Leave a Comment · Posted on August 20, 2025
Slug Manifesto: An exhibition-inspired creative writing workshop
Slug Manifesto: An exhibition-inspired creative writing workshop
Sunday 2nd November 1pm to 3.15pm (with refreshments)
For ages 14 to 19 | Pay what you can | book here
Are you a young person interested in creative writing and art? Then this is the perfect opportunity to join us for a fun and relaxed writing workshop inspired by Site Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, Slime Mother, opening 3rd October.
Led by writer Vicky Morris from Hive Young Writers Network, this workshop is open to anyone aged 14-19, whatever your experience, with an interest in sparking creative word-based responses to this fascinating new exhibition and its themes.
We’ll spend time exploring Slime Mother together before turning to the page and then, through prompts and gentle guidance, you’ll be encouraged to respond in your own way – be that snippets of fiction, fragments of thought or poetic wanderings
This workshop is about curiosity, noticing, and giving yourself space to experiment with words. The exhibition will act as a starting point, but where your writing takes you is entirely up to you.
Come, slow down, connect with your creativity, and discover what happens when art meets imaginative response!
Note: Participants from the workshop will be invited to come and read, from either anything produced in the workshop or whatever they wish, in an open mic (for ages 14+) the following week (details coming soon)
Produced in partnership with Site Gallery
Leave a Comment · Posted on July 16, 2025
Luke Worthy ‘In the Mist’ commissioned poem
Congratulations to Hive poet Luke Worthy, whose commissioned poem ‘square moon; little raft’, responding to ‘In the Mist’, a VR film experience by Chou Tung-Yen, is currently being exhibited alongside the film at Eye Filmmuseum Amsterdam [July 16-18].
The film is part of the ‘Architectures of Intimacy’ program curated by Kato van der Speeten, which explores intimate and shared spaces. This VR film, a production of 狠主流 & 狠劇場 VM Studio & Very Theatre, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2021.
The programme, curated by Kato van der Speeten, focuses on the ephemeral connections and fleeting encounters that occur in spaces like taxis, public bathrooms, and other shared environments, which resonates with the themes of “In the Mist”.
In the Mist is a ‘Dreamlike, poetic virtual reality experience, set in a gay sauna. In a dimly lit room filled with mist, blurred figures of men emerge, desiring intimacy yet caught in moments of solitude.
Find out more here.
Leave a Comment · Posted on June 25, 2025
Luke Worthy shortllisted for the Northern Debut Award for Poetry
A huge congratulations to Hive poet and Sheffield Young Writer alumnus Luke Worthy, whose collection On What Could Sting has been shortlisted in the Northern Debut Award for Poetry in the 2025 Northern Writers Award.
Judges Kathleen Jamie and Alycia Pirmohamed read and discussed the collection with interest and were impressed with its language use and sense of rhythm. The title poem was especially praised.
More about the Northern Writers Award
Established in 2000 by New Writing North, the Northern Writers’ Awards supports work-in-progress by new, emerging and established writers across the North of England. The Awards support writers creatively as they develop their work towards publication, as well as helping them to progress professionally and navigate their way through the publishing industry.
The awards support both new and established writers to develop their work towards publication and to progress their careers as writers. For new writers, winning a Northern Writers’ Award can help to connect you to the publishing industry and to develop your work towards publication; for established writers, awards can help to buy time to write to support the development of new work and offer creative opportunities. With high-profile literary judges and support and interest from across the publishing industry, the awards are now recognised nationally as a major talent-spotting programme that identifies and supports great writing and writers. Browse our previous winners to see the published work that the awards have supported.
The Northern Writers’ Awards are produced by New Writing North and supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and a range of partners. For more information: www.newwritingnorth.com
Leave a Comment · Posted on June 24, 2025
Young Northern Writers Awards 2025
A huge congratulations to Charlie Jolley, Haider Nazir and Maisie Mair, who were all placed in the Young Northern Writers Awards 2025! What lovely comments from the judges!
Charlie Jolley – Winner of the Young Northern Writers Award (aged 15-18)
“Very original and accomplished.”
Maisie Mair – Highly Commended in the Young Northern Writers Award (aged 15-18)
“Fresh, risky, fun and unexpected.”
Haider Nazir – Highly Commended in the Matthew Hale Award
“Haider is not just a writer, he is a force.”
The awards were announced in a ceremony at Northumbria University in Newcastle on 24th June 2025.
Previous Hive writers who’ve been placed in the Young Northern Writers Awards: Isabella Merino Garzon, Lauren Hollingworth Smith, George Woodhead, Hala Mukhair, Nefeli Frida, Isabelle Pollard, Eloise Unerman, Naomi Thomas and Ciah White
More about the Northern Writers Award
Established in 2000 by New Writing North, the Northern Writers’ Awards supports work-in-progress by new, emerging and established writers across the North of England. The Awards support writers creatively as they develop their work towards publication, as well as helping them to progress professionally and navigate their way through the publishing industry.
The awards support both new and established writers to develop their work towards publication and to progress their careers as writers. For new writers, winning a Northern Writers’ Award can help to connect you to the publishing industry and to develop your work towards publication; for established writers, awards can help to buy time to write to support the development of new work and offer creative opportunities. With high-profile literary judges and support and interest from across the publishing industry, the awards are now recognised nationally as a major talent-spotting programme that identifies and supports great writing and writers. Browse our previous winners to see the published work that the awards have supported.
The Northern Writers’ Awards are produced by New Writing North and supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and a range of partners. For more information: www.newwritingnorth.com
Leave a Comment · Posted on May 20, 2025
The Young Science Writer Award 2025 – Congratulations Tom!
