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Newcastle Writing Conference

Event information

Where: The Common Room, Neville Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SE

Date: Saturday 18 May 2024

Time: 10.00am–5.30pm

Cost: £79 Full Price / £35 Virtual Pass + booking fee (free bursary places available)

Type: Writing and Publishing Skills Hub

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The Newcastle Writing Conference is back!

The writing conference is an event for writers at all stages of their careers. It aims to demystify the world of publishing and supports you to connect with peers and industry experts. Across one day, the conference offers a programme of panels, breakout sessions and practical workshops. Writers choose their own bespoke journey throughout the day, whether you want a deep dive into the editing process or to dip your toes into flash-fiction and audio writing. 

Making connections is just as important as a fantastic programme of events. We encourage attendees to mingle over complimentary tea and coffee, visit our pop-up book stall from Forum Books, and meet other writers during the networking time at the end of the day. And don’t forget to pick up your free NWN tote bag! 

If you can’t join us in person, you can still be part of Newcastle Writing Conference. We’ll be live-streaming the keynote, panel events, and selected breakout sessions for remote delegates. 

See In-Person Timetable  See Virtual Timetable

10.30am: Headline Speaker

Janice Hallett is a British author, screenwriter and an award-winning journalist. Her debut novel The Appeal was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and winner of the CWA Debut Dagger award. Her second novel The Twyford Code won the British Crime & Thriller Book of the Year, and her third novel The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her latest novel The Examiner will be published in August.

Before her breakout entry into the realms of crime fiction, Janice Hallett worked as a journalist, magazine editor and speech writer for the Cabinet Office and Home Office, as well as writing for the stage and screen.

Janice will be talking to New Writing North’s Claire Malcolm about her inspiring career to date, as well as offering advice to writers of all genres who are beginning their careers.

This talk will be live-captioned by StageText

Included with the Virtual Pass

11.15am: Breakout Session 1

  • Planning and Structure: Writing Workshop with Kasim Ali

  • How to Market Yourself with Lucy Nichol

  • Meet the Agent with Rachel Conway

  • Staying Resilient as a Writer

Breakout 1a: Planning and Structure: Writing Workshop with Kasim Ali

As an editor who moonlights as an author, Kasim Ali has both edited other people’s works and had his own work edited. In this writing session, he’ll lead you in understanding the underlying arc of your work and how to make sure that you don’t lose forward momentum or become stagnant. Whether it’s to do with the plot itself, character motivations, or just simply how do you move a story along, this writing session will help you see your work from above, even when it feels like you’re in the weeds. 

Breakout 1b: How to Market Yourself with Lucy Nichol

Lucy is the author of 5 books and has over 20 years’ experience in PR and marketing. She’ll be taking you though her experience of the marketing and PR expectations involved in both independent and traditional publishing, and talking about personal branding, media coverage and reviews, blogging, influencer engagement and digital advertising.  

Breakout 1c: Meet the Agent with Rachel Conway

Rachel Conway is a Director of Georgina Capel Associates. She works as an agent for literary, television, and radio. Rachel is interested in a variety of fiction and nonfiction, from literary fiction, book club and commercial fiction (including thrillers and YA) to history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science and popular psychology. Rachel will be offering advice on finding a literary agent for your work, and answering any questions you may have. 

Breakout 1d: Staying Resilient as a Writer

How do you stay resilient as a writer? Join Cathy Rentzenbrink, Laura Degnan and Hana Sandhu as they discuss the realities of life as a writer and how to balance your career goals with self-care. Cathy Rentzenbrink is a novelists and memoirist whose books include The Last Act of Love and Everyone is Still Alive. Laura Degnan is a writer and fimmaker based in Middlesborough and the founder of Writers’ Block North East. Hana Sandhu joined New Writing North’s Talent Development team in 2024, having previously worked for award-winning independent publisher Tilted Axis Press.

