Writers' Day 2025 at the London Literature Festival
Our fifth Writers' Day will take place on Sunday 26 October in the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall Purcell Room.
Writers, publishers and literary professionals share hints, tips and initiatives in a day of talks and panel events.
Whether you are just starting out as a writer, or have been writing for years, this free event is the perfect opportunity to gain inside insight from literary professionals that could help advance your writing career.
The day includes short talks from Creative Future and other leading writing development agencies, followed by panel events with Q&As, including with poetry publishers, literary agents and more.
10:30-10:45 – Intro & the Creative Future Writers’ Award
Welcome to the day, and hear about the Creative Future Writers’ Award, the only free to enter national competition for all underrepresented writers.
10:45-11:45 – Meet The Writing Organisations
Hear from leading agencies who can support your development. Featuring Faber Academy, Spread The Word, Curtis Brown Creative, Writers & Artists and The Writing Coach.
11:45-12:00 – Break
12:00-1:00 – Page To Publication
Four Creative Future Writers’ Award winners on their journeys as underrepresented writers to becoming published writers. Featuring novelists Iqbal Hussain and poets Karen Downs-Barton, Jess Murrain and Seun Olayiwola.
1:00-1:30 - Break
1:30-2:30 - Getting Your Poetry Published
Featuring Amy Acre (Bad Betty Press), Anthony Anaxagorou (Out-Spoken), Stuart Bartholomew (Verve Poetry Press) and Jane Commane (Nine Arches Press).
2:30-2:45 - Break
2:45-3:45 - Meet the Agents
Giving you insider knowledge on acquiring representation and demystifying the publishing process. With Silé Edwards (Andrew Nurnberg Associates), Clara Foster (Aevitas), Liv Maidment (Madeline Milburn Agency) and Amandeep Singh (Graham Maw Christie). Hosted by Salma Begum, Creative Future Board member and agent at Greyhound Literary.
Marketplace Stalls
The event also sees a literary fair take over the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, with leading literary organisations and publishers exhibiting their work and welcoming chats with all attending, including Creative Future, Bad Betty Press, Curtis Brown Creative, Faber Academy, Out-Spoken Press, Poetry School, Spread The Word, Poetry Society, Verve Press, Writers & Artists and The Writing Coach.
This is a free event and tickets are not required. For more information, please visit the Southbank Centre website.
You can also view the live stream of the event for free online.
Photos captured at our 2023 Writers' Day by Jess Hand.