Write On! 12 is out today! The theme of Nature, Inspiring Creativity: Past, Present And Future is perfect for an April release, showing that despite the fear and uncertainty that are still with us, nature is unfolding; inspiring creativity and reminding us of the fact that life goes on. April is also National Poetry Month, so it’s only fitting that a key element of this edition is about seeing  nature through poetry.

Our lead interview is with the seminal poet and RSL Chair Daljit Nagra who, discusses ‘the Nature of Us,’ with Write On! regular, Juneha Chowdhury (you can also listen to this through April’s edition of the  Write On! Audio podcast). Another exciting piece of news is that, thanks to Libraries Unlimited, a fellow Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) based in Devon, we have grown by eight pages. Their mini-magazine celebrates winners and runners-up from the ‘What If You Spoke’ Competition. Superb Writing and beautiful imagery bring a wonderful youth energy to Write On!.

Talking of youth, Charis Odoki, a young writer from Exeter, investigates a writer’s responsibility in ‘The Big Debate’ and the Write Back group of youth storytellers shares free postcards for all the London-distributed magazines. This fabulous group of young people are also editors of the ‘Destination Barking And Dagenham’ page. They interview Joseph Namy, an artist and driving force behind the Becontree Broadcasting Station. Columnist HB O’Neill continues the local focus with his ‘Local Flavour’ page, bringing a wry twinkle to some creative initiatives in the Borough.

Issue 12 is sponsored by The London Library: “A place where there is a spirit of discussion, conversation and communication.” These words are courtesy of Claire Berliner, Head Of Programmes for this private library in the heart of London with over one million books on 17 miles of shelves.

Our printed editions continue to be inspired by work featured in the online Write On! Extra and podcast Write On! Audio. Write On! 13, out on 29 June is themed, Mind Your Language: Words And How We Use Them. Our lead interview will be with Patrice Lawrence MBE, in conversation with our Thursday Connectors Page Editor, Farzana Hakim.

SEE ISSUE 12 HERE

Launched in April 2019, Arts Council England Library NPO (National Portfolio Organisation) Pen to Print’s Write On! continues to reach new readers – all united by a desire to come together beyond boundaries of geography, culture and expectations. Created by and for writers, Write On! is available through libraries in Devon, east London and Essex as well as digitally. Increasingly, we are sharing the printed magazine with writers from across the UK who are asking for copies for their writing groups and local bookstores.

We believe an inclusive community spirit, reaching beyond boundaries of place, can create wider ripple effects around engagement and transparency. We are therefore delighted that Write On! Extra has encouraged over 70,000 users from 192 countries to respond to our ideals and Write On! Audio is also growing apace.

A Call to Action:

In keeping with Pen to Print’s vision that everybody should have the chance to tell their story and so, inspire potential in others, we welcome new writing and ideas from London, the UK and internationally. Write On! 13, out on 29 June is themed, Mind Your Language: Words And How We Use Them. Our lead interview will be with Patrice Lawrence MBE. The theme will  inform content for the digital Write On! Extra (accessible through pentoprint.org) and podcast Write On! Audio (on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Just type Pen to Print into your browser. Alternatively, find us via our Anchor FM hosting site).

1. 1. For up-to-date editorial information, including how to submit to the Write On! suite of publications, including audio, see: The Editor’s Introduction.
   2. Partnerships: Write On! has already facilitated partnerships and co-operation with All Stories, Bloomsbury, Penguin, the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, Write Back UK, the Curtis Brown Agency, Margate Bookie, University of Derby, first Church University Canterbury, The Romantic Novelist Association (RNA), the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast, The Turner Contemporary, Libraries Unlimited (Devon), The London Library, Becontree Broadcasting Station and the Barking and Dagenham Talking Newspaper (making Write On! available in a spoken form) many others are currently being explored. If you would like to discuss ideas, please do get in touch at: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
   3. To advertise online or in the next issue please see: Our Media Pack