The Aurora Prize for Writing is OPEN! ✍️ And our judges have been announced: Dean Atta and A K Blakemore will be choosing the 2,000-word short stories and 60-line poems to win our first, second, third and regional prizes. 🏆️ 🔗 Enter your writing here: bit.ly/AURORAPRIZE

Black Writers of the East Midlands 🖊️📖 Cara Thompson (@caracreator) 🌱 Cara is a writer, facilitator and interdisciplinary artist based in Nottingham with over 10 years experience. In 2025, she was announced as Nottingham's first Nature Poet Laureate. #blackhistorymonth #writingeastmidlands

LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT: ✅️ 15K words of your book ✅️ 5K words of your short story ✅️ 150 lines of poetry ✅️ Your agent submission package For FREE editorial feedback. Submissions close TOMORROW, 11.59 pm. Get yours in ➡️ bit.ly/FREEREADS

The countdown begins! ⏰️ Our international short fiction and poetry competition opens THIS WEEKEND! On Saturday, we'll be opening entries for the 2026 prize and revealing this year's judges. 👀 Get ready - we'll be accepting entries through this link from 9 am: bit.ly/AURORAPRIZE

Black Writers of the East Midlands 🖊️📖 Ty’rone Haughton (www.thaughtonpoetry.com ) An exponent in the craft of spoken word performance, Ty’rone is known for pushing the boundaries of performance poetry to create work that is both emotionally resonant and socially urgent.

LAST WEEKEND to apply for free editor feedback! 📢 Here's a reminder of what you can submit: ✅️ 15K words for books ✅️ 150 lines of poetry ✅️ Up to 5K for short stories ✅️ Your agent submission package Find out if you are eligible for a free review of your writing here: bit.ly/FREEREADS

NEXT TUESDAY, join the first workshop for this group! ✍️ Free and online for Neurodivergent, Global Majority writers. Come along and try it out, with no pressure to continue and no pressure to join us for every session. Save your place here ➡️ bit.ly/BTSANTONIA

✍️ For writers seeking literary agents: If you watched our video last week and you're interested in the opportunities we shared, here are the direct links for more info: For our masterclasses ➡️ bit.ly/WEMSHOP For free editor feedback ➡️ bit.ly/FREEREADS

Our young writers' competition has extended its deadline! ⏳️ To make sure young writers have enough time over half term to finish off their short stories, blogs and poems, we've pushed the closing date of the Solstice Nature Prize to 31st October 2026. 🎃🌳 Enter here: bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE

WANTED: Neurodivergent writers in Lincolnshire! 📣 We're offering FREE, online workshops led by and for ND writers, with groups dedicated specifically to adults with Lincolnshire postcodes. Tuesday group ➡️ bit.ly/BTSLINCSTUES Thursday group ➡️ bit.ly/BTSLINCSTHURS

Hi WEM friends! ✍️ Here are BRAND NEW opportunities from around the East Midlands; new short courses for writers, open calls for script and screenwriters, an Arts Council funding workshop plus a panel talk in Lincoln! ✨️ All these and more listed on our website! 🖥️🧡

The winner of our BIG Writers' Survey has been chosen! Congrats to @suzannafitzpatrick.bsky.social! 🎉 And big thanks to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. Your feedback is a massive help as we take our next steps. We can't wait to share our updates with you! ✍

Part 2: Opportunities for writers seeking literary agents. ✍️ Now that you know what a literary agent is, here are 4 opportunities for East Midlands writers in search of literary representation. Find out more by: 💻️ Visiting www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk 📧 Emailing info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk

Part 1: What is a literary agent? And do you need one?✍️ Follow us for part 2, where we'll be sharing local opportunities for writers seeking literary representation. 🔖 Useful Resources 🔖 'Literary Agent', @publishersassoc.bsky.social 'Before You Sign: Literary Agents', @societyofauthorsbsky.social

Meet Andrew Tucker Leavis! 📰 Andrew is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the New Nottingham Journal. This Saturday, he's joining us for a craft and career masterclass for writers aged 18-25. Find out more here ➡️ bit.ly/WEMTATL

