Festival Journal
Essential Reading
Many of our speakers, local authors and local businesses have shared with us interesting insights and top tips. Explore our blog Journal to find out more.
From Page to Stage: Exploring This Town with Rory Aaron
In this interview, poet and playwright Rory Aaron shares insights about turning personal experiences into theatre, discussing themes of friendship, masculinity and mental health ahead of his Rugby Literary Festival performance.
Getting a Taste for The Bard Q&A with Ben Crystal and Dr Varsha Panjwani
We sat down with Ben Crystal and Dr Varsha Panjwani to discuss their upcoming event at Rugby's Literary Festival. In our Q&A, they reveal why Shakespeare doesn't need to be "made relevant," debunk assumptions about women in his theatre. Plus myth-busting, unapologetic geekery, and a therapy dog named Edie.
Pam Ayres is alive & well & spoken word performance isn't all about teeth
BusyMrFizzy is a writer, poet, and spoken word performer. In this piece, he reflects on how Pam Ayres' legacy both represents and constrains modern performance poetry, while previewing his innovative "A Poetic Interruption" event at Rugby Literary Festival—designed to shatter expectations of what poetic performance can be.
Discover the Joy of Writing
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to write your own story? Have you felt the urge to capture a moment or express something that you’ve never shared before? Many people love the idea of penning their own novel or crafting their own poetry, the question is where to start.
Taking the leap to perform
BusyMrFizzy is a writer, poet, and spoken word performer. In this intimate reflection, he traces his journey from accidental performer to confident artist, sharing the profound moment when a stranger read his poem at a funeral and exploring the vulnerable courage required to bare one's soul through live performance.
The Series I Never Planned
With the fifth book in her Bird Series now in the planning stages, author Lindsay Woodward reflects on the journey, and how she never expected a sequel, let alone a whole series.
The Writer’s Pocket Rocks
Jennifer Jenkins, author of 'Three: A Tale of Brave Women and the Eyam Plague', reveals how inspiration gathers like treasured pocket rocks found on beach walks. From a fellow writer's evocative line "The land knows no time" to a beguiling willow tree in her local churchyard and a centuries-old manor house that whispers of untold stories.
Making a mountain, out of a molehill
BusyMrFizzy is a writer, poet, and spoken word performer. In this candid exploration of the creative process, he reveals how a childhood school trip that barely registered as eventful became his first literary triumph, and shares the writer's essential secret: transforming life's molehills into mountainous stories through the art of "what if?"
Interview: Donna Ashcroft, Julie Caplin & Bella Osborne
Appearing with other writers on a panel, isn’t necessarily as straight forward as it might appear. Luckily for their forthcoming panel at the Rugby Literary Festival, Donna Ashcroft, Julie Caplin and Bella Osborne, thanks to their regular writing retreats, have definitely found that magical chemistry.
Top Tips for Self-Published Authors
Want to know what truly sets successful self-published authors apart? It’s about far more than just writing a great book. If you’re looking to boost your self-publishing journey, then here are some top tips.
Top 10 Blogging Tips to Boost Your Brand
Whether you’re thinking about launching a brand new blog, or you want to breathe new life into your existing one, these 10 blogging tips will help you create content that connects, engages and grows your audience.
The Personal History Behind My Historical Fiction
Madalyn Morgan is a historical fiction author and former actress whose Sisters of Wartime England series is published by Storm Publishing. In this personal essay, she reveals how her mother's World War II stories and a brass Wellington bomber in their fireplace inspired her to create four sister protagonists, each living out the dreams her own aunts never got to pursue during wartime.
What’s On
To help you find what interests you most, we’ve also grouped events into easy to explore categories. Click below to view full event listings and, where relevant, to book your place.
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