The wonderful @cloreleadership.bsky.social team have a new project: The Motherhood Letters. Honest and open reflections on cultural leadership and motherhood. Mine is here, but they all deserve a read themotherhoodseries.substack.com/p/dear-pictu...

Dear Picture Book Mothers, from Laura Greenfield

Where are your jobs? What are you doing, off the page, unnoticed by your children? In this month's Motherhood Letter, Laura Greenfield, Director of the Royal Society of Literature, writes to the mothers of children's books, from Alfie's Mum to Sophie's Mummy, imagining the lives, work, and worries that exist beyond the stories we know.

themotherhoodseries.substack.com

I got a preview of this lovely exhibition tonight and it's fantastically targeted for a family audience - even the labels are hung at the right height for children to read. And there is indeed a dragon guarding it...

British Library@britishlibrary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A dragon has landed at the British Library 🐉 Created exclusively for Fairy Tales, this new illustration from the legendary Chris Riddell will guard the doors to our magical family exhibition opening in March. Tickets are now on sale at link.bl.uk/FairyTales

We had an amazing time at the #ALCSAwards. Thanks to ALCS for supporting all these wonderful prizes, and congratulations to Hannah Webb, who won the @rsliterature.bsky.social VS Pritchett Short Story Prize, and to all the winners and nominees

ALCS@alcs.co.uk · 5mo ago

That's all from the #ALCSAwards for another year 🥂 thanks again to our partners @societyofauthors.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social, to our dedicated judges & of course congratulations to our brilliant winners & nominees!

Our Power of Reading Impact Report 2025 is now live! Discover how evidence-informed, book-based teaching boosts attainment, narrows gaps and helps children see themselves as readers and writers. Read more: https://clpe.org.uk/research/power-reading-impact-report-2025

What a joy to see our @rsliterature.bsky.social President Elif Shafak deliver the National Humanities Lecture at the School of Advanced Study @sas-news.bsky.social. A beautiful reflection on and defence of the long form of literature, and many other things too.

If you are in the UK The Librarians is avaliable on the iplayer, under the Storyville banner. Well worth a watch.

That Librarian: Amanda Jones@librarianjones.com · 8mo ago

Excited to see @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social playing at The Prytania on Jan 4th! @la-cac.org www.theprytania.com/movies/the-l...

Last month I heard the wonderful Joan Winterkorn lecture on Collecting and Preserving Archives. She included lots of the fascinating, telling, glorious details you only get from archives - and a bigger story about how she changed the UK's treatment of archives, especially those of living writers.

What a brilliant idea: Give all newborn babies library cards automatically www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Give all newborn babies library card automatically, top authors urge

Sir Philip Pullman and Richard Osman are among writers to back the proposal to boost literacy.

bbc.co.uk

Huge congratulations to Elif Shafak, newly elected President of the Royal Society of Literature. A powerful advocate for free expression and the unifying force of storytelling. We celebrate this well-deserved recognition!. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...

Elif Shafak named new president of the Royal Society of Literature

The British-Turkish writer was elected after a vote among the society’s fellows, with outgoing president Bernardine Evaristo describing her selection as ‘terrifically inspired’

theguardian.com

Elif Shafak named new president of the Royal Society of Literature

Elif Shafak named new president of the Royal Society of Literature

The British-Turkish writer was elected after a vote among the society’s fellows, with outgoing president Bernardine Evaristo describing her selection as ‘terrifically inspired’ Novelist Elif Shafak has been named the new president of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL), taking over from Bernardine Evaristo as she reaches the end of her four-year term. British-Turkish writer Shafak, the author of novels including The Island of Missing Trees and There Are Rivers in the Sky, was announced in the role on Friday after a vote among fellows at the society’s AGM on Thursday. Continue reading...

theguardian.com

Look at our incredible news! I am so excited to work with Elif

Royal Society of Literature@rsliterature.bsky.social · 8mo ago

The Royal Society of Literature is thrilled to announce its new President is Elif Shafak. Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, and author of 21 books, 13 of which are novels. Her works have been translated into 58 languages.

Come to our free webinar on this⬇️-9th Dec, 16.45-5.30 ⬇️

The English Association@englishassociation.bsky.social · 8mo ago

What can we do with a poem, where can close reading take us? In this free webinar, we’ll explore some new ways into close reading #poetry, with @cathamclarke.bsky.social responding to her new book A History of England in 25 Poems (Penguin Allen Lane, 2025) englishassociation.ac.uk/adventures-i...

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

We had such a fantastic @rsliterature.bsky.social celebration of Maureen Duffy at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social on Sunday. Here is the wonderful founder of the Pioneer Prize, Bernardine Evaristo, handing it to Maureen Duffy's agent, Nemonie Craven Roderick, with our wonderful panel alongside

We’re holding an event to mark this year’s RSL Pioneer Prize and you’re invited! Swipe to see the line-up 👉 Tickets are available now: https://events.bl.uk/events/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize

What a joy to hear the readings from the shortlist and to see the winner announced: 'And the Walls Became the World All Around’ by Johanna Ekström and Sigrid Rausing, translated from Swedish by Sigrid Rausing and published by @grantabooks.bsky.social. I can't wait to read it.

