Brontë Festival Of Women’s Writing

Literature inspired by and created especially for children and young people is the focus of the 2024 Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing, which is only a week away. Continuing the programme of exhibitions and events that have taken place at the Brontë Parsonage Museum throughout this year, themed: The Brontës Web of Childhood. Writers coming to Haworth for the annual festival include former Children’s Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson, bestselling Young Adult [YA] novelist Bea Fitzgerald, Liz Flanagan – creator of the Wildsmith fantasy series, and author and English teacher Carol Atherton, each will be in conversation. An accompanying programme of workshops for all ages will tap into subjects around childhood, nostalgia and importantly, the Brontës.

Programme Officer for the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Angela Clare, has spent months curating a diverse and eclectic programme for the festival, she said: “The Brontë children were writing and reading from a very young age, creating whole worlds for their own entertainment and completely engrossed in their unique, imaginary cities and complex characters. In drawing from their own life to write their poems and stories, they produced work that related to and engaged their readers.

“It has been a joy to bring together such fantastic guests for the festival and we hope everyone who comes along is inspired to keep reading and writing, especially young people, by understanding just how important it is. The authors attending have spent years considering the needs of young people and creating work that they will enjoy, learn from and encourage their readers to dream. Seeing them all here, where the Brontë family wrote their own inspirational works from such young ages, sharing and engaging with audiences will be incredibly special.”

The weekend features a series of talks and workshops for those interested in writing their own stories for children and young people. Highlights include:

• Clare Wallace, Managing Director & Literary Agent at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency, sharing tips and advice for aspiring writers
• Rachel Dodds, Education and Business Development Lead at Seven Stories, has delved into the archive at the National Centre for Children’s Books and will discuss the significant role women, like the Brontë sisters, have played in inspiring writers and illustrators over the last century.
• Author, TV critic, and Guardian columnist Lucy Mangan celebrates the inspirational literary characters, stories and places that shaped her childhood with her memoir Bookworm.
• The evolution of books taught in school and the importance of conversations around literature will be explored with author of Reading Lessons and English teacher Carol Atherton.
• A poetry-writing workshop on feminism and the patriarchy from poet, editor, artist and political campaigner Monika Radojevic.
• A panel of poets - Kate Wakeling, Maria Ferguson, Emma Conally-Barklem, and Monika Radojevic - will share and discuss their writing and influences.

Younger audiences can enjoy:

• Household name and children’s literature legend Jacqueline Wilson discussing her incredible career and brand-new Victorian adventure story, Star of the Show.
• A dive into the colourfully romantic world of Greek mythology – and the women at the centre of it, with Bea Fitzgerald and her newest YA novel, The End Crowns All.
• A focus on fantasy and the power of the natural world with Liz Flanagan, Yorkshire based author of the much-loved Wildsmith series.
• Author, BookTuber and Trustee of the Brontë Society Lucy Powrie who brings her YA series, The Paper & Hearts Society to Haworth.

The free Words on the Street festival runs alongside the main programme with collaborative chalk art, larger than life storybook witches, poetry takeaway and trails and activities with museum Storyteller in Residence Sophia Hatfield in the meadow behind the museum, bringing words to life for the whole family.

The full programme can be found here