Writing East Midlands has commissioned poet and polar explorer Siobhan Logan to be our Digital Writer in Residence as part of the 14-18 Now commemorations of the centenary of the declaration of WWI.

On the – 14-18 Now.  website, acclaimed writer Kate Pullinger and writer/director Neil Bartlett introduces the national project Letter to an Unknown Soldier:  “On Platform One of Paddington Station in London, there is a statue of an unknown soldier; he’s reading a letter. On the hundredth anniversary of the declaration of war – in this year crowded with official remembrance and ceremony – we’re inviting everyone in the country to pause, take a moment or two, and write that letter. All the letters the soldier receives will be published here, creating a new kind of war memorial – one made only of words.”

Every week, Siobhan, whose first book, Firebridge to Skyshore: A Northern Lights Journey is a collection of prose and poetry exploring the myths and science of the aurora borealis, will provide inspiration, answer questions or help you polish your writing as you add your voice to this exciting national project.

This unique, week-long residency will take the form of an online forum, where you will find resources to inspire your writing, links to valuable research material and hints and tips from Siobhan,who will be available to read your work and offer you advice every day from Mon 28th July to Sun 3rd Aug.

To be a part of this exciting national project all you need to do is SIGN UP to the Writing East Midlands Forum and start writing!

When you’ve written something you’re happy with, you can submit it to the Letters to an Unknown Soldier project at the 14-18 Now website. When you do submit your work, please let them know that we sent you by putting Writing East Midlands in the ‘Organisation’ box on the submission form.

There have already been 16,000 letters so far – read the letters and add your voice to this inspiring and exciting project.