View as a webpage / Share

Hi

Welcome to your latest dose of Pen to Print inspiration!

February marks LGBTQ+ History Month in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It is a time to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

In support of this, Pen to Print have organised one‑off workshops exploring the power of queer voices in literature. To start off, on 12 February at Barking Learning Centre, Steph Morris will be hosting a hybrid workshop that invites you to explore how personal experiences can be transformed into powerful poetry. Through guided writing exercises and inspiration drawn from key moments in queer history, you’ll discover how your own story forms part of a wider collective narrative.

Later in the month at Dagenham Library, comic creator Karrie Fransman will lead a hybrid workshop that invites you to explore the craft of visual storytelling. Drawing inspiration from her graphic novels and co‑created illustrated works, Gender Swapped Fairy Tales and Gender Swapped Greek Myths, you’ll uncover the Victorian Fairy Books that inspired these projects. You’ll also have the chance to experiment with gender‑swapping your own characters to create bold and imaginative visual stories.

Meanwhile, If you are interested in participating and contributing to Write On! Magazine, Editor, Madeleine White, will be hosting an online introductory session on 10 February, 6pm. This session will cover the processes of putting a magazine together and suggesting ways you can get involved with our talented and welcoming team of volunteers.

In other news, there is less than eight weeks left to enter our regular competitions. You wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to get your hands on a Tablet PC and more! For full details including terms and conditions visit pentoprint.org/competitions. Don't leave it too late, closing date for the competitions is on Monday 23 March, 12pm.

Lastly, we are finalising our Women’s Empowerment Month programme for March and will be releasing full details in the next edition. In the meantime, to discover what we have in store for February, please do read on…

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire people to make reading a regular part of their lives. We all understand the benefits of reading and how it expands our minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity, yet fewer people are doing it. With growing distractions and limited time, reading for pleasure is declining across many groups. This national campaign aims to change this by reconnecting reading with everyday culture. It is not about guilt or obligation, it is about showing that stories, ideas and imagination have a place in everyone’s daily life. Click here to find out more!

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 27

Sponsored by The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation, this issue features an exclusive interview with award-winning eco-poet and journalist, Sarah Westcott.

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

Click here to submit your poetry, flash fiction, short stories & artwork.

Write On! Audio, Podcast

Ranked in the top 10% most popular podcasts globally!

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

The Digital Storytelling Trail is Now LIVE!

The Pen to Print Digital Storytelling Trail is an ongoing project to record and share stories about Barking and Dagenham.

We have been working with our new partner Bloomberg Connects and now we are pleased to announce the trails are now live!

Using new technology to help read, watch or listen to stories new and old.

You can add your memories and creations, 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! We will be adding a Becontree Estate Trail and a Trewern/Hay Trail soon.

Click here for more details and how to submit.

Other Barking and Dagenham Culture and Heritage venues can also be discovered on the platform, so if you want to explore Valence House Museum and Eastbury Manor House, from the comfort of your home, scan the barcode now and download the App.

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

Pen to Print's Upcoming Events

 Introduction to Write On! - What Makes a Magazine?
Tuesday 10 February, 6pm to 7pm (Online)

Tickets: FREE

Please note this is an online event only.

An introduction to making a magazine with an insight to the process and publishing. Now planning Issue 28, Madeleine White, Editor of Write On! Magazine, invites you to join this session, for anyone interested in participating or contributing to Write On! Extra or Write On! Magazine.

Click here to discover how you can submit your work to Write On!

Exploring Queer Narratives Through Writing with Steph Morris
Thursday 12 February, 5.30pm to 7pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

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

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

A one-off creative writing and poetry workshop exploring the power of queer voices in literature. Through guided exercises, you’ll discover how personal narratives can become powerful poems or prose poems. We’ll look at examples of queer history to inspire your writing and explore how your own story is part of that history.

Demystifying the Romance with Charlotte Baker
Friday 13 February, 12.30pm to 2.30pm (Online)

Tickets: £1.99

Please note this is an online event only.

