OU English and Creative Writing

Head shots of authors Tim Marshall and Philip Seargeant and the cover of Marshall's book Prisoners of Geography

TONIGHT

Drawing the Line? Monday 9 March 2026, 7.00pm, on Zoom.

Tim Marshall, bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography, discusses with Philip Seargeant (OU) why physical borders are such a live issue in today’s globalised, interconnected world.

Free tickets at www.mklitfest.org/borders

Gracie Mae Bradley, co-author of Against Borders, explores how we might reshape the world to overcome barriers that fuel division and disparities.

www.mklitfest.org/borders

@ouliterature.bsky.social

Images of authors Tim Marshall and Philip Seargeant

Together with @MKLitFest, we welcome Tim Marshall to our series on Borders in Literature, talking to @philipseargeant.bsky.social about the impact of geographical borders on today’s interconnected world. 9 Mar, 7pm, Zoom.
Tickets (free): bit.ly/mklfmarsh

#geography #politics #literature

We are delighted to be partnering @mklitfest.bsky.social for a third year offering free online events with distinguished writers on Monday evenings throughout March 2026. This year’s theme is Borders in Literature.
All these events are free to attend.
Book your tickets at www.mklitfest.org/borders

Writer and lawyer Abda Khan explains how cultural differences and misunderstandings create barriers, and explores how we might overcome them.

www.mklitfest.org/borders

@ouliterature.bsky.social

Novelist Kit de Waal, a leading voice for working class writers, joins Dr Dan Taylor to discuss how to challenge the class ceiling.

www.mklitfest.org/online-event...

@kitdewaal.com
@ouliterature.bsky.social

A rainbow-coloured flyer for the MKLitFest event featuing images of the featured poets: Len Lukowski, Julia Bell, and Simon Maddrell, with images of their book covers

Still a chance to get tickets for this excellent online poetry event which takes place next Tuesday - celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month.

www.mklitfest.org/lgbtqpoets

#LGBTQ+
#poetryonline

A picture of novelist and screenwriter Helen Fielding wearing a purple top and black trousers, seated on a white chair and looking to camera. Image: HFprofemail at en.wikipedia Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

Happy birthday to Helen Fielding, novelist and screenwriter, born on this day in 1958.

She found success writing the Bridget Jones column for The Independent newspaper, and developed it into a series of bestselling novels and screen adaptations.

www.instagram.com/helenfielding
#literarybirthdays

A picture of US novelist, poet and rights activist Alice Walker, speaking from a podium. Image by Virginia DeBolt used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 license

Happy birthday Alice Walker. Born on the 9th of February 1944.

Author of modern masterpieces such as The Third Life of Grange Copeland, The Colour Purple, and The Temple of My Familiar.

alicewalkersgarden.com

Do you want to develop your book idea, taking it from a kernel in your mind to something fully-formed?

The course with Natalie Young builds in regular workshopping sessions on your book idea and pitch.

Book: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-courses/develop-your-book-idea-2026

Find out more about our immersive week-long courses at the London Rare Books Summer School by scanning the QR code or visiting our website: buff.ly/7cpbeU1

You don't want to miss out.

Calling all writers! Check out the Writers Day on Saturday 7 March organised by The Writers Workshop in Sheffield. Info below

Images of the poets Len Lukowski, Julia Bell and Simon Maddrell and their most recent book covers, set against a rainbow flag

To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, our @mklitfest.bsky.social friends welcome 3 superb poets - Len Lukowski, Julia Bell and Simon Maddrell - whose work draws on their own histories to reflect diversity and commonality of experience. 24 Feb, 7pm, Zoom. Info: bit.ly/mklflgbtq
#lgbtqhistory
#poetry

Opportunity for poets: Poetry Wales magazine is currently open for submissions until Feb 28th, up to a cap of 550 submissions. Head over here for more information: poetrywales.co.uk/submissions/

FOUR POETS at Saul Hay Gallery Join us for an intimate evening of poetry with FOUR POETS at Saul Hay Gallery.