A huge congratulations to Sheffield Young Writer and High Storrs student Tom Stephenson who has been highly commended in The Young Science Writer Award 2025! The award celebrates the best creative approaches to science writing by young writers aged 14 to 16. The Association of British Science Writers said:
“This year, we received over 600 incredible submissions from passionate young writers across the UK. Your essays made us laugh, moved us deeply, and opened our eyes to new ideas. From exploring the threat of deadly diseases and the ethics of artificial intelligence to compelling calls for action on the climate emergency, your words demonstrated the power of science storytelling to inform, challenge, and inspire.”
The Young Science Writer Award (YSWA) celebrates the creativity and passion of young writers who explore the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Open to students aged 14-16 from state-funded, non-selective schools across the UK (or those home-schooled due to disability), this prestigious competition encourages participants to write engaging, informative essays on scientific topics that matter. Whether tackling climate change, AI, healthcare, or exploring the future of space exploration, YSWA aims to foster critical thinking, storytelling, and a deeper understanding of how science shapes our world. Join us in this exciting journey of scientific discovery and communication.
Leave a Comment · Posted on May 18, 2025
Tower Poetry Competition 2025
A massive congratulations to Hive Writer Charlie Jolley who has been commended in Tower Poetry Competition 2025!
Judged by Lemn Sissay OBE, Camille Ralphs and Dr Anna Nickerson, over 1,700 submissions were whittled down to just 13 prize winners. Dr Nickerson said:
‘This was a particularly special competition as we were marking the 25th anniversary of Tower Poetry and the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Cardinal College, later re-established as Christ Church. The theme, “Roots”, was an invitation to think about origins: the foundations of an institution, the sources of identity, the beginnings of a poem. We were looking for originality, but that originality needed to be grounded in an awareness of the rich history of English poetry. It was a pleasure to read so much accomplished new verse-writing, and we congratulate the winners.’
About the Competition
The Christopher Tower Poetry Competition has been running for over two decades, and in that time has rewarded over 120 young winners aged 16 to 18 and their poems with valuable cash prizes. Tower Poetry was founded in 2000 when a donation was made by the late Christopher Tower to stimulate an enjoyment and critical appreciation of poetry and to challenge young people to write their own poetry.
The competition is judged anonymously by two guest judges, who are different each year, and the Christopher Tower Student. Each year the theme is chosen with the intention of giving entrants free rein to interpret it as widely as they like.
Leave a Comment · Posted on May 9, 2025
Hive Competition Results 2024/25
Leave a Comment · Posted on May 9, 2025
Rejection, Goose Bumps & the Long Game
Leave a Comment · Posted on April 4, 2025
Visualising Stories: Writing & illustrating graphic novels and picture books
A Hive Writers’ Day with Chris Mould
‘For me, everything starts in the sketchbook. I don’t separate words and pictures, I just download from my brain and let it all spill onto the page, so I can see what’s there.’ Chris Mould
How do stories and images come together in the best graphic novels and picture books? And what’s involved in becoming a real-world illustrator and writer?
Find out by joining expert illustrator and author Chris Mould for a fun and relaxed day exploring all things related to book illustration.
As well as insights into his creative process, revealing the methods he works by, from sketchbook to finished products, Chris will take you through a range of writing and drawing exercises to get the ideas flowing. You’ll consider everything from gathering references and observation drawing to conjuring up characters, imagined worlds and original narratives via the notebook page.
Creative, supportive and fun for all levels – you don’t need to feel you can draw or write well to attend – this workshop day will get you thinking of the tools of the trade required to marry together images and words.
Ages 14 to 25 | all interests & levels welcome
Cost: £10 (a number of £5 concession places available, please enquire) | Refreshments provided
Saturday 24th May 2025: 10.30 to 3.30/4pm
Booking: [email protected]
Where: Cantor Building, Arundel Street, Sheffield (4 minutes from Sheffield train station) Street view here.
Supported by English & Humanities at Sheffield Hallam University
Chris is an illustrator and author from West Yorkshire with 30 years of experience in the book industry. He’s worked with every major UK publisher and has been published in more than 40 countries worldwide. As well as creating multiple illustrated series of his own, Chris has visualised the works of many notable children and adult authors including Animal Farm by George Orwell, A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haigh, War of the Worlds by H G Wells and The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. He’s also worked with Aardman Animation on early film development, the Royal Shakespeare Company on promoting theatre productions, and filled the pages of various newspapers and weekend supplements.
Leave a Comment · Posted on January 13, 2025
Behind the Scenes: Writing for the Screen
A Hive Writers’ Day with Russ Litten
‘To make a great film, you need three things – the script, the script and the script’ Alfred Hitchcock
How do we get the scene in our head onto the page? How do we create characters that we can believe in? And how do we keep the audience glued to the screen until the final frame?
Explore these and other tips and tricks with Russ Litten in this one-day exploration of the vital aspects of screenwriting. You’ll look at how to structure a story, how to write convincing dialogue and how you might polish your raw material into a beautiful shiny piece of potential celluloid.
Creative, supportive and fun for all levels, this workshop day will get you thinking of the tools of the trade required to transfer your stories to the screen.
Russ Litten has written for TV, radio and film, including scriptwriting for the Guy Ritchie films Sherlock Holmes and RocknRolla. He 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 the poetry collection, 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. His next novel The Crime Writer is due in 2025.
Cost: £10/£5 SHU | Refreshments provided
Saturday 1st March 2025: 10.30 to 4pm
Booking: [email protected]
Where: Cantor Building, Arundel Street, Sheffield (4 minutes from Sheffield train station) Stree view here.
Supported by English & Humanities at Sheffield Hallam University