Northern Lights Writers Conference
Tickets: £40 (full) / £25 (concession)
Book online here or call 0161 912 5616
CIT’s popular Northern Lights Writer’s Conference returns for its 10th iteration. Designed to inspire, to build connections and increase sector knowledge, Northern Lights features a blend of panel talks, workshops, in-conversation sessions and advice surgeries all focused on the craft and industry of writing.
This year’s event, hosted by Ric Michael, includes:
Writers & the Impact of AI - Panel Discussion
As new technologies expand into the human realm, this panel discussion looks at what the emergence of AI means for writers, with guests Monica MacSwan (Aitken Alexander Literary Agency), Lisa Holdsworth (screenwriter and former chair, The Writers’ Guild GB) and Daniella Gati (lecturer in Creative Computing, Uni of Salford, author A Queer Theory of AI & Algorithmic Knowledge).
The panel explores themes including what effects AI is having on writers’ career, whether writing is uniquely human, whether an algorithms are reinforcing bias and much more.
Critiquing for Writers - Panel Discussion
All writers will need to respond to their work being critiqued so how can writers use feedback and understand its intention to improve their work?
Scriptwriter Natalie Beech and novelist and editor Melissa Welliver discuss giving and receiving feedback, how editors work with writers, taking criticism and how writers can make the editing process improve their work.
To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish - Discussion Session
An informal lunchtime chat about the world of independent publishing with Kristina Turner who has recently self-published her first novel, I am Heidi, Skogkatt, A Feline Thriller in Five Parts, via Kindle Direct Publishing, (Amazon).
If you’re thinking about self-publishing or have already self-published, join Kristina for a brew and a chat in this informative introduction to the world of self-publishing.
Practical Sessions
Poetry for Performance: Engaging Your Audience
This practical workshop, led by Louise Fazackerley, helps poets develop the skills to deliver engaging and confident live readings or performances.
Looking at writing for performance and considering voice, pacing and physical presence, participants will explore how to bring their poems to life and connect with an audience. The session also encourages finding your authentic performance style while building confidence in reading aloud. Ideal for open mics, competitions, or public readings, this workshop begins to equip you with tools to make your poetry performance clear, compelling, and memorable.
Participants should bring one or two of their own poems to work with.
Writing Competitions, Schemes and Awards: What to apply for and how to make a great application
Writing competitions, schemes, programmes and awards are an incredible way to break into the industry and gain recognition for your work. Yet as new writers we have limited time, whether it’s balancing the demands of your day job, caring for your family or loved ones - or all of the above.
This workshop will help you identify which writing competitions, awards and programmes are worth entering, what will help you achieve your goals, and start preparing you to apply.
Led by writer Natalie Beech, who has made her career off the back of winning writing competitions - the workshop will offer participants tailored support and resources to take home.
From Page To Screen - Discussion
This session features publisher Kevin Duffy (Bluemoose Books) in an exploration of how books are optioned for film & TV. In the last 12 months, two Bluemoose books have been optioned for screen production, so what does it mean for a writer? Can authors expect to be involved in the production process and what is the impact on a writers’ career and profile?
Bluemoose titles optioned for film and television include Ronan Hession’s Leonard & Hungry Paul (BBC), Adrian Barnes’ Nod (Fox Searchlight / Disney) and Benjamin Myers’ Beastings (Warp Films / Matriarch Productions).
Building Your Digital Audience
Snacky Dan Digital founder Danni Davis alongside radio producer & podcaster Issy Brand are in conversation for this practical talk on how to expand the audience for your writing, looking at creating content for social media, short form storytelling, as well as developing podcasts to explore themes in your work.
This will be an easy-to-follow discussion suitable for all levels of experience.
Drop-in Advice Sessions
Come and discuss your writing and publishing questions with our pool of talented and experienced writers, including Liz Flanagan, Jazmine Linklater, Okechukwu Nzelu and Melissa Welliver.
These 15 minute sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis with one session per participant. Sessions are bookable upon arrival at the conference.
Schedule:
10:00 Registration
10:15 Introductions
10:30 Writers & the Impact of AI
11:30 Critiquing for Writers
12:30 Lunch* / To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish
13:15 From Page To Screen / Poetry for Performance
14:15 Break
14:30 Building Your Digital Audience / Writing Competitions, Schemes and Awards
15:30 Break
15:45 Reflections
16:15 Wrap
Please note that lunch will not be provided. Drinks and snacks are available at the venue bar. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch or can visit local food outlets in Sale town centre.
About The Speakers
Natalie Beech
Natalie Beech is a freelance writer based in Manchester.
In 2022 she won the Channel 4 Writing for Television Award with New Writing North, in 2023 she was selected for the LOOP Audio Fund and the BFI Script Lab, and in 2024 she won the Women X Film Festival Script Competition, as well as being selected for BBC Voices and the Warner Brothers Access programme.
Her play Bears Bears Bears recently won the DCC Playwriting Award 2025 and will be premiering at Contact Theatre in May 2026. She is also the writer of the BFI-funded short film Cass & Roya, set for release later this year.
www.nataliebeech.com | Instagram @natalielbeech
Issy Brand
Issy is a London-based audio producer and presenter, currently working across multiple national radio stations. She has experience developing and producing engaging on-air content, with a particular focus on music-led storytelling and audience-driven ideas and she has worked in the audio industry for over three years.