12.30pm: Breakout Session 2

  • Flash Fiction: Writing Workshop with Désirée Reynolds

  • How to Edit with Jacob Ross

  • Meet the Agent with Elliot Prior

  • The Power of Audio

Breakout 2a: Flash Fiction: Writing Workshop with Désirée Reynolds

This practical workshop will focus on the essence of flash fiction. What does it mean for the story when you use such few words? In this session, you‘ll think about how the form impacts narrative, and have the chance to try writing your own flash fiction piece. Désirée Reynolds’s short stories have widely published in various publications and online. 

Breakout 2b: How to Edit with Jacob Ross

The first few pages often determine whether your work will be accepted for publication or not. Editors are looking for many things, not least your ability to express yourself in clean clear sentences and well-developed paragraphs. In this session, experienced writer and editor Jacob Ross will show you how to improve your work and enhance your chances of getting published. We will look at common pitfalls to avoid and how to produce a strong engaging work. Jacob Ross is a writer and Associate Fiction Editor at Peepal Tree Press. 

Breakout 2c: Meet the Agent with Elliot Prior

Elliot Prior started his role at Curtis Brown Literary Agency two years ago. Before that, he worked in Sweden at Albatross agency, before moving to a role as a scout at Eccles Fisher Associates. Elliot is interested in fiction that is expansive, stylistic, and packed with well-drawn and complicated characters. In non-fiction, he is looking for fresh perspectives on classic topics, as well as absorbing narratives that embed the reader in another time and place; Elliot will be offering advice on finding a literary agent for your work, and answering any questions you may have. 

Breakout 2d: The Power of Audio

What does it take to write for audio? For aspiring authors, getting your work into print is one challenge, while getting your book turned into audio can be quite another. Join author Cathy Rentzenbrink and Dom Gribben, Co-director of audio publishing at Hachette UK, as they share their experiences and help you think about what you can do to empower your writing for audio. This session will be chaired by New Writing North’s Audio Development Producer, Lucie McNeil. 

1.30pm: Lunch

Please bring your own packed lunch or head out into Newcastle City Centre. The Common Room is well located for many of Newcastle’s shops and cafes. Take a moment to visit our book stall by Forum Books.

One-to-ones with Agents

In addition to the full day programme, delegates at Newcastle Writing Conference can apply for a free one-to-one meeting with a literary agent or agency assistant, who will be available for ten-minute appointments to discuss your work.

The deadline for applying for a one-to-one session is Wednesday 1 May at 9am.

Applications made after this deadline will not be considered. The link to apply for a one-to-one will be available to you after purchase, in the confirmation email. Please note that spaces are limited, and we cannot guarantee all delegates a one-to-one session.

2.30pm: Publishing Your First Book: Author and Editor in Conversation

Eirinie Lapidaki began writing her novel while working as a bookseller at Waterstones. Early chapters of the book won a Northern Writers Award from New Writing North. Now, her debut novel, The Wives of Halcyon, is being published by Legend Press in May 2024.

Hear from Eirinie and her Editor Cari Rosen as they discuss the editor-author relationship and what it takes to get a book ready to be published. 

This panel will be live-captioned by StageText

Included with the Virtual Pass

3.15pm: Breakout Session 3

  • Writing from Life: Workshop with Jessica Hepburn

  • An Hour with Arvon: Workshop with Russ Litten

  • Should I Self-publish? with Emma Hill

  • Meet the Agent: Curtis Brown Books

Breakout 3a: Writing from Your Life: Workshop with Jessica Hepburn

It’s said that everyone has a book in them – but should you write it? How do you make your life story interesting to other people? How do you avoid the danger of: ‘This happened. Then this happened. And then we lived happily ever after. The end.’ This practical workshop with will be fun, and funny (hopefully). It won’t involve listening to people reading out something they’ve written about their family (boring). It might inspire you to believe that writing autobiography isn’t narcissistic (well, not always). It might spark a new idea about how to approach it. Jessica Hepburn is the author of Save Me From the Waves and 21 Miles. 