Warwick Prize for Women in Translation@womenintranslation.bsky.social · 8mo ago

The award ceremony for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation is under way, with the six shortlisted translators treating us to readings from their work. The winner will be announced 7.45pm…

This is an amazing opportunity. Please consider applying for the Community Panel - they are the heart of the project

Cambridge University Library@theul.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Black British Voices: Black British Collections. Cambridge University Library is forming a community panel of Black British & Black Northern Irish individuals to help shape its 2027 exhibition & events programme. 🗓️ Deadline: 14 Dec 2025 🔗More info: https://loom.ly/9lDrGVY

Fantastic to see @ukparliament.parliament.uk launching an inquiry into children's reading for pleasure, in advance of the National Year of Reading. Submissions by 9th January, details here committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi... There are such important questions in the terms of reference.

Call for Evidence - Committees - UK Parliament

Reading for Pleasure

committees.parliament.uk

Yesterday was the award ceremony for the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition at St James's Palace. The four winners, all between 14 and 17, were outrageously impressive - you can read their winning pieces here www.royalcwsociety.org/post/meet-th...

Meet the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025!

The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is proud to announce the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) 2025, the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools.  This...

royalcwsociety.org

We’ve got great news for writers across the UK and RoI – the 2026 RSL Ondaatje Prize is now taking submissions! 🥳 Applications are open until 5pm on 12 December 2025. Apply now: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje-prize/

Keep it short and find what you enjoy: how to start reading for fun

Keep it short and find what you enjoy: how to start reading for fun

In a world full of distractions, it can be difficult to form a habit that needs attention. Experts advise on getting out of the rut

theguardian.com

Come and be part of queer feminist literary history & future, and see Maureen Duffy get her 💐💐💐💐💐

Laura Greenfield@lauragreenfield.bsky.social · 9mo ago

On Sun 30th Nov we will be celebrating the @rsliterature.bsky.social Pioneer Prize, so generously founded and funded by Bernardine Evaristo. The inaugural winner is Maureen Duffy. Join us @britishlibrary.bsky.social or online to celebrate her work: events.bl.uk/events/rsl-p...

On Sun 30th Nov we will be celebrating the @rsliterature.bsky.social Pioneer Prize, so generously founded and funded by Bernardine Evaristo. The inaugural winner is Maureen Duffy. Join us @britishlibrary.bsky.social or online to celebrate her work: events.bl.uk/events/rsl-p...

RSL presents: The Pioneer Prize | British Library

Join us for the launch of the RSL Pioneer Prize, a new initiative spotlighting and celebrating writers who have been trailblazers in their field.Acknowledg

events.bl.uk

It was amazing to be there in person to see so many people excited about six incredible books.

The Booker Prizes@thebookerprizes.com · 9mo ago

‘We had never read anything quite like it. It is, in many ways, a dark book but it is a joy to read’ We're delighted to announce Flesh by David Szalay as the winner of the #BookerPrize2025.

This is an incredible move by some visionary funders to support the literary arts in the US.

Literary Arts Fund@literaryartsfund.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Today, a coalition of seven charitable foundations announced the launch of the Literary Arts Fund, a historic philanthropic investment of at least $50 million to strengthen the nonprofit literary arts field in the U.S.

Something very exciting has arrived at our office here in Somerset House 👀 Join us for our Pioneer Prize event at the British Library on 30 November to honour Maureen Duffy's impact and legacy: https://rsliterature.org/whats-on/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize/

Join us for the launch of the RSL Pioneer Prize, a new initiative which will spotlight and celebrate writers who have been trailblazers in their field. 📅 Sunday 30 November, 2:30pm 📍 The British Library/Online 🎟️ £15 in-person/£5 online, FREE for RSL Members/Fellows https://ow.ly/uVRX50X3AwC

Last night this powerful film had its UK premiere, hosted by @bodleian.ox.ac.uk, with courageous librarians like @librarianjones.com there too. Alongside we awarded @richove.bsky.social the @rsliterature.bsky.social Benson Medal. What a privilege to share the stage with them. See it if you can.

The Librarians Film@thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social · 11mo ago

As book banning sweeps across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate, brave librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy. A film by Kim A. Snyder. Opens UK 9/26 @berthadochouse.bsky.social, US 10/03 @filmforumnyc.bsky.social, rollout to follow. Tix: TheLibrariansFilm.com/screenings

Congratulations to the winner of the inaugural RSL Pioneer Prize, Maureen Duffy 🎉 Duffy received news of her award earlier this month when Evaristo visited her at home. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/9ZB_AHdm4ts?...

This is a wonderful story! Bernardine Evaristo is SUCH a force for good, not only writing brilliant books & teaching students of writing but also uplifting other writers all over the place. And Maureen Duffy is a great choice to receive this prize. 📚📚📚

Laura Greenfield@lauragreenfield.bsky.social · 11mo ago

The incredible Bernardine Evaristo has used her @womensprize.bsky.social Outstanding Contribution Award to create a new @rsliterature.bsky.social Prize. For the next decade, we will be celebrating pioneering women writers, starting with Maureen Duffy www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...