View as a webpage / Share

Pen to Print May 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pen to Print e-newsletter.

May is the month we celebrate all thing criminal and Barking & Dagenham is the home to leading crime fiction writers such as our patron Martina Cole.

On 15 May at Dagenham Library, crime writers Tom Mead and Barbara Nadel will talk about how they incorporate the concept of magic in to their crime fiction novels and why. Covering both stage magic and the occult, Tom and Barbara will discuss what excites them so much about this angle on the crime fiction genre and how magical themes can help illuminate the psychology of those who kill as well as those who seek to apprehend them. 

Pen to Print and The London Library have joined forces for the third year running, bringing you a series of workshops designed to take you through different creative writing processes. on 17 May, freelance writer, Patrick Cash will be hosting a workshop on demystifying the process of funding your own creative work. After the session, participants will receive a complimentary London Library day ticket (worth £30) so that they can continue writing or using the Library until it closes at 5.30pm. Keep scrolling for more details! 

In other news, Hay Festival is back on 22 May 2025, bringing readers and writers together to inspire, examine and entertain. If you are planning on escaping for a visit to Hay Festival this year, we might see you there! Pen to Print will be returning once more to explore the beautiful countryside of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and to soak up the atmosphere at the 20+ bookshops along with the festival itself.

We will be joined by a group of students from Barking & Dagenham with their teachers for the first half, then substituted by a group of adventurous adult writers in the second. Write On! Issue 24 sponsored by Hay Festival will be distributed there too, we couldn’t be more excited!

You don't need a ticket to enter the festival site, but you will need to book individual tickets for each event you would like to attend. Click here for full details of the programme including travel and accommodation information.

Finally, this is our last call out to enter Pen to Print's Speech & Drama Festival. We will be closing for entries on 30 May, 5pm. Don't miss out on the chance to showcase your talent and win inspiring prizes. Click here for full details and how to enter.

Perhaps we will see some of you at Hay Festival, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy the May Bank Holidays.

To see some of things we have in store for you, please do read on...

Write On! Together

If you would like to get involved, either to be a part of our talented Write On! team, partner with us as an advertiser or sponsor an issue, uncover a host of opportunities in our Write On! Together booklet.

For more information email: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk

Write On! Issue 24

Sponsored by Hay Festival, this issue features bestselling author John Marrs, who shares how his determination to bring stories to life, led him from self-publishing to becoming a multi-million-copy bestselling author.

Pick up a free copy in libraries and selected venues or read it free online.

Submit your poetry, flash fiction, short stories & artwork: pentoprint.org/get-involved/submit-to-write-on

Write On! Audio, Podcast

From writing tips to author interviews, our podcast has something for everyone in the writing community and book lovers.

Write On! Audio is available on every major podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Simply search ‘Pen to Print’ or ‘Write On Audio’ to discover a world of literary inspiration.

If you want to explore podcasting and get involved with Write On! Audio, we are always open to submissions! For more details on what we’re looking for and to submit, visit: pentoprint.org/submit-to-write-on

Free Offer for Pen to Print Readers and Writers

Our fiends at Libraro are offering a free Basic Plan for aspiring Pen to Print authors to try out their new platform. Simply visit libraro.com create an account, choose the Basic Plan, and enter the promotional code: PentoPrint25

About Libraro

Librario is a community-driven platform that democratises the literary world, empowering writers to share their stories securely, readers to influence what gets published, and industry professionals to discover tomorrow’s bestsellers.

Through crowd reading, they connect passionate storytellers with engaged readers and forward-thinking publishers, ensuring every story has the chance to find its perfect audience and reach its full potential.

For Readers

• A Free Forever plan.

Uncover tomorrow's classics - Be a literary tastemaker. Discover and champion new voices, influence the stories you love, and be part of a community that’s shaping the future of literature.

For Writers:

Write your next chapter - From passionate writer to published author, Libraro support your journey every step of the way. Build your fanbase, refine your craft through reader feedback, and catch the eye of publishing professionals. 

• Basic Plan: £19.99 per year for 1 submission. (Free Code: PentoPrint25)
• Standard Plan: £79.96 per year for 5 submissions
• Limited Lifetime Deal: 1 payment of  £120 with unlimited submissions. 