Breakout 3b: An Hour with Arvon: Workshop with Russ Litten

Spend an hour with Arvon tutor Russ Litten and get your creativity flowing. Russ will lead a guided writing exercise suitable for writers interested in fiction and non-fiction. This taster session will give you an insight into the creative magic that happens at an Arvon writing house. Bring a pen and paper and leave the session with some fresh writing and perhaps the sparks for a new idea.

Breakout 3c: Should I Self-publish? with Emma Hill

Is self-publishing the right decision for your project? Emma Hill is a producer, writer and director, who self-published her award-winning YA novel Baby Girl in 2020. In this interactive session, Emma will guide you through the steps to take and the questions to ask yourself before you get started. You’ll think about the skills needed to self-publish successfully and how to change your approach from writer to publisher.

Breakout 3d: Meet the Agent: Curtis Brown Books

Founded in 1899, the Books Department of Curtis Brown has been at the forefront of international publishing and a leading literary agency for over one hundred years. This session will be led by Agency Assistants Grace Robinson and Olivia Bignold, who will be discussing how to get a literary agent and answering your questions.

Grace is particularly interested in reading work by northern writers in both fiction and non-fiction. Across all genres, she is interested in writing with a strong sense of place, well-drawn relationships and an interesting, surprising use of language. Olivia Bignold is on the lookout for the big hooky thrillers, zeitgeist-y books with crossover appeal, and any story that finds a fresh way to reimagine familiar tropes. She is also interested in convincing voice-driven works and writing from identities on the periphery of society. 

4.20pm: What is a Northern Author?

In our final panel, we’ll be joined by two exciting voices in contemporary literature. Karen Powell and Tawseef Khan will be discussing their journey to publication and what it means to be a Northern author.

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards, Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell is an immersive reimagining of Emily Brontë’s life. Tawseef Khan’s debut novel Determination is a heart-breaking window into the world of a UK immigration lawyer and the lives touched by her work. 

This panel will be live-captioned by StageText

Included with the Virtual Pass

Virtual Timetable

This year’s Newcastle Writing Conference is open to everyone. The Newcastle Writing Conference virtual ticket gives you access to live-streams of our keynote and panel events. 

As well as hearing from our headline speaker Janice Hallett, virtual conference attendees can enjoy panels with industry experts and experienced authors. From writing for audio to resilience as an author, virtual attendees will have access to a full day of inspiring sessions. 

Buy a £35 Virtual Pass

10.30am–11.10am: Janice Hallett

Watch our headline event with Janice Hallett, live-streamed from The Common Room.

11.15am–12.15pm: Staying Resilient as a Writer

How do you stay resilient as a writer? Join Cathy Rentzenbrink, Laura Degnan and Hana Sandhu as they discuss the realities of life as a writer and how to balance your career goals with self-care. Cathy Rentzenbrink is a novelists and memoirist whose books include The Last Act of Love and Everyone is Still Alive. Laura Degnan is a writer and fimmaker based in Middlesborough and the founder of Writers’ Block North East. Hana Sandhu joined New Writing North’s Talent Development team in 2024, having previously worked for award-winning independent publisher Tilted Axis Press.

12.30pm–1.30pm: The Power of Audio

What does it take to write for audio? For aspiring authors, getting your work into print is one challenge, while getting your book turned into audio can be quite another. Join author Cathy Rentzenbrink and Dom Gribben, Co-director of audio publishing at Hachette UK, as they share their experiences and help you think about what you can do to empower your writing for audio. This session will be chaired by New Writing North’s Audio Development Producer, Lucie McNeil. 

2.30pm–3.10pm: Publishing Your First Book: Author and Editor in Conversation

Eirinie Lapidaki began writing her novel while working as a bookseller at Waterstones. Early chapters of the book won a Northern Writers Award from New Writing North. Now, her debut novel, The Wives of Halcyon, is being published by Legend Press in May 2024. Hear from Eirinie and her Editor Cari Rosen as they discuss the editor-author relationship and what it takes to get a book ready to be published. 

