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The New Chapter: Supporting Your Writing Journey

At the Bournemouth Writing Festival, our purpose has always been simple: to inspire you to write, regardless of your age, background or ability, and to support you as you progress along your writing journey.

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Writers are the beating heart of everything we do. You told us you wanted deeper, targeted support for where you are in your creative process, along with flexible ways to connect throughout the year - both virtually and in person.

In response, we have evolved the festival into an ambitious, year-round hybrid model designed entirely around you.

Your New Hybrid Festival
Online, in-person and in the Community

By combining flexible online access with inspiring in-person gatherings, our new model gives you the best of both worlds:

  • Accessibility & Flexibility: Join live interactive masterclasses from anywhere in the world, or catch up on recordings on your own schedule.

  • Immediate Value: Access monthly virtual networking and live webinars leading up to key events so you can level up today instead of waiting for festival weekend.

  • Tailored Guidance: Structured sessions aligned with where you are in your manuscript - from initial spark to manuscript completion and publication.

How our New Chapter Serves You

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23rd - 25th April 2027

Online Writing Festival

Three days of concurrent virtual rooms covering The Craft of Writing, Ready to Publish, Writing for Joy, Writing for Performance, Genre Worlds and 1-to-1 Literary Agent sessions.

All online sessions are recorded and accessible until 30th September 2027

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Monthly

Year-Round Virtual Connection & Speaker Webinars

Stay inspired, month after month. Get access to monthly online networking sessions to build your writing tribe, plus exclusive guest speaker webinars leading up to April.

Pay as you go or included in a bundle

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Meet, mingle and be inspired

In-Person Events and Networking

The physical community remains central to who we are, so connect face-to-face in Bournemouth at our in-person meet-ups in a range of inspiring venues, showcases and themes.

Pay as you go or included in a bundle.

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Inspiring ALL writers to write

In the Community

Join a local writing group, loan our wind phone or get your kids to take part in our children's activities and competitions.

Free, as part of our commitment to our community.

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Saturday 26th June 2027

The Writer's Launchpad

A dedicated, one-day in-person event for writers with complete or near-complete manuscripts and are ready to launch their words into the world.

Located in Bournemouth

Coming Soon

Accessible for All

We believe cost should never stand between a writer and their craft. To keep the festival inclusive and affordable, we offer:

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  • Pay As You Go Options: £15 single tickets for individual sessions, talks, or webinars.

  • Tiered Bundles & Packages: Virtual-only and Access-All-Areas passes to save as you attend more.

  • Spread Payments: Flexible payment schedules available at checkout so you can invest in your writing on your terms.

Participants write poetry on a live art piece outside the poetry marquee. Photo credit Sol
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Gold award winners two years running

The Festival won GOLD for Festival / Tourism Event of the Year for the second year running at the Dorset Tourism Awards.

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Thank you to all our volunteers, speakers, facilitatators venues, funders and partners - and ALL our attendees and cheerleaders for making the Writing Festival so special.

Year-round writing events to inspire all writers to write.
Join us - write by the sea.

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Writing Havens

Monthly. Find a writing group convenient to you and write along with your peers.

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Free Facebook Forum

Ask advice, seek help and join the discussion with your writing peers.

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Bournemouth Writing Festival

Our main event - three days of free and ticketed talks, workshops and activities.

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Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to be first in the know for our events, activities and special offers.

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Wind phones for Bournemouth

Our disconnected phones to help you connect with a loved one - past or present.

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Writing Competitions

See what competitions are currently live and take part! Also for children and international students.

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Romance Writing Festival

Sunday Times bestselling authors, masterclasses and literary agents give advice to writers in the Romance genre. Next festival TBC.

Writers Like You, Loving the Festival

★★★★★ Rated 100% on Facebook by our amazing community

Read our Facebook Reviews here.

Read our Google Reviews here.

★★★★★

"Such a buzz at this fantastic and well-organised festival, with great venues and a tremendous variety of talks."​​

​Alice Fowler 

★★★★★

"The Bournemouth Writing Festival is a fantastic long weekend of writing inspiration. I made great connections, learned so much and left feeling motivated to continue my writing journey."

Katherine Baldwin 

★★★★★

"This is a fantastic festival with lots of inspiring activities for creative writers and anyone who works with words! The screenwriting and sustainability sessions were particularly good. Will definitely be back next year."

Fiona Freeman

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