Dialect's Winter Delights
Finding joy in dark days, and word soup for the soul
The clocks have gone back, the mercury is dropping and there’s a lot that feels cold and dark out there at the moment. At Dialect, we bang on a lot about the importance of community and care in the writing world, and that’s because we think those are our best tools for making change. And right now, we need the power and joy of getting together and telling new stories more than ever.
So if you currently want to hide under the duvet for, i don’t know, the next four years or so, or you feel the sudden and urgent need to create things and hang out with other writers (or both at the same time!) here are some literary treats from us, to keep you moving and hoping and getting words on the page.
The Thingness of Things poetry workshop
This Saturday 16th November - just a few spots left!
10.30am to 3.30pm
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Want to get new inspiration and perspectives as a ‘creator of verbal objects’ (W.H. Auden)? Why not grab yourself a place on this new, one day poetry workshop.
Tutored by JLM Morton, you will be invited to explore the rich, often overlooked, narratives embedded in the mundane items that populate our lives. Using observation, reflection, and creative prompts, you will see the world around you with fresh eyes and articulate the hidden poetry in the everyday.
Book your place here
This workshop has been organised by Caroline Shaw and Katie Lloyd-Nunn, as a creative outcome of the very successful Stroud Poetry Course earlier this year. If you have any additional enquiries about this workshop, please get in touch with them directly.
Caroline Shaw carolineshaw@clara.co.uk
Katie Lloyd-Nunn katiematey333@hotmail.com
Dialect Dinner with bestselling author Sarah Brooks
Wednesday December 4th 7-8.30pm
ONLINE
https://www.dialect.org.uk/events/dialect-dinner-with-sarah-brooks
A dinner party with a difference, Dialect Dinners offers up three online courses of rural and edgeland discussion with a hand picked guest author - an entirely virtual (and accessible!) feast for heart and mind.
We thrilled to say that our guest for December is Sarah Brooks, author of the Sunday Times Bestseller The Cautious Traveller’s Guide To The Wastelands.
Sarah won the Lucy Cavendish Prize, a New Writing North award and rave reviews across the board for her debut novel ‘The Cautious Traveller’s Guide To The Wastelands’. The story of a group of late nineteenth century passengers on a luxury train travelling across a dangerous and magical landscape, this is a remarkable examination of the relationship between humans, nature and technology and an eco-fable for the age of climate crisis.
“Strange, addictive, immersive, it's a steampunk Piranesi meets His Dark Materials.”
JENNIE GODFREY
“Mysterious and clever and brilliant”
NATASHA PULLEY
Sarah will be bringing along her three imaginary courses for us to share, and through our Q&A sessions we’ll have an informal discussion about her writing life and creative practice.
Word Soup
IN PERSON WRITING MORNING AND LUNCH
Friday November 22nd 9am-12pm, Community Lunch 12.30-2pm
Trinity Rooms, Field Road, Stroud
Pay as you wish
Join Dialect’s community members for a morning of getting words on the page.
Each month we meet at the Trinity Rooms, grab a cuppa, say what we want to get done, then crack on and write in companionable silence. Great for anyone who needs a bit of accountability, or fancies a change of scene!
Afterwards, everyone is free to join the Trinity Rooms Friday lunch. If you haven’t been before, it’s a word of mouth phenomenon, always packed to the rafters with Stroudies who love good food:) Come and round off your writing week with us!
There is limited parking on site, and on street parking on Field Road and nearby Bowbridge Lane
To book your place, email dialectwriters@gmail.com
Christmas Poetry Walk with Philip Rush
Saturday 14th December, 11am, Chalford
The second of Philip Rush’s winter poetry excursions, this is a weekend walk around Chalford, and will also be a festive gathering of the wider Dialect community.
Around 3 miles long and taking about an hour and a half, the poems will echo something in the walk and the place, and will include both old and new texts.
Winter mud and frost almost certainly guaranteed. Mittens essential, gaiters or boots desirable and a prize for best hat. There is strong possibility of a Christmas cockle warmer in the pub at the end.
Tickets are £12, and pay as you wish options are available - book here
We hope these events give you a few bright spots in the long nights ahead - and don’t forget, our online writing hours are always on, three times a week - Monday 10-11am, Wednesday 7-8pm and Saturdays 8-9am (for the weekend early birds:)). These are full of our brilliant Dialect members - but they are open on a one off basis to anyone who wants to pop in and get stuff done with some lovely people!
Membership and writing hour bookings can all be found at
See you soon for eating, walking, wording and thinging! And whatever you’re writing - here’s to bringing in the light x