 

3.15pm–4.15pm: Meet the Agent: Curtis Brown Books

Founded in 1899, the Books Department of Curtis Brown has been at the forefront of international publishing and a leading literary agency for over one hundred years. This session will be led by Agency Assistants Grace Robinson and Olivia Bignold, who will be discussing how to get a literary agent and answering your questions. 

4.20pm–5pm: What is a Northern Author? With Karen Powell and Tawseef Khan

In our final panel, we’ll be joined by two exciting voices in contemporary literature. Karen Powell and Tawseef Khan will be discussing their journey to publication and what it means to be a Northern author.  

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards, Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell is an immersive reimagining of Emily Brontë’s life. Tawseef Khan’s debut novel Determination is a heart-breaking window into the world of a UK immigration lawyer and the lives touched by her work. 

In-Person Timetable

10am–10.30am – Registration

Join us at 10am to pick up your complimentary New Writing North tote bag and grab yourself a free tea or coffee. Be sure to give yourself time to browse our book stall before registration closes at 10.30 am for the keynote speech.

10.30am–11.10am – Janice Hallett

Introduction from New Writing North and the headline event with Janice Hallett in conversation.

11.15am–12.15pm Breakout Session 1

Choose between four breakout sessions:

  • Breakout 1a: Planning and Structure: Writing Workshop with Kasim Ali
  • Breakout 1b: How to Market Yourself with Lucy Nichol
  • Breakout 1c: Meet the Agent with Rachel Conway
  • Breakout 1d: Staying Resilient as a Writer

12.15pm–12.30pm – Tea and Coffee Break

Join us for complimentary tea and coffee and browse our book stall by Forum Books.

12.30pm–1.30pm – Breakout Session 2

Choose between four breakout sessions:

  • Breakout 2a: Flash Fiction: Writing Workshop with Désirée Reynolds
  • Breakout 2b: How to Edit with Jacob Ross
  • Breakout 2c: Meet the Agent with Elliot Prior
  • Breakout 2d: The Power of Audio

1.30pm–2.30pm – Lunch (and one-to-ones with Agents)

Please bring your own packed lunch or head out into Newcastle City Centre. The Common Room is well located for many of Newcastle’s shops and cafes. See our FAQs for some of our favourite spots.

In addition to the full day programme, delegates at Newcastle Writing Conference can apply for a free one-to-one meeting with an industry expert. The link to apply for a one-to-one will be available to you after purchase, in the confirmation email.

2.30pm–3.10pm – 2.30pm–3.10pm: Publishing Your First Book: Author and Editor in Conversation

Eirinie Lapidaki began writing her novel while working as a bookseller at Waterstones. Early chapters of the book won a Northern Writers Award from New Writing North. Now, her debut novel, The Wives of Halcyon, is being published by Legend Press in May 2024. Hear from Eirinie and her Editor Cari Rosen as they discuss the editor-author relationship and what it takes to get a book ready to be published. 

 

3.15pm–4.15pm – Breakout Session 3

Choose between four breakout sessions:

Breakout 3a: Writing from Life: Workshop with Jessica Hepburn
Breakout 3b: An Hour with Arvon: Workshop with Russ Litten
Breakout 3c: Should I Self-publish? with Emma Hill
Breakout 3d: Meet the Agent: Curtis Brown Books

4.20pm–5pm – What is a Northern Author? With Karen Powell and Tawseef Khan

In our final panel, we’ll be joined by two exciting voices in contemporary literature. Karen Powell and Tawseef Khan will be discussing their journey to publication and what it means to be a Northern author.  

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards, Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell is an immersive reimagining of Emily Bronte’s life. Tawseef Khan’s debut novel Determination is a heart-breaking window into the world of a UK immigration lawyer and the lives touched by her work. 