This session will walk writers through the characteristics of romance, its subgenres (including historical romance), and why these elements are essential to the publishing process.

You’ll also learn about contemporary trends and marketing strategies shaping the genre today. We’ll dive into common settings and their role in romance, as well as the importance of emotional realism in characterisation. The session includes plenty of opportunities for questions and supportive tasks to help you apply what you learn.

A Gender Swap Visual Storytelling Workshop with Karrie Fransman
Thursday 26 February, 5pm to 7pm at Dagenham Library & Online

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

Please note this event can be joined either online
or attend in-person at Dagenham Library

Comic creator Karrie Fransman explores the art of visual storytelling, her graphic novels, and her illustrated books Gender Swapped Fairy Tales and Gender Swapped Greek Myths (Faber & Faber), co-created with Jonathan Plackett.

Discover the secrets behind the Victorian Fairy Books that inspired them and try your hand at gender-swapping your own characters to create unique visual stories.

Pen to Print's Competitions

The Book Challenge Have a novel idea or a finished book but unsure what’s next? Submit your idea for a chance to be mentored by a professional writer and get your book ready for publication. Selected writers will receive 12 months of free mentoring in 2027. Deadline to enter: 30 September 2026, 12pm. Click here for full details including how to enter.

Poetry Competition Write a poem in any style, up to a maximum of two A4 pages. You can choose any subject, and you’re welcome to submit more than one poem, but no more than three entries will be accepted per person. Deadline to enter: 23 March 2026, 12pm. Click here for full details including how to enter.

Short Story Competition Write a short story of up to 2,000 words on any subject. You may submit more than one story, but a maximum of three entries will be accepted per person. Deadline to enter: 23 March 2026, 12pm. Click here for full details including how to enter.

Audio Play Competition In partnership with Alternative Stories, submit an audio play with a running time of around 30 minutes, which is a script length of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 words. Include a synopsis of your story, no longer than 250 words. Deadline to enter: 23 March 2026, 12pm. Click here for full details including how to enter.

Speech and Drama Festival Write and perform a poem or monologue lasting no more than three minutes. Entries will be judged on both writing and performance and all entrants must be available to perform at the Speech and Drama Festival auditions on Saturday, 18 July 2026, between 9am and 5pm. Deadline to enter: 1 June 2026, 12pm. Click here for full details including how to enter.

Pen to Print's Regular Classes

Writing for Performance Class with Kelly Jones
Saturday 7 February, 10am to 11.30am at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next Month Saturday March, 10am to 11.30am)

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

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

Session Six: Writing for live theatre performance

A series of dynamic and engaging workshops that explore the art of scriptwriting for both stage and audio. Designed with flexibility in mind, participants can join at any point during the course.

This course covers a broad spectrum of performance and creative writing, including theatre scripts, radio dramas, performance art texts, digital storytelling, podcasts and stand-up comedy.

Creative Writing Class with Ian Ayris
Saturday 7 February, 12pm to 1.30pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next Month Saturday 7 March, 12pm to 1.30pm)

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

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

Session Six: Discover your unique writing voice

If you've always dreamed of writing a book but didn’t know where to begin, or if you're an experienced writer wanting to revisit the foundations of storytelling, this course offers the perfect opportunity.

Over eleven monthly sessions, our expert tutor will guide you through the essential elements of creative writing. From structure and dialogue to description, point of view and beyond - you’ll explore every key aspect of the writing process.

Poetry Writing Class with Mab Jones
Saturday 7 February, 3pm to 4.30pm at Barking Learning Centre & Online

(Next Month Saturday 7 March, 3pm to 4.30pm)

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

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

Session Six: Poetry as experiment - visual and formal innovation

If you're just beginning to explore poetry and want to build your skills and confidence, these sessions are perfect for you.

Learn the fundamentals and receive guidance on how to shape your ideas and develop your poetry writing style - whether you're writing for personal enjoyment or aiming to enter poetry competitions.

Our poetry classes welcome participants of all levels, from complete beginners to published poets, you can join at any point of the course.