Notes from the North: Inside the First Leeds Writing Festival

At 7am on a sunny Saturday, I headed from my Sheffield home, up the M1, high on coffee and anticipation and bound for the inaugural Leeds Writing Festival. 

As a proud member of Jericho Writers, I’d longed to attend their London festival, but the cost of tickets, hotel, and travel, over £700, made it impossible. So when Roger Webster floated the idea of a Leeds-based event in the Jericho forum, I didn’t hesitate. My early-bird ticket cost £100 and included eight seminars, a one-to-one book doctor session, entry to the First 500 competition, plus refreshments and lunch.

By the time I walked through the doors at Leeds Trinity University, I’d already made two new writing friends. The coffee-and-pastries networking session buzzed with friendly energy, and I met writers from Leeds, York, and beyond.

My first seminar was with crime author Emma Tallon, who shared her wisdom on structure and plotting. The room was so absorbed in discussion that we ran over into lunch. After a delicious cooked meal, I joined clinical psychologist and novelist Philippa East for her dynamic session on character. Her insights into psychology and motivation gave me new tools to bring depth to my characters. YA sci-fi author Jaye Sarasin rounded out the day with an inspiring seminar on world-building that set my imagination spinning.

I slipped away to my book doctor session with Philippa East, who provided clear and constructive feedback on my opening chapters and synopsis. Those ten minutes were gold, an honest assessment from a published writer on how to make my manuscript marketable.

The day closed with the announcement of the First 500 competition. 

When Laura Williams from Greene & Heaton read out my name—“Kelly Jackson with Through Despair”—I nearly fell off my chair. 

 

I was awarded a bottle of bubbly and a one-to-one with Laura.

That night, sleep was impossible. I had new friends, fresh ideas, and a renewed determination to keep writing. I can’t wait for Leeds Writing Festival 2026.

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A bit about me...

I live in Sheffield with my husband, teenage son, and our rescue dog, Moose. With a background in marketing, I’ve always been drawn to creativity—whether through words or design. For me, life is all about emotion, and there’s no greater thrill than stirring a reader’s feelings, making them laugh, cry, or pause with goosebumps. Hearing that my debut novel gave readers shivers is the best reward I could ask for—and it’s what keeps me writing.