OUR WORK
New Writing South is a contemporary literature organisation working with and for writers at all stages of their career.
We believe in the power of writing as a force for cultural and social change. By developing programmes for writers that have equity, diversity and social justice at their heart, and through collaborations, we create outstanding opportunities for writers, readers, listeners, thinkers and audiences.
We understand the demands writers face and create programmes designed to inspire and build resilience. Our programmes and events are accessible and affordable.
Empowering Writers At All Levels
At New Writing South, supporting writers is our core mission. We offer diverse courses, masterclasses, and workshops that span memoir writing, poetry, blogging, script development, and more. Whether you’re drafting your first novel or exploring new creative avenues, we’re here to guide you. Accessibility remains key: we provide bursaries and low-cost tickets to ensure writers from all backgrounds can participate. Our collaboration with The Literary Consultancy (TLC) also enables us to offer free manuscript readings annually to multiple writers. After a successful Publishing and Industry Day in 2024, connecting writers with agents and publishers, we’re excited to bring it back in 2025.
Celebrating Creativity Through Festivals
Two flagship festivals anchor our year, each a celebratory force for equity and social justice. In March 2025, we launch the Forthwrite Festival, a vibrant celebration of women writers, focusing on voices over 50, with events in Crawley and Brighton. Meanwhile, every October, The Coast is Queer—the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ writing festival—takes over The Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. This radical, inclusive event provides a creative space for dialogue, performance, and connection. Both festivals hold a special place in our hearts, allowing us to champion the voices and audiences that inspire us most.
Working in Partnership to Amplify Writers’ Voices
Collaboration is at the heart of our work. We collaborate and partner with local, regional and national literary organisations, festivals, universities, libraries and arts organisations to reach the widest community and elevate voices whose experience and ideas are not heard in the mainstream. The Coast is Queer thrives thanks to our partnerships with the University of Sussex, the University of Brighton, and Marlborough Productions. Brighton and Hove Libraries remain essential collaborators in fostering creativity and supporting readers and writers. By working with diverse partners, we continue to extend our reach and impact.
Championing Playwrights and Theatre-Makers
We’re breaking new ground in supporting playwrights. In September 2024, our inaugural Playwrights Industry Day brought together working playwrights, theatre-makers, and representatives from theatres across the country. This pivotal event fostered open, timely discussions on the evolving landscape of theatre. We’re thrilled to announce its return in 2025. On a practical front, our First Tuesday Masterclass series continues to offer targeted opportunities for playwrights, including a memorable session on spoken word and performance with the acclaimed Testament. Looking ahead, don’t miss an insightful workshop led by celebrated playwright Tim Crouch in 2025.
Deeply Embedded in the Writing Community
As one of seven Writing Development Agencies across England, New Writing South is part of a dynamic national network enriching the literary landscape. Locally, we spearhead the Brighton Literary Network, uniting the region’s literary groups to create an integrated calendar of events for writers. Our co-directors, Lesley Wood and Anna Jefferson, are passionate about inclusion and equality, contributing to LGBTQ+ heritage initiatives and the Equal and Safe Brighton board, respectively. These connections strengthen our programming and affirm our commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive writing community.
Supporting Communities Through Writing
New Writing South is committed to working with groups and communities, offering meaningful support with lasting benefits during and beyond each project. Telling Our Stories, run in partnership with womens’ groups, created unique opportunities for women to share their personal narratives in their own voices, fostering expression and connection. In partnership with Writing Around the Kids we encourage and support writing mothers of young children in Crawley, Littlehampton, Hastings and Brighton. This project has been the catalyst for the upcoming Forthwrite Festival. Other recent projects include creative writing projects with Crawley schoolchildren, and heritage and well-being projects including Hear Us Out, region-wide, older LGBTQ+ people’s oral history and verbatim theatre.