News
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Luiza Botelho
Telling stories that open minds and touch hearts is a political act. On the next Heard Word writer-director-producer Luiza Botelho offers advice for other storytellers looking to change the world. That’s Monday the 17th of November, 2025 from 5-7pm GMT on Zoom. To get feedback on your work sign up to be one of our…
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Hannah Bunting
Last April Hannah’s story “Icarus Rises” won top honours in the Bournemouth Writing Prize. She has since signed with agent Laura Williams (Greene and Heaton) and is now working on a novel. Join the next Heard Word to meet this up-and-coming literary light. That’s Monday the 10th of November, 2025 from 5-7pm GMT on Zoom.…
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Helen Jacey
Want to create memorable female characters? Our next Heard Word guest wrote the book on the subject – literally. Helen Jacey’s The Woman in the Story is canon for scriptwriters exploring feminist themes. In recent years, she’s been reinventing 1940s detective fiction with her book series Elvira Slate Investigations. Join Helen and learn how to…
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Peter Lydon
Our next Heard Word featured guest is writer-director-cartoonist, Peter Lydon. When he’s not working with Oscar and BAFTA winning actors, he’s expressing his flare for the visual in the form of witty and thought-provoking cartoons. If you’re a multi-talented creative working across different mediums, join Peter and find out how to successfully juggle a whole…
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CW Blackburn
Our next Heard Word featured guest is CW Blackburn, poet, mental health advocate, and radio host (Livewire Live on Hope FM). Join us and find out how CW pens words that live at the intersection of the universal and the deeply personal. That’s Monday the 13th of October, 2025 from 5-7pm GMT on Zoom. To…
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Ali Sparkes
Heard Word is back! We’re thrilled to an announce that our first featured guest is award winning children’s author Ali Sparkes. Join us to meet Ali and find out how to hold the attention of the most demanding, and easily distracted, readers of all: kids. That’s Monday the 6th of October, 2025 from 5-7pm GMT…
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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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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…