Immerse yourself in a summer of festivals

A Summer of Festivals | Sarah Linley Takeover 

Some people go to concerts, I go to literary festivals.  

Authors are my rock stars and seeing them in person has always been a special experience. I am a regular attendee at the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate and, until the pandemic hit, I attended Jericho Writer’s Festival of Writing in York most years. 

When I first got published, I was determined to go to as many events as possible. That was 2020. Great timing! Most of the festivals were cancelled or went digital. And for the first time, I started attending festivals online.  

What I love about in-person events  

The Festival of Writing was something I looked forward to every year – a full weekend to immerse myself in writing, surrounded by kindred spirits, and an opportunity to learn from the best in the business.    

There was always something new to discover – structure, plot, characters, psychic distance, improving my prose. The one-to-ones with agents and book doctors were incredibly helpful and it was good to meet people from the publishing industry in person.  

The festival was a very sociable occasion – there was a big dinner and opportunities to meet other writers at the bar, over coffee, waiting for an event, or on the train to and from the festival. Afterwards, I kept in touch with other attendees, mostly over Twitter, and we celebrated our successes, commiserated over rejections, and shared our work for peer review.  

Attending a festival in person is a chance to take a break from the demands of real life and devote time to learning your craft. It can be incredibly motivating and exciting.  

The drawbacks 

The disadvantage of in-person literary festivals is that they can be expensive, particularly when you add accommodation and travel to the cost of your ticket. I am fortunate enough to live near my two favourite festivals, in York and Harrogate, but the cost of attending others further afield can be prohibitive.  

It can also sometimes be overwhelming to try to cram everything into a single weekend. You can’t attend everything and if there are two sessions scheduled for the same time, you have to miss out on one of them. That’s when it can be good to know you have some online events planned, or that you can catch up on replay.  

What I love about online festivals 

If there has been one good thing arising from the last few years, it has been the growth of online literary festivals, like the Jericho Writers Summer Festival of Writing. It has been easy to attend all sorts of events that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to get to – and most sessions have been free or inexpensive.  

Writers, agents and editors from across the pond are now far easier to access and it has been great to watch interviews with big names such as Stephen King and Margaret Atwood who might otherwise have not attended events in the UK.  

Online festivals are so convenient. If you’re busy or can’t attend a session, they are usually available on replay. You can fit your learning around the day job and other domestic responsibilities. And you can wear your slippers! 

Online festivals are inclusive, particularly for people who have disabilities, and for those living in different countries. And for shy people, it can be easier to ask questions online – no one turns around to look at you! 

The drawbacks 

For me, the only issue with online festivals is that there is not the same level of engagement or socialising. You can ask questions but sometimes they get overlooked or lost in the chat. There is less of a sense of community, although of course there are some great online forums and groups that you can tap into.  

As someone who has benefited from both online and in-person festivals, I really hope the hybrid model is here to stay. It offers the best of both worlds – a chance to meet other writers and socialise if you can attend in person, but you can still benefit if you need or want to access the event from home.  

The Festival of Writing 

There are lots of literary festivals to choose from but what I particularly like about The Festival of Writing is that it is specifically aimed at writers, particularly those trying to get published. The focus is on craft, the publishing industry, and writing the best book you can (rather than authors promoting their books.)  

The festival is super friendly, inclusive, and provides a real launchpad for writers. Some of the people I have met over the years in York have gone on to become big names – Joanna Cannon, Will Dean, Roz Watkins and Jo Jakeman, to mention but a few.  

If you are thinking about attending a festival this year, whether online or in person- I would recommend giving both a go. You never know where it might lead! 

Sarah Linley  

Author  

About Sarah

Sarah Linley lives in Yorkshire and works as a Communications Manager for a housing charity.  Her debut novel, The Trip, was published by One More Chapter (the digital imprint of HarperCollins) in February 2020.  

Her second novel, The Wedding Murders, was published in February 2022.  When she is not writing, she enjoys reading and walking in the Dales.  

Visit Sarah’s website.

Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @linleysarah1

View The Trip on Amazon.

View The Wedding Murders on Amazon.