Life and Other Stories
Thursday 1st October 2026
A sneaky peek at the front cover of the 2026 anthology
It’s almost here writers…
A little behind schedule, but that’s life, right?
And definitely out in print in time for an October launch, as planned - update coming very soon!
It’s worth mentioning that it takes a fair amount of hours, planning, organising and putting together our in-house publications and getting them to print, and we couldn’t do that without the dedication of a team of NWS members, all of which have volunteered time to this one. We are also incredibly grateful to Steve of Black Shuck Books, for sharing his expertise as typesetter, cover formatter and general advisor in the pitfalls of self-publishing - remember last year’s missing page numbers…?
I’ve learned a lot since producing a collection of poetry and prose in the form of the 2025 anthology The Light is Fading. And despite it not being exactly how I had planned it, it was a very popular publication, and there are only a handful left since the Nottingham Book Festival. I would call this a win. This slight error did not detract from the value of seeing the contributors’ words put together in a booklet and then sharing them out at a launch event - such a special evening.
So, when I say it’s a privilege to put one of these anthologies together, I mean it! The work is worth it, especially as it gives me the opportunity to submit something to sit alongside all those beautifully crafted pieces of original work. And the book itself, is something tangible, which can be held and enjoyed for many years to come. It’s a great achievement which has its roots in the nurture and care of a community of creatives.
Cheesy Instagram post, just because…
I still recall how thrilled I was to see my first submission in print back in 2023 when NWS published My Happy Place. I had been a member for a while then, but hadn’t had the courage to send any of my creative writing anywhere, as I was mainly writing copy for websites and blog posts at that point. It was a joy to open the pristine pamphlet up and find my name on the contents page, then turn to find my poem printed on those crisp white pages. This is the stuff that really matters to new writers, it’s how they begin to value their craft and finally see themselves as actual writers!
Fast forward two years, and I am proud to have included one of my memoir pieces in the new anthology. It feels as though I am recognising the kind of writer I want to be and its giving me confidence to do it, and that’s so empowering. I hope that my careful curation of all forty-five pieces does them the justice they deserve, and the reader experiences the journey through their stories in the way I envisioned it.
I suppose the proof will be in the publishing…
So, watch this space!
Come and join our creative community!
Deb
