Writing, Reading, Reviewing
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Slipping into dark nights.
Black velvet purses
holding bright shiny coins.
Currency for a new season.
September skies
And just like that…
We’ve slipped into the season filled with so many possibilities, September.
I wrote the words above when I was thinking about the tangible change in the light of those early September nights, as I penned a poem for the last NWS anthology. And here we are about to launch another collection of our members’ work, one year later.
Much has happened in that year. Membership has swelled and so has the number of publications on the Members’ Bookshelf, it’s positively groaning with new titles. Well… maybe not quite ‘groaning’ but it’s been a joy to have made additions throughout the year as members broadened their bibliographies. We love to show support for our members’ achievements, so, when the opportunity arose to take part in this year’s Nottingham Book Festival, we put the call out for volunteers.
You will find us in the foyer at Broadway Cinema from 11:00am on Saturday 5th September. Pop down, say hello and support a local author!
As well as supporting members by reading what they write, we are launching a BRAND NEW initiative this autumn, which will be facilitated by long-time member, author and editor, Teika Marija Smits.
So, it’s over to Teika for the next bit…
Announcing NWS Reviews!
“Inspired by the much-loved Everybody’s Reviewing blog, which is run by the wonderful Jonathan Taylor, I am embarking on a new project: NWS Reviews. As an author and former small press publisher, I am greatly aware of the importance of reviews to both writers and publishers. An incredible amount of hard work and love goes into the making of a book, so it’s understandable that a writer wants to know that their book has connected with someone – anyone! Yet reviews not only make a writer feel that their work is appreciated, they can increase sales of a book and help readers to discover an author who might become a new favourite. Also, having reviewed a number of books at various venues, I’m well aware of how reading and reviewing hones a writer’s craft. Reading a book with a view to considering the quality of its prose, its plot, pacing and characterisation etc. really makes you understand genre expectations, what’s working and, maybe, what isn’t working. Then there comes the writing of the actual review – it takes skill to condense all those reflections into a concise and helpful review. In short, the art of reviewing benefits those writing reviews and those authors getting reviewed. Indeed, it’s a win-win scenario for all: reviewers, authors, publishers and readers.
Added to the bookshelf this year
“Here at Nottingham Writers’ Studio, we are blessed with a community full of dedicated writers and avid readers, so it seemed like a no-brainer to me to get books in need of reviews into the hands of NWS members who want to gain experience in reviewing poetry, fiction and non-fiction. I’ll be aided and abetted in my new role as reviews administrator by the brilliant Deb Urbacz, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this project progresses. We’ve made a decision to first of all offer books written by NWS members to our NWS reviewers, so that we can get to know the work of others in the community and help to spread the love for the many books our members have so far had published. After that we’ll look to broaden our horizons and invite authors outside of NWS to have their books reviewed.
“So, if you’re a member of NWS and you’d like to become a reviewer and/or have your book reviewed, please get in contact with me at: marija [dot] smits [at] googlemail [dot] com with NWS REVIEWS in the title. I look forward to hearing from lots of you!”
I am really excited to be collaborating with Teika on this, and really looking forward to sharing your reviews widely on the website and beyond!
Come and join our creative community!
Deb