5pm–5.30pm – Networking

Why not stay a while? Enjoy the beautiful surroundings in the Common Room, take a moment to exchange contact details with your new friends, or drift over to the 5|Quarter, the adjoining café bar to continue the conversations sparked by the day’s events.

Speakers

  • Cari Rosen

    Cari Rosen is a commissioning editor (fiction) at Legend Press, publishing commercial and literary novels in genres including historical, crime/thriller and reading group. She is a former television producer who is also an author and ghostwriter of a number of non-fiction titles. 

  • Cathy Rentzenbrink

    Cathy Rentzenbrink is a writer whose books include The Last Act of Love, Everyone is Still Alive and Write It All Down. Her new novel Ordinary Time is out in July 2024. Cathy regularly chairs literary events, interviews authors, and speaks on life, death, love, and literature. Despite being shortlisted for various prizes, the only thing Cathy has ever won is the Snaith and District Ladies’ Darts Championship when she was 17. She is now sadly out of practice. 

  • Désirée Reynolds

    Désirée Reynolds is a writer, editor, interviewer and curator living in Sheffield. She started her writing career as a freelance journalist for the Jamaica Gleaner and the Village Voice. Her short stories are in numerous anthologies. Seduce, her first novel, was published by Peepal Tree Press. BBC short story award long lister. Currently writer in residence at Sheffield Archives and founder of the Dig Where You Stand Archival Justice movement. 

  • Dom Gribben

    Dominic Gribben began his audio publishing career at Hodder & Stoughton in 2012. He is co-director of the Hachette UK Group Audio team with responsibility for audio publishing across the Hodder, Headline, John Murray Press, Quercus, Dialogue Books and Hachette Ireland divisions.  

  • Eirinie Lapidaki

    Eirinie Lapidaki was born and raised in the north-east of England. She read English Literature at St Andrews and completed her MLitt at Newcastle University. Her debut novel, The Wives of Halcyon, is forthcoming from Legend Press in May 2024. She began writing the novel while working as a bookseller at Waterstones, and early chapters won a Northern Writers Award from New Writing North. She is currently working on her next novel, about the wellness industry and its impact on women’s bodies.

  • Elliot Prior

    Elliot Prior worked as an English Literature teacher for three years before moving into publishing. He worked in Sweden at Albatross agency, before moving to a role as a scout at Eccles Fisher Associates and started his role at Curtis Brown almost two years ago. He likes fiction that is expansive, stylistic, and packed with well-drawn and complicated characters. 

  • Emma Hill

    Emma Hill is an award-winning writer, director, producer working across live, digital, broadcast and literature. She grew up in London and Yorkshire and trained and worked as an actor earlier in her career. Emma has worked for many leading media and arts organisations, as well as self-starting her own work and working to freelance commission. Emma creates work that sits across platforms, places and form. Later this year, Emma will be Guest Artistic Director of Leeds Opera Festival and some of her earlier projects include Chip Shop: The Musical (Emma Hill, Writes), The Shakespeare Project (Emma Hill, Writes), Baby Girl (novel).

    emmahillwrites.com 

  • Grace Robinson

    Grace Robinson works in the Book Department at Curtis Brown. Before that, she worked in foreign rights at Macmillan in London and Éditions Stock in Paris. Originally from Blackpool, she is particularly interested in reading work by northern writers in both fiction and non-fiction.  Across all genres, she is interested in writing with a strong sense of place, well-drawn relationships and an interesting, surprising use of language. 

