“What a brilliant idea – our very own short story festival here in the North!“ – Avril Joy
It’s frustrating being a writer in the North, sometimes. There’s not much support for writers here – with only one literature development agency covering hundreds of square miles, and London’s interesting-sounding salon events an expensive train ride away, what’s a writer to do?
Wonder no longer – the Northern Short Story Festival is here. The festival, which is the brainchild of writer SJ Bradley and part of Leeds Big Bookend Festival, has an eclectic and appealing programme of events. On Saturday 4th June at Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds, there are workshops ranging from “The Art of Murder” with writers Alison Taft and Anna Chilvers, to Success in Short Story Competitions with Avril Joy, reading events ranging from a Bluemoose Books Reading event with prizewinning author Michael Stewart, to a Q&A with the wonderful Carys Bray, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
There’s even an open mic event, hosted by Jenna Isherwood of Fictions of Every Kind, at which writers will be invited to read stories they’ve written at workshops during the day, and an afterparty at Hyde Park Book Club with flash fiction legend Benjamin Judge and ukulele troupe The Three Amigos.
With prices ranging from £4 to £20 for a day ticket, it’s local, affordable, and exciting! What more could you want?
ShortStops 
crime writers festival every year in Harrogate? York Festival? Ilkley Festival? …
Thanks for your comment, Denise! While there are lots of festivals already in the North (which we’re glad about, by the way – we’re really looking forward to Bradford Literature Festival, which starts next week) ours is the only festival we know of which is exclusively for short stories.
There are very few short story festivals nationwide – there are only two others that we know of, and NoShoSto is the only one taking place in the North. We’re lucky to have several world-class writers on our bill, as well as many very talented, but perhaps lesser known, local writers, as well as an independent press panel with some very innovative independent presses (Comma Press, Valley Press, and Tartarus Press, and there will be a reading event from Bluemoose Books too.)
What NoShoSto offers is a valuable addition and complement to the literature events already on offer in the region – and one of the things I’m particularly proud of is that NoShoSto offers affordable ticket prices, and is also paying every single writer appearing at the event. Not every literature festival does this and we are very proud to be able to say that we do.
You should look at the programme Denise – there are so many great events and we’d love it if you’d join us!
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