Poetry for the People - Unleash the joy of poetry Tuesday 16th September 7 - 9 (As Part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe) A vibrant collective of poets with a mission to demystify poetry through the telling of relatable poems that resonate with everyday experiences. Their warm welcoming approach turns skeptics into enthusiasts, proving poetry can be for everyone. Members will be reading a range of accessible poetry written as part of the group. Group member, Miriam Logan, will present her latest work Elixir. Miriam Logan comes to the arts from a background in the healing profession, where for many years she worked as a Mediator while also writing a book entitled The Art of Easing Conflict. After receiving an MA in Aesthetics she began to see that a quest for fairness, which is central to mediation, might even be a quest for a natural sort of beauty. Since then she has written and painted constantly. Elixir, which she will launch on September 16th at Barnaby's  is her third book in which she combines images and words, all of them grappling with the idea of valuing difference and seeing it as central to creative outcomes. Della Reynolds, founding member of […]

Journaling for Writers Workshop 12 places available. £5 morning ticket includes any coffee tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink Journaling isn’t just for wellbeing. It can help you get unstuck, poke into your work in progress and revitalise your mindset about your writing project. This workshop offers timed journaling exercises to have you thinking afresh about your work. Suitable for anyone in the thick of a writing project!

Susie Warren Collage and writing workshop Wednesday 17th September 3 - 5 pm (upstairs) As Part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe We will make expressive collages using found images and words. Developing these through freewriting will lead us to making edited poems or prose.  The workshop is suitable for all levels of ability and experience, aged 16 plus. £5 ticket includes any coffee tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink

Wine, books, a lovely social club. Contact on Facebook or just turn up. The organiser Stella Cutler is super welcoming.  

Writer’s Cafe - Thursday 18th September 3 - 5pm (As Part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe) Come and write with us! A co-working club and writing snug every Tue & Thu, 3-5 pm, at Barnaby's Bar. Two hours quiet working - set your intention - make progress on your projects then join us for a drink downstairs. It's free, but please register as space is limited.  https://lu.ma/WritersCafe

Hyphae Collective warmly invite poets, musicians and singers to experiment and collaborate with our house band - let's see what magic we can weave together. Bring your instruments and your words; whether they be your own, someone else's or, even better, improvised! The jam is on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm, at Barnaby's Jazz Bar in Hastings. It's free and unticketed (though tips are welcomed). The building is wheelchair accessible, but the toilets are not. This is a queer and trans friendly event - everyone is welcome. Poster hand drawn by @Sekinue Next date : Thursday 16 October

Pearl Olsen - Sustainability and Self-care for Writers. Friday 19th September 11 - 1 (part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe) As writers, we act as conduits of creative energy. How do we ensure that the source remains plentiful and the channel free of obstruction? We are fine-tune instruments that have to be looked after — but who is the curator? You! How can we ensure the flow of ideas, concepts, scenarios, emotions, memories — the myriad topics we cover in our writing? This workshop will look at practical techniques for energising our craft whilst protecting our precious selves. This workshop is for all writers whether of prose or poetry; fiction or non-fiction; published or earlier in that journey. And people who are considering trying the art, but have reservations about what it might entail. It will be a space for personal reflection, meeting in commonality and hopefully, support — an allocated time all writers need. It will be led by Pearl Olsen, author and poet. Pearl has experience in counselling and has one novel published and two more under construction; plus various collections of poetry, not yet published. Maximum number 20 participants. £5 morning ticket includes any coffee tea, hot […]

Friday 19th September 4 - 5 pm (as part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe) "Patrick knew he wanted to be a storyteller from the age of six, when he discovered that a rich interior life was a lot more fun than everyday life. He studied English Literature at St. Catharine's College Cambridge and in his timehas worked as an actor and theatre director, producer, drama lecturer, workshop leader and playwright. His theatre work has taken him to America, France, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Colombia, as well as theatres and festivals throughout the UK and Ireland. He performs two solo shows, including the award-winning adaptation of The Life and Times of Archy and Mehitabel. Patrick also worked as a tour guide all around Ireland for over twenty years and, somewhere along those winding Irish roads, Bogboy was born. This is a true story in everything but the detail." Patrick will be interviewed by Jake Arnott, with a Q&A to follow. £5 ticket includes any coffee tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink

John Hegley Workshop - Writing, Drawing and Drawing out the Creative. Saturday 20th September 11- 1. (20 places). Part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe. A series of longtime-tested and original exercises, with the opportunity to share your creations with the group, in a session which can open doors to further writing and experiment. There is a light-hearted ambiance, respectful of the variety of attitudes and aptitudes of those who come along, and some drawing as well. You should be stretched a bit, surprised a bit - and entertained.  No experience required, just a minimum of 16 years of experiences. There will be mandolin accompaniment to the activity and possibly biscuits. £20 event ticket includes any coffee tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink Hopscotch by Robert Bermingham and Richard Robinson Photo by Neil Walker, SVA

Sioux Bradshaw - Poetry workshop - Saturday 20th September 3 - 5 pm (as part of Hastings Book Festival Fringe) Poetry Workshop  – Lost and Found Finding Inspiration in found, thrown away words Find the words for your next masterpiece on the thrown away paper around you – the pizza menu, parking ticket, magazine article or wash care instruction. This fun workshop will make poetry from the mundane. We’ll re-purpose Found Print to make something new and surprising. If you’ve ever wondered where you’ll find your inspiration, this is the workshop for you. All materials will be provided. Be prepared to become a Poetry Ninja. Suitable for young writers or beginners. £5 morning ticket includes any coffee, tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink  

Colin Brush – Trainer at Penguin Books – Pitching Non-Fiction Writer Boot Camp Sunday 21st September 10 – 12.  (12 places available – this course requires participants to bring along a lap top or iPad which can be connected by wifi). Telling True Stores: How to pitch and sell non-fiction After a quarter-century of copywriting as well as blurb-writing training at Penguin Books and well over 5,000 book blurbs on the shelves, Colin Brush offers a non-fiction copywriting workshop to help you pitch your project on the page to agents, editors and readers. Whether you're having trouble with a title or subtitle, want to improve your elevator pitch, or want to understand the basics of blurb structure, Colin will provide examples, tips, hacks, inspiration and exercises to help improve your craft. Includes: Pitching your book in a line. Figuring out your audience and what they really want. Know your opportunities and your pitch's tensions. Figure out your hook. Discover the opening types and three classic blurb/pitch structures to tell a story £5 morning ticket includes any coffee tea, hot chocolate or any soft drink

Folk, country, world music. Mostly originals, sung by Amber Leafe. Sneak preview video clip :)