounat, you will create a brand new work of…

A fascinating (and free!) workshop led by Lydia Hounat is coming up next weekend at the Manchester Poetry Library as part of Voiced: The Festival of Endangered Languages. Learn more and register here

Cover Revealed for Kym Deyn’s Debut Poetry Collection - The Writing Squad

Kym Deyn’s debut collection is available to pre-order now, and will be coming out in April with Nine Arches Press.

Folkish is a trickster figure masquerading as a poetry collection. Full of ghosts, worms, saints, and Northern English folklore, Kym Deyn’s debut is playful and spirited.

Under the Lobby Lights - The Writing Squad Come down to the Lobby 1867 in Wakefield on the 11th February for a fantastic night of spoken word. Headline slots by Peter Spafford, author of ‘Frisk‘ and ‘Sun Tanking‘, and multidisciplinary poet,…

Come along to a night of spoken word in Wakefield next Wednesday. Open mic, plus headline slots by Peter Spafford (author of ‘Frisk‘ and ‘Sun Tanking‘), and multidisciplinary poet, Tallulah Howarth. 7.30pm start

YOU CAN NOW PRE-ORDER MY BOOK 💚🪱

also, look at my babygirl worm on the cover 😭

Sassy Selects – Funny Valentines - The Writing Squad Sassy Selects is your chance to discover three of London’s most exciting up-and-coming artists and connect with fellow music lovers in a relaxed setting, and this time there’s a theme! Join…

Haven't got any plans for Valentine's this year? Don't worry - catch Dilettante, aka Francesca Pidgeon, next Tuesday for a swoon-worthy set at the Libra Theatre Café in London.

10/02/2026 at 7pm. Click for more info!

Fluid Love - The Writing Squad Fluid Love will bring together 8 artists on Sunday the 8th of February for a fluid afternoon, flowing into the evening, of experimental art, performance and film at Love Affair Basement. With food…

In London this weekend? Squad writer Kit Byford is performing poetry at an experimental afternoon in the new Love Affair Basement.

Issue 14.5 - Carmen et Error Poison HighwaysBy Evelyn Pae the giant snails burned through miles of shrubland in a single day. their slime killed plants and insects when wet, then dried into a calcaereous husk perfect for driving ...

Issue 14.5 is here at carmenerror.com?page_id=636, with more work selected by @chadpie.bsky.social featuring

🐌 Evelyn Pae
⏳ @shanaross.bsky.social
🐻 Katrinka Moore
🏠 Reece Sterling Alexander

We're having a sale at thebraag.co/shop, with up to 50% off a whole BUNCH of our titles, including work by @timothyfox.bsky.social,
@sarahbwestcottpoet.bsky.social
@sarahkat.bsky.social
Kirsten Luckins, Nina Murray, & Anthony Cartwright ✨

💚 Sale ends February 10th 💚

Carmen et Error Submissions Open All February Poetry, 40 lines. Flash fiction up to 400 words. carmenerror.com

We're here for ur weird!

Subs open the whole month of Feb, read the subs guidelines on the website or I'll USE YOUR BONES TO MAKE MY BREAD ❤️

Braag chapbook with rosary draped over

Braag chapbook being read by a tin toucan

NEW BRAAG MICROS - up at thebraag.co/shop

👼 The Annual Convention of Most Gentle and Virtuous Saints by Heather Chapman.

🦜 Toucan by Jessica Boatright.

'I'm annoyed I'd never heard of fulfilling Elizabeth Gaskell' Works from writers-in-residence inspired by the Victorian novelist are published in a new book.

The Writing Squad “collective” - I like the sound of that! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

All lines lead to Newcastle this morning for a day with Emma Adams exploring how sketch leads to text - a day of looking and writing all, weather permitting, on foot!

All lines lead to Manchester this morning for a Squad Mini Open, no agenda, nothing planned, just space, time and fellow writers.

Saba Sams is judge for the BBC National Short Story Award - The Writing Squad

After being on the other side of the panel (and winning!), Saba will be judging this year's National Short Story Award. It's open for entries now, so get your submissions in.

Billie announced as finalist for Pentabus/Jerwood residency - The Writing Squad

Billie Collins has been named as one of the five finalists for the Pentabus Writer in Residence 2026 (supported by the Jerwood Foundation). Congrats Billie!

Don’t bake this, please. A ‘recipe’ by Mal Morgenstern.

Also here's a PSA of my own kitchen crimes written for the lovely folks at QSO Media: quasistellar.space/2026/01/02/d...

I am alive! I just wholly detest social media promotion cycles. But I wanted to let you know I exist because there is new music from me (@dantealexander.bsky.social) coming soon. Firstly I have an EP of some experiments, and then a full album after #RPM2026 and #FAWM (February album writing month).

I can now also show you the cover for 'polblar tmolkop' by @andrewblair.co.uk 👾💚

Described by professional recluse and part-time mystic Fahad Al-Amoudi as 'Possibly the most important book of our lifetime...'

GURULEEN KAHLO - The Writing Squad The world felt large. Every building looming. Every person a threat. It had been a week since I had last left the house. I had spent that time curled up in my bed, phone in hand, as I endlessly scroll...

“How did he get into their homes? Did he tell them what he was doing? Did he ask them in Punjabi? Hindi? Malayalam? Or did he consider his white skin an access all areas pass?”
Guruleen Kahlo unpicks & reinvents the pictures of Harry Baines www.writingsquad.com/push/issues/...

A detail from a mughal painting with a saffron background: two hands dipped in henna pick flowers. Underneath the image is a tear and a white page, in red text are the words "empirical, Gita Ralleigh"

We can now show off the cover for @gitaralleigh.bsky.social's new pamphlet, empirical! Which will be published by us in March of this year 🎉