Abbey Woolgar
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10th Anniversary Edition
The 2026 Tenth Anniversary Edition of the Bournemouth Writing Prize Anthology showcases winning and shortlisted short stories and poetry from across the globe. There are many additional highlights, including a profile of Emma Scattergood, the founder of the Bournemouth Writing Prize and an interview with Hannah Bunting, last year’s short story winner. There are also…
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2025 Bournemouth Writing Prize – Writers Unbound
With no fixed theme to constrain them, this year’s shortlisters give their imaginations free rein. Turns out the skies above Bournemouth’s golden beaches are filled with all manner of high-flying literary creations. This year’s entries explore a wide range of topics, from nostalgic longing to opioid dreams to textual embroidery. There is even a surprisingly…
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Di)Still: The Bournemouth Writing Prize Shortlist 2024 (The Bournemouth Writing Prize Anthology)
Welcome to Di(still), a collection of writing from talented new authors around the globe; from Cork to Cevennes, Bournemouth to Belgium. This anthology distills experiences, emotions, and hopes into two forms of writing: short stories and poems. There is an element of stillness needed to both create and sit with these inspiring narratives. The themes…
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The Story Works Anthology 2026
Find it on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback formats This collection proves a child’s imagination knows no bounds. Encounter a croissant stealing monster. Meet a spherical pig and dive into a tale of synchronised swimming giraffes. These are just a few of the wonderful stories, songs and videos created by the young writers from The Story Works workshops.
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The Outsiders Project: Home
Find it on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback formats Everyone has a story to tell, some are just grittier than others. The Outsiders Project is made by outsiders, for outsiders. It exists to amplify unheard voices and prove that people pushed to the margins can write and perform with raw brilliance. This is more than a project, it’s a creative…
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Call for Volunteer Readers – Bournemouth Writing Prize and Bournemouth Journal
We’re looking for volunteers with experience, knowledge, or a strong interest in contemporary writing to help assess submissions. As a reader, you’ll support fresh voices, gain insight into the editorial process, and contribute to a respected prize and publication, while ensuring fairness and integrity.
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Issue 2
From the 1st of October 2025, issue 2 of The Bournemouth Journal is available in print-on-demand at Amazon. Poetry Example: Flood Suzanna Fitzpatrick The sheep wake you. Keening, not bleating, the noise mammals make when they sense death. Goosebumps try to rouse your non-existent pelt as you grope for the clock. Two a.m. There’s a gale…
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Notes of aLadin A Raw, Relatable Mirror to the Modern African Hustle
In an era defined by digital façades and curated perfection, my debut novel, Notes of aLadin, breaks through with gripping honesty and comedic grit. Written in journal-style entries that are both heartbreaking and hilarious, Notes of aLadin is a creative chronicle of a young Nigerian man’s survival in an economy that often seems rigged against the everyday dreamer.
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Coming soon: The Dale Hurst Writing Show – Season 5
We’re pleased to announce that The Dale Hurst Writing Show, a writing podcast partnered with The Bournemouth Journal, is returning with its fifth season later this month.
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Zooming into the Writer’s Room
Zoom is such a great way of bringing writers together and I was delighted when Heard Word recently invited me to take part. It’s fun to see how a whole ritual has developed around engaging with each other via this online portal: mikes muted, emojis at the ready, chat column primed and, as each face…