Exeter Writers

 Happy New Writing Year from us all at Exeter Writers! Now that the cheese-induced fog has cleared a bit, here are a couple of dates for your diaries. Our Short Story competition closes on 28th February: There are still a few tickets left for our 75th Anniversary Event at the Customs House on 24th January. You can purchase tickets from the QuayWords website. It promises to be a packed day of writerly events, chat and networking. We look forward to seeing you there.

 While you're out exploring the Exeter Christmas Market, keep an eye out for Jonathan Posner. The swashbuckling tales of his Tudor heroine, Mary Fox, will be the perfect stocking filler for any readers of historical adventure, so don't miss this opportunity to grab a signed copy for the reader in your life!

Happy Birthday to us!! Exeter Writers are one of the longest running writing groups in the UK, having been going since around 1950. Amongst their members are both traditionally published and indie authors, as well as short story and non-fiction writers. A Celebration of Words With Exeter Writers  uses the 75 year anniversary to bring together a wider group of local writers for a special one-day festival. Running in collaboration with Literature Works, there’ll be a mix of panels, workshops and speakers. The event is aimed at helping local writers and authors, with topics such as: -  Plotting a good novel -  How to get happily published -  Forensics for crime writers There will also be a session by Literature Works on  Advice, networks and support for writers in the South West. The keynote speaker will be Michael Jecks, giving a talk on  Editors, Agents and Other Reptiles . It promises to be an interesting, educational and...

  The 17th Exeter Writers Short Story competition is now open You can find all the details by clicking here . Our timetable for this year is as follows: 1st December 2025: competition opens 28th February 2026: competition closes 25th April 2026: longlist is announced 12th May 2026: shortlist is announced 1st June 2026: winners are announced

 Books by Members: Sarah Bonner If you enjoyed Sarah's recent release, How to Slay at Christmas , you may like to check out her other 'How to Slay' novels; When your boss is at a conference in a city where there's a suspicious death, it's unlucky. If it happens twice, it's odd. But when she's in the same city at the same time as a third unexplained death . . . Could she be a stone-cold killer? Millie's always known her boss Freya is a psycho – the demanding and ever-changing coffee orders, the cryptic instructions, the apparently expected mind reading and don't even start on the insistence that Millie wears heels . . . All. The. Time. But it only extends as far as exacting office standards. Right? As Freya's assistant, Millie has privileged access to her diary and travel history and when a pattern emerges of men (who seem to have no connection to each other) dying in cities where Freya is travelling, Millie is determined to figure out what's ...

Don't miss Richard Handy discussing how his work as a forensic practitioner gives an unusual slant to his writing   9th November 2025, 10am - 5.15pm £20 per person (light snack lunch included) Torquay Museum is once again set to host its much-anticipated literary event, Crime at the Coast, bringing together readers, aspiring writers, and seasoned authors for a thrilling day of crime fiction exploration. Crime at the Coast celebrates the rich tradition of crime writing in the South West highlighting contemporary voices in the genre. This year’s event promises to be the most engaging yet, with  four dynamic sessions  designed to inspire, inform, and entertain. Highlights include: Panel Discussions  with acclaimed crime authors delving into the perils and pitfalls of research, the mindset for murder and how to deal with modern trends in publishing, from digital publishing to podcasts. A Unique Session Featuring Real-Life Forensic Practitioners  who will share how t...