The National Creative Writing Industry Day 2025

Are you a writer hoping to have your work published? Would you like the opportunity to meet agents and editors - to learn how the industry works from its experts and sharpen the skills needed to enter it?

Comma Press invites you to attend the National Creative Writing Industry Day, in partnership with Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Key Information

• Date: Saturday 15th November 2025 | Time: 9.30AM-5.30PM
• Location: Manchester Writing School, Manchester Metropolitan University
• The National Creative Writing Industry Day 2025 is a full day of events for aspiring writers to gain insight into the publishing industry and advice on how to excel in their practice.

Featuring:

• A keynote speech by a renowned author
• Two panel discussions: ‘Working with an Agent’ and 'Building Your Literary Community'
• A choice of four workshops ranging in topics from Synopsising Your Novel to Marketing Yourself as a Writer (participants attend one)
• Two 15-minute one-to-one meetings with literary agent representatives or editors to get advice on your pitching technique and work-in-progress*
• The opportunity to casually network with fellow writers and publishers both during and after the event.

The day will begin with an introduction and a keynote speech, followed by two panels. In the afternoon, you can attend a workshop tailored to the needs of those looking to enter the writing industry, and meet one-to-one with literary agentcy representatives/editors to discuss your works in progress and refine your pitching technique with expert advice from industry professionals.

The full programme and schedule can be found below, or read more about the speakers here. Attendees will attend one workshop of their choice and have two one-to-one pitching sessions each

If you have any questions please contact isabella.barber[at]commapress.co.uk

Alongside the listed tickets, we also have a limited number of discounted tickets available for underrepresented writers, residents of Greater Manchester and students of MMU. Please get in touch on the above email address for more information or to claim one.

*Please note that while we are holding agent sessions in person this year, occasionally due to unforeseen circumstances agents have to join us virtually (Zoom or MS Teams). In these cases we will set up all the tech and you do not have to make any extra preparations for your virtual session. We are not able to offer refunds if you are offered a virtual agent session.

Choose From Four Fabulous Workshops:

1. Synopsising Your Novel with Joe Sedgwick (The Literary Consultancy)

Condensing an entire book into a single side of A4 is no easy task. But it is possible. Join TLC’s Head of Writing Services Joe Sedgwick for this practical workshop and learn how to write a synopsis that will catch the attention of a literary agent.

You’ll learn:

• Top tips on how to write a synopsis that sings
• What a great synopsis looks like, with examples
• The art of the synopsis applied to your own story

Materials: Please bring writing materials as there will be a practical element to this session. Do also come with a writing project in mind if you’d like to try your hand at writing your own synopsis during the session.

2 . Poetics of the Haunted with Charlotte Shevchenko Knight

In this generative workshop we will explore the creative possibilities found in haunting, with a focus on the role of silence and memory in poetry. Drawing on poets such as Denise Riley, Emily Berry, and Jay Bernard, who reconcile the past with the present in their interrogative practices, we will learn where our ghosts, these things which haunt us, may find a place to live. Attendants are asked to bring a ‘talisman’, an object of personal significance which will drive the poetry you write throughout the session.

3 . Marketing Yourself as a Writer with Callie Kazumi

This workshop will cover the basics of marketing yourself as an author, including positioning, social media channels, and how to create engaging content. It will be interactive, with worksheets and discussions to encourage creativity and hopefully, encourage some excitement about the idea of putting ourselves Out There!

4 . Writing Intimacy and Relationships with Rozie Kelly

This workshop will include a variety of writing exercises and some close reading of short passages of text - from authors including James Baldwin, Maggie Nelson, Colm Tóibín, K Patrick and Deborah Levy. We will think about what works well in these passages and what doesn't, and then have a go ourselves. My focus will be on getting the group writing as much as possible, and helping participants get comfortable with the sometimes difficult elements of writing about such personal subjects. This will be an accessible and fun session, with the main aim being getting words on the page and having fun doing it. The messier the better!