Literary festival aims to inspire young writers

A festival of women's writing named after the famous literary Brontë sisters aims to inspire those taking part "to keep reading and writing", its organisers have said.

The three-day Brontë Festival, which is now in its 13th year, is due to get under way in Haworth later, with leading female authors giving talks throughout the weekend.

Young adult writer and Sunday Times bestseller Bea Fitzgerald and former Children's Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson are among the speakers expected to take part in the festival based in and around the Brontë parsonage.

Angela Clare, programme officer for the museum, said: “It has been a joy to bring together such fantastic guests for the festival."

The theme of this year's festival is literature inspired by and created especially for children and young people.

Ms Clare said: "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 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 Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing weekend involves a series of talks and workshops by 10 authors, for those interested in writing their own stories for children and young people.

At one event, author, TV critic and Guardian columnist Lucy Mangan will give a talk about the literary characters, stories and places that shaped her childhood and helped her write her memoir, Bookworm.

For younger audiences, Bea Fitzgerald will take a look into the colourfully romantic world of Greek mythology and the women at the centre of it via her newest Young Adult novel, The End Crowns All.

Free family events are also expected to be held throughout the weekend, including the Words on the Street festival and trails and activities run by the museum's storyteller in residence Sophia Hatfield.

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