Creative Industries Trafford presents Northern Lights Writers’ Conference – a full day on the craft and business of writing.

The event is for established and emerging writers, screenwriters, poets and authors and features a mix of inspiring talks from leading authors, screenwriters and industry figures.

Our panel talks include The State of The Art writers Lisa Holdsworth (TV writer & former Chair of the Writers’ Guild) explores the landscape for writers in 2024, alongside author and screenwriter Danielle Jawando and poet and children’s author Oliver Sykes.

Following this session, independent bookseller Ayesha Ansari-Choudhury (Mirror Me Write) will be discussing the importance of representation in literature in Diversity in Literature.

Other panel talks include Monica MacSwan (Aitken Alexander Agency) and Kevin Duffy (Bluemoose Books) giving practical and up to date guidance for writers on how the representation and publication process works plus a sessions routes into the publishing industry with the Society of Young Publishers (North).

A series of creative talks will take place concurrently:

• How to Develop Your Writing Voice – is with award-winning author Oliver Sykes and is an in-depth look at finding and maintaining your voice as a writer.
• Marketing & Social Media for Writers– author and fiction marketer Eleanor Pilcher leads a session on marketing and developing social media content for writers.
• Creative business consultant Phil Birchenall delivers a practical session on AI for Writers, looking at how writers can use AI tools to help develop new projects.
• Creating Branched Narratives is an in conversation session with award-winning writer and creator Emma Nuttall (BBC, ITV, Charisma AI and The National Youth Theatre).
• Drop In Advice Sessions
• A series of 15-minute drop-in advice sessions, ideal to writers with next steps in both creativity, signposting and career advice.