Meet the agent: Diana Beaumont at DHH Literary Agency. ✍️ With over a decade of experience as both an agent and editor, Diana is ready to answer all your questions about the publishing industry! 📝 Find out more about Diana and book tickets to our Meet the Agents Day here: bit.ly/MTADAY2026

Agent reveal: Amandeep Singh of Graham Maw Christie. ✍️ Amandeep has a decade of experience as an editor, bookseller and agent, most recently at Penguin Random House and The Good Literary Agency. Find out more about Amandeep and our Meet the Agents Day in November: bit.ly/MTADAY2026

'Beached' by Archie Woolls. 🐋 Archie was one of our highly commended winners from last year's Solstice Nature Prize for Young Writers. This year's competition is now OPEN until 10th October 2026. Writers aged 7-11, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25 can find out how to enter here: bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE

Agent reveal: Justin Nash. ✍️ Since having joined Kate Nash Literary Agency in 2017, Justin has built a list of clients whose books range from book club to historical fiction to sci-fi. Find out more about Justin and our Meet the Agents Day panel here: bit.ly/MTADAY2026

Last chance to have your say AND maybe even win £50! 🎤 All within 10 minutes. Our Big Writers' Survey wants YOUR feedback on our programme for writers in the East Midlands and beyond. Tell us your thoughts here ➡️ bit.ly/WRITERSURVEY

Congrats to the BTS team and members for an epic launch! 🎉 Two brilliant anthologies, packed with powerful poetry and prose from our adult participants and young writers. And afternoon of beautiful readings! Find out more about our FREE writing groups for ND writers ➡️ www.beyondthespectrum.uk

'My Family Tree, Isle of Sky (2013)' by William G Marshall, last year's competition winner. 🏆️ This year's competition is now OPEN until 10th October 2026. For the full version of William's poem, or to enter this year's competition, click the link below. 🔗 bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE

Time to get scribbling! Young writers have one month exactly to send in their short stories, blogs and poems for the chance to get published, win £100 and receive our goody bag! 📖🏆️🏅 Enter your young writer's work here ➡️ bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE Email us at info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk with any Qs! 📧

Our free, online writing workshops for Neurodivergent writers are BACK! ✨️ And better than ever! ✍️ As part of our creative writing project designed by and for Autistic people but open to anyone who identifies are ND or who is exploring if they might be! Find your group here ➡️ buff.ly/Z0HKdvj

WRITER DISCOUNT AVAILABLE! ✍️ Two literary agent masterclasses for just £30. Polish your submission package and get your foot in the door of the publishing industry this Autumn. 📝 Use code BUNDLE26 when booking to secure your discount. Book your tickets here ➡️ bit.ly/WEMSHOP

Free feedback on 15K words/150 lines/your submission package! 📝 Reminder: it doesn't have to be perfect! The aim of the Free Reads Scheme is to give you feedback now so you can polish later. 🧽🫧 Get your writing in here ➡️ bit.ly/FREEREADS

Looking for a literary agent but not sure where to start? Find out from the agents themselves! ✍️ This November, we're bringing together a top team of leading literary agents to answer all your questions about traditional publishing. Tickets only £25. Book yours here ➡️ bit.ly/MTADAY2026

September is ESEA Heritage Month... ...And today is Read A Book Day! Here are some of the WEM team's book recs from writers of East & South East Asian Heritage. 📚️ The theme for ESEA Heritage Month 2026 is Evolving Threads. 🧵 Find out more about it here: buff.ly/hLyzDEk

Nottingham Book Festival 📸 What a day! We joined a whole bunch of writers and readers in Notts to chat about WEM, give out free copies of our latest magazines and share in our love of books! Big thanks to the NBF team, volunteers and staff at Broadway. 💛📚️

We're running an online masterclass showing aspiring authors how to secure a literary agent. Here's the class outline: ✅️ Writing a cover letter that stands out. ✅️ Putting together a concise synopsis. ✅️ Giving your extract its best chance. For a full breakdown, click here ➡️ bit.ly/LITAGENTSMC