  • Hana Sandhu

  • Jacob Ross

    Jacob Ross is a novelist, short story writer, editor and creative writing tutor. His crime fiction novel The Bone Readers won the inaugural Jhalak Prize in 2017. His literary novel Pynter Bender was published to much critical literary acclaim and was shortlisted for the 009 Commonwealth Writers Regional Prize and chosen as one of the British Authors’ Club’s top three Best First Novels. His book Tell No-One About This is a collection of stories written over a span of forty years. His novel Black Rain Falling was published in 2021. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has been a judge of the V. S. Pritchett Memorial Prize, the Olive Cook, Scott Moncrieff and Tom- Gallon Literary Awards. Jacob is Associate Fiction Editor at Peepal Tree Press, and the editor of Closure, Contemporary Black British short stories. 

  • Janice Hallett

    Janice Hallett spent several years as a magazine editor, winning awards for journalism. Her debut novel, The Appeal, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and winner of the CWA Debut Dagger award. Her second novel, The Twyford Code, won the British Crime & Thriller Book of the Year, and her third novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller.

     

  • Jessica Hepburn

    Jessica Hepburn is an award-winning author, arts producer & adventure activist. She has become a pioneer in inspiring people to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan, and championing the benefits of going on adventures to improve your physical and mental health. She is the author of The Pursuit of Motherhood (2014), 21 Miles (2018) and Save Me From the Waves (2024), which has recently been nominated as ‘Book of the Month’ by Stanfords bookshop. 

  • Karen Powell

    Karen Powell grew up in Rochester, Kent and studied English Literature at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. She now lives in York with her family. She is the author of The River Within (2020) and Fifteen Wild Decembers (2023), which was shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards. 

  • Kasim Ali

    Kasim Ali works as an editor in publishing. He was longlisted for the B4ME Short Story Prize (hosted by his now UK publisher Fourth Estate), and Good Intentions was shortlisted for the Mo Siewcherran Prize. He’s also had a short story published in The Good Journal. 

  • Laura Degnan

    Laura Degnan is a writer and filmmaker based in Middlesbrough, whose work encompasses creative documentation and participatory practice. In 2010 Laura set up Writers’ Block North East, a creative writing development service that supports aspiring authors. 

  • Lucy Nichol

    Lucy Nichol is a writer with a passion for mental health awareness, music, comedy and nostalgia. Her first work of fiction, The Twenty Seven Club, explores music fandom, mental health and media sensationalism. Her second novel, Parklife, delves into addiction, recovery, friendship and hope, and is set against a backdrop of Northern life and 90s Brit Pop. Lucy’s third novel, No Worries if Not was published in 2023 by HarperNorth. Lucy has also written two non-fiction books.  

  • Olivia Bignold

    Olivia Bignold joined Curtis Brown as an Assistant in June 2022, having previously worked at HarperCollins. She is currently supporting Alice Lutyens with her list of authors, which includes C.J. Cooke, Doug Westerbeke, and Cesca Major. She is on the lookout for the big hooky thrillers, zeitgeist-y books with crossover appeal, and any story that finds a fresh way to reimagine familiar tropes. For her own list, Olivia is drawn to the convincing voice-driven works of authors like Claire-Louise Bennett, Sheena Patel and Colin Barrett.   

  • Rachel Conway

    Rachel Conway is a literary agent and Director at Georgina Capel Associates. Her clients have been longlisted for the Booker Prize and Desmond Elliott Prize, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and Jane Grigson Trust Award, and are winners of the Manchester Fiction Prize and RSL Giles St Aubyn Award. Rachel represents writers of literary fiction, as well as book club and commercial fiction (including thrillers and YA). In non-fiction, her interests include history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science and popular psychology. She oversees the Foreign Rights department at the agency, and represents clients for their television and radio work, as well as their public appearances. 

  • Russ Litten

    Russ Litten is the author of the novels Scream If You Want To Go Faster, Swear Down and Kingdom, the short story collection We Know What We Are and a volume of poetry, I Can See The Lights. He has corroborated on spoken word / electronica recordings and performances as part of Cobby & Litten, Oddfellows Union and as a solo artist under the name Deckie Learner. Russ spent ten years as a Writer In Residence at various prisons in the north of England.  