The Digital Storytelling Trail

The Pen to Print Digital Storytelling Trail is an ongoing project to record and share stories about Barking and Dagenham. We are now working with our new partner Bloomberg Connects to bring you a re-developed Digital Storytelling Trail coming soon!

We are using new technology to help read, watch or listen to stories new and old. You can send us photos, drawings, audio recordings, video, poems and stories fact or fiction about anywhere in Barking and Dagenham and add to the trails now!

Click here for more details and how to submit

Bloomberg Connects: Offers access to exhibitions, collections and renowned artists at over 800 museums and other cultural organisations. Connects you to arts and culture at any time, from anywhere. Free to download and use with no limits on how many digital guides you can explore.

Scan the QR Code to download Bloomberg Connects

May Events

Magical Crime Fiction with Barbara Nadel and Tom Mead
Thursday 15 May, 5pm to 7pm at Dagenham Library

Tickets: FREE

Please note this is an in-person event only

Grab your magic wand, put on your invisible cloak and join an early evening deep drive into mystical murder.

Crime writers Tom Mead and Barbara Nadel talk about how they incorporate the concept of magic in to their crime fiction novels and why. Covering both stage magic and the occult, Tom and Barbara discuss what excites them so much about this angle on the crime fiction genre and how magical themes can help illuminate the psychology of those who kill as well as those who seek to apprehend them.

Fundraising – Overview / Demystify the Process with Patrick Cash
Saturday 17 May, 11am to 1pm at The London Library

Tickets: £2

Please note this is an in-person event only

The first part of this session, taught by Patrick Cash will include an overview on how the Arts Council England can support an individuals creative writing practice, through their National Lottery Programme Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice funding strands. There’ll be a presentation with information on both programmes, how much you can apply for, and what the application form entails.

In the second part of the session, Patrick will talk about his experience as a freelance writer himself and how being a former recipient of NLPG and DYCP grants enhanced his personal practice, from producing theatre and spoken word shows to literary mentorship. There’ll be an opportunity to ask questions about both parts of the sessions afterwards.

FREE Competition

Pen to Print Speech and Drama Festival

Incorporating the Michael Feld Writing Competition for Young People

Write and perform a Poem, Monologue or Short Play of no more than 3 minutes long. You will be judged on the writing and your performance!

Competition closes on Friday 30 May 2025, 5pm.

Regular Classes

Creative Writing Class with Ian Ayris

Saturday 10 May, 10am to 12pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next month Saturday 7 June, 10am to 12pm)

In-Person Attendance Tickets: FREE     Online Attendance Tickets: £1.99

Please note this event can be joined either online or in-person at Barking Learning Centre

Session Nine: The submission process and the fear of rejection

If you are a beginner to writing and would like to learn how to write that book you always knew was inside you, or a more experienced writer who wants to reacquaint yourself with the fundamentals of writing, this is for you.

Over eleven two-hour monthly sessions, our tutor will take you through every aspect of creative writing - from structure to dialogue, description, point of view and everything in between - all the way through to writing a synopsis and the process of submission.

Poetry Class with Mab Jones

Saturday 10 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next month Saturday 7 June, 1.30pm to 3.30pm)

In-Person Attendance Tickets: FREE     Online Attendance Tickets: £1.99

Please note this event can be joined either online or in-person at Barking Learning Centre

Session Nine: Working with rhythm and meter - Sonnets, both classic and modern

If you are just starting to write poetry and need to build up your skills and confidence, this is for you.

Get the basics and have the opportunity to obtain guidance on your initial approach to writing and developing your ideas. Whether you want to write for pleasure or prepare your work for entering poetry competitions.

Writing for Performance Class with Kelly Jones

Saturday 24 May, 10am to 12pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next month Saturday 21 June, 10am to 12pm)

In-Person Attendance Tickets: FREE     Online Attendance Tickets: £1.99

Please note this event can be joined either online or in-person at Barking Learning Centre

Session Nine: Writing for Television, Film and Digital

An 11-month course of unique, fun workshops exploring scriptwriting for Stage and Audio, designed for participants to join at any point during the course

Writing for Performance is defined as making scripts for theatre, radio drama, or text for performance art podcasts, digital platforms, or stand-up comedy.