I’ll be reading poems from Exit Strategy at the Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester, on the 19th March, alongside three amazing poets. Join us for an evening of words and art @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @ouliterature.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/four-poets...

A head and shoulders photo of film director, screenwriter and composer John Carpenter, wearing a grey jacket and black t shirt, and with his trademark moustache. Image © Nathan Hartley Maas. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license

Happy birthday John Carpenter. Screenwriter, director & composer, born on the 16th of January 1948.
As writer of films such as The Fog, The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13 and Halloween, often co-writing with producer Debra Hill, he is one of the greats of film writing.

theofficialjohncarpenter.com

Collected Letters - Volume One Update - The Ford Madox Ford Society Collected Letters - Volume One Update

The Ford Madox Ford Society blog is now live, with details of the six volume Ford Complete Works. Find out more in the blog article below by our OU colleague Prof. Sara Haslam. We had some excellent papers on Ford at our recent Letters and Literature conference.
fordmadoxford.org/collected-le...

Some great opportunities out there! Get writing and submitting!

Happy birthday Zora Neale Hurston - born on 7th of January 1891.

A colossus of American literature and anthropology

#legend

There are some great schemes & competitions for writers (especially poets) currently accepting submissions. Please share:
@poetrysociety.org.uk poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/
@mklitfest.bsky.social
www.mklitfest.org/opportunitie...
@magmapoetry.bsky.social
magmapoetry.com/competition/

#poetry

Culture isn't a "nice to have", It's one of the UK's least recognised growth engines.

Analysis from our recently published paper shows that publicly funded arts and culture generated more than £3 of economic value for every £1 of public investment ⬇️

Calling Isle of Wight writers: join Open University lecturers for 'A virtual walk through history: writing creatively about the past', a workshop at Boojum&Snark, Sandown High Street. Thurs, Jan 22nd, 5.30 - 7.30pm. No experience required. RSVP to emily.bullock@open.ac.uk
@openarc.bsky.social #IoW

Available at all good bookshops! Well done to all authors and editors. @oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social

Poet and academic Professor Siobhan Campbell standing at a microphone giving a public address.

Her work in Creative Writing participatory action research continues with her project 'Making Space for NHS Voices' with University Hospitals Tees, where she recently launched The Writers' Nook alongside the arts committee of North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Poet Siobhan Campbell is now Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing Practice at The Open University. Siobhan's six books of poetry are published in Ireland/UK and the USA by publishers including Templar, Seren, Rack Press and Blackstaff Press.
@poetrysiobhan.bsky.social

A formally posed portrait in black and white of novelist Jane Austen

Happy birthday Jane Austen! Born on this day, the 16th of December 1775 - it is her 250th anniversary today!

#JaneAusten

Why Jane Austen readers still leave letters at her graveside I was also amazed to discover a basket by Austen’s graveside which was overflowing with handwritten letters.

Our colleague @drnaomiwalker.bsky.social Walker has contributed this excellent article on #JaneAusten in @theconversation.com. Find it here:
theconversation.com/why-jane-aus...

Book cover image showing a phoenix rising from blood

Storying the Menopause: An Evocative Auto/ethnography by @openuniversity.bsky.social Creative Writing researcher, Dr Shanta Everington, is out now with Routledge. Focusing on often underrepresented experience inc: early menopause, LGBTQIA+, disability, the global majority & more! See: surl.li/wyozoe

Jane Austen’s friendships defied social class – and empowered her writing The fourth episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail uses the novel Emma to explore the writer’s views on friendship.

Listen to the OU’s Emma Claire Sweeney on the@theconversation.com podcast,Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, Ep 4, The Friend. Emma talks about Austen's class-defying friendship with family employee and amateur playwright, Anne Sharp: bit.ly/48vpZI1.

Image by Fazalmajid
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0