  • Tawseef Khan

    Tawseef Khan is a qualified immigration solicitor and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Liverpool, where he examined the fairness of the British asylum system. His fiction has appeared in Lighthouse and Test Signal: a Northern anthology; his non-fiction in the New York Times, The Face and Hyphen. His debut non-fiction book Muslim, Actually was published by Atlantic in 2021. Tawseef Khan’s debut novel Determination (June 2024) is a heart-breaking window into the world of a UK immigration lawyer and the lives touched by her work. 

Bursaries

New Writing North recognises that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. If you are unable to book a ticket for the conference without financial help, we encourage you to apply for one of our five free bursary places. Bursary places are based on financial need and will be selected at random from valid applicants.

You are eligible for a bursary ticket if you are in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Asylum Support, or Universal Credit. If none of the above applies but you feel that you are still eligible, please get in touch.

Please email [email protected] with the subject line Newcastle Writing Conference Bursary, and briefly outline the way in which you are eligible for a free ticket.

*Update: bursary places for attending the conference in-person have now all been claimed. Bursaries for virtual passes are still available. Please email [email protected] to request a bursary place for a virtual ticket.

FAQs

Will lunch be provided?

Please bring your own packed lunch or head out into Newcastle City Centre. The Common Room is well located for many of Newcastle’s shops and cafes.

Where should I eat lunch?

The Common Room Newcastle is in easy walking distance for a range of delicious local options. Some places we love within a five-minute walk:

Grainger Market: 17 different food stalls, offering everything from mouth-watering treats from around the world, to comforting British grub.

Pink Lane Bakery: The finest sourdough bread, beautiful pastries and cakes, and renowned sausage rolls, pies, pasties, and sandwiches.

Zapatista: Fresh, delicious and healthy authentic tacos, burritos and nachos

Really short on time? Grab something quick from the Marks & Spencer or Sainsbury’s located in Newcastle Central Station 3 minutes away.

Will tea and coffee be provided?

Yes, there will be complimentary tea and coffee on arrival and between the first and second breakout sessions.

How do I book a one-to-one with an agent?

The link to apply for a one-to-one will be available to you after purchase, in the confirmation email. Please note that spaces are limited, and we cannot guarantee all delegates a one-to-one session.

How do I get there?

The Common Room Newcastle is a 3 minute walk from Newcastle Central Station, where you can access regional and national trains and also the Tyne and Wear Metro. If you are driving, there are various car parks in the city centre, including Times Square or Dean Street nearby.

Address: The Common Room, Neville Hall, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE

Is the venue accessible?

The Common Room is fully accessible, with lifts to each floor.

The Common Room and cafe bar 5|Quarter are accessed from street level through the main double door entrance from Orchard Street. On coming into the main building, the ground floor is then up four steps (with a double handrail).  For wheelchair, pushchair and limited mobility access there is a small platform lift to the ground floor level freely available to use if you wish. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor and Wood Hall levels.  In the cafe bar and Reading Room, tables are available at a range of heights to suit all customers. All assistance dogs are very welcome throughout the building.

When you purchase your ticket, you will have an opportunity to let us know about any specific access requirements. Please email [email protected] for any enquiries.

Will any of the events be livestreamed?

Yes, the Newcastle Writing Conference virtual pass gives you access to live-streams of our headline and panel events. You can purchase your ticket for the virtual event here. Click ‘get tickets’ and select the ‘virtual pass’ ticket at checkout.

After you purchase a virtual pass, the link to watch the livestream will be sent to you by email. Please note the link will not be sent to you immediately after purchasing a ticket. You will receive the link as soon as it is available before the 18 May.

How long will the livestream link be available?

The livestream will be available to watch until the end of the day on 18 May 2024.

Are the bursary places for in-person or virtual tickets?

There are bursary tickets available for both in-person and livestreamed events. Please specify which ticket you would like in your email to [email protected]

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