Literature Events in Manchester and the North

There are plenty of writerly launches, open mics, literature festivals, pre-Christmas book fairs and festive readings to pop into your diary, some online, some in person – and some both.

Manchester indie Carcanet Press are continuing to run their book launches by the magic of Zoom (we’re looking forward to hearing from Vahni Capildeo‘s new Poetry Book Society Winter Choice collection Like a Tree, Walking on 1 December), while Comma Press sees Sarah Schofield continue to tour her new collection, Safely Gathered In, and she joins the line-up for Ghosts At The Talleyrand on 18 December.

Comma are running a short-story course with Manchester author Karline Smith guiding you through her top tips, while Creative Industries Trafford rekindle the CIT Writers’ Group in the new year, with poet Jazmine Linklater offering assistance, however you fancy getting your words on the page. Bagsy your places now or how about bagsying places for someone else for Christmas…

For a showcase of independent presses of the region – and a great opportunity to pick up Christmas presents in the shape of books – head to Central Library on 27 November (tickets are free, but do bagsy a time slot in advance) for the Northern Publishers’ Fair. There will be readings from the likes of Gerry Potter and David Gaffney, whose latest novel, Out Of The Dark, is published by Manchester-based Confingo in the new year. On 10 December, meanwhile, NPF organisers Fly On The Wall Press are hosting the final launch of the 2021 Shorts Season with an online event to welcome into the world Clare Reddaway’s The Guts Of A Mackerel.

Back in real life in Manchester, and Speak Easy returns to Dulcimer in Chorlton on 2 December, while new “variety performance” showcase Talley-Ho takes the reins at The Talleyrand in Levenshulme the same night. Word Central welcoms Ben Willems as special guest on 14 December, beat poetry night Beatification rocks up at Fuel café on 15 December and Verbose will return to the King’s Arms after its 29 November outing with Flo Cornall and Ruth Awolola, with a Christmas special on 13 December, featuring Dave Haslam. In the new year, the avant-garde Peter Barlow’s Cigarette will be making a comeback (more soon on that). In Wigan, the Open Mic Poetry (the longest-running open mic poetry night in Wigan, in fact) returns to The Old Courts on 9 December, hot on the heels of its online version on 25 November, while in Liverpool A Lovely Word rocks up at the Bistro at the Everyman on Hope Street on 2 December, hosted by Alex Ferguson and Mary Olive, and featuring poet Amerah Saleh.

Also in Liverpool, The Reader’s Spoken Word evenings are back at the Mansion House, with a programme running into the new year. There’s also the Shared Reading groups and weekly Poetry Walks in Calderstones Park, plus a new interactive map to follow either the Literature Trail or the Heritage Trail (or indeed both!), so if you like your literature served with a side order of inspiring surroundings, find out more here. Over Leeds way, keep an eye out for Tales of Whatever (formerly of this manor), who have dates chalked up for 26 November and 28 January next year.

On the festival front, Manchester Literature Festival returns from its in real life sellouts with events online – MLF Digital runs from 1 to 30 November, with Novel Voices as well as Postcards From Oxford Road worth checking out. Also on Oxford Road, Anthony Joseph introduces poetry on vinyl, alongside music, and Jenny Mitchell reads her award-winning poems at the newly opened Manchester Poetry Library.

The Elizabeth Gaskell’s House book sale is running monthly, so get your place booked as soon as possible – and don’t forget to check out our Guide To Bookshops In Manchester. Guided tours are back at Chetham’s Library, the Portico is the place to go to see the Refloresta! exhibition by world-renowned Brazilian artist Maria Nepomuceno (on until 22 November), and the Pankhurst Centre has reopened. And don’t forget to scroll down for more events and activities, or see our literary guides to Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Cumbria if you’re venturing further afield.

Here are our picks