Alongside her radio work, Issy has recently launched her own podcast, where she explores artists, records and cultural moments, bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in broadcasting. Each episode is shot at a location relevant to the guest, and allows the listener to come on the journey with her.
Outside of work, Issy has played football at a high standard, and uses her sporting background to host the Ultimate Football Heroes Podcast, for Bonnier Books every week.
Instagram @issybrand02
Danni Davis
As Snacky Dan Digital, Danni is a consultant social media manager and strategist helping clients grow loyal communities and revenues across multiple platforms, focusing on positive, feed cleansing content for Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, including creating both long and short form content, podcasts and new IP. She also LOVES snacks as you can imagine!
Prior to pivoting into social, she spent two decades working in TV as a programme producer and idea developer, predominantly in unscripted - documentary and popular factual and some scripted comedy.
During this time there was 13 years as a freelancer working for leading indies and the BBC and 6 years co-running Peggy Pictures, a female led content studio, whose sweet spot was youth focused ideas and new and diverse talent, on and off screen.
Instagram @snackydandigital
Kevin Duffy
Kevin Duffy has worked in publishing for over 35 years setting up his own publishing company in 2006 in Hebden Bridge with his wife, Hetha.
Bluemoose is a multi award winning independent publisher based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and their authors include Benjamin Myers, Colette Snowden, Heidi James, Rónán Hession and Devika Ponnambalam whose novels have been short listed and won major literary prizes. Bluemoose’s books have been translated into 14 languages and we have had national and international bestsellers.
https://bluemoosebooks.com/ | Instagram @bluemoosebooksofficial
Louise Fazackerley
With work rooted in word-witchery and the working class, Louise explores the synergy between poetry and movement in a way that makes the ugly beautiful and the mundane fantastical. Winner of BBC Radio 3 ‘New Voices’ and European Slam Finalist, as seen and heard in The Guardian/ BBC Breakfast/ Radio 4 Women's Hours/ Radio 3. Published poetry collections include The Lolitas and The Uniform Factory (Verve Poetry Press) Bird St. (The Secret Writers Club) and ‘The Pleasure Dome’ (Burning Eye)
www.louisethepoet.co.uk | Instagram @louisethepoet
Liz Flanagan
Liz is an award-winning author from Hebden Bridge. When We Were Divided is her first historical novel for adults. Although her previous books are for children, all her novels combine vivid landscapes and emotional depth with fast-paced, gripping stories. She teaches Creative Writing in many different settings, and previously worked as a book editor and as Centre Director for Arvon at Ted Hughes’s former home, Lumb Bank.
lizflanagan.co.uk | Instagram @lizziebooks17
Daniella Gáti
Daniella (he/she/they) is lecturer in Creative Computing at the University of Salford. An interdisciplinary scholar of digital media and queer theory, Daniella studies how algorithms and AI transform society, paying special attention to how marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ people are impacted by digital worlds.
The key question of their current book project, entitled A Queer Theory of AI and Algorithmic Knowledge, is how AI shapes the processes through which we understand the world and ourselves. How, for example, does AI impact the ways in which people recognize and understand their sexual orientations and gender identities?
Apart from researching and teaching at Salford, Daniella is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Queer Futures of AI research group, a European network of scholars working to imagine and construct fair, sustainable, and responsible ways forward for AI. Daniella’s writings have appeared in academic venues such as Critical Inquiry and The Journal of Narrative Theory. Daniella has also spoken about AI and queer theory on podcasts (QueerLit and Breaking Culture Live) and at TEDx.
Lisa Holdsworth
Lisa’s TV writing career started with a 50-minute stand-alone episode for Fat Friends. She was then was part of the Emmerdale writing team for several years before going on to write numerous episodes of dramas including New Tricks, Robin Hood, Midsomer Murders and Waterloo Road, as well as radio and stage work. She won the Writer of the Year award in the RTS Yorkshire Awards 2011 for her 90-minute opener for Series 4 of Waterloo Road. More recently she’s written episodes of Call the Midwife, All Creatures Great and Small and A Discovery of Witches (on which she was co-showrunner on Series 3). She created, executive produced, and wrote several episodes for Channel 4’s series Dreamers, broadcast in 2025.
Her stage adaptation of Adelle Stripes’ novel Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile about the life of northern playwright Andrea Dunbar opened in 2019 and was included in the Observer critics’ review of the top 10 theatre shows of 2019. She is also developing several original TV pilot scripts and treatments, and spent four years as Chair of the WGGB.
https://www.haworthagency.co.uk/lisa-holdsworth
Jazmine Linklater
Jazmine Linklater is a poet and writer based in Manchester where she is a regional editor for the online art writing platform Corridor8.
Her new poetry pamphlet is Snagged on red thread with Monitor Books. She is currently undertaking practice-based research in art writing and ekphrastic encounters at Sheffield University.
https://jazminelinklater.wordpress.com/ | Instagram @jjlinklater
Monica MacSwan
Monica is an associate agent at Aitken Alexander. She represents journalists, poets, and authors of literary and book club fiction, including the winners of the Orwell Prize, Polari First Book Prize and Diverse Book Awards.
Monica has judged 4th Estate/Guardian 4thWrite Prize, and started off in publishing in translation rights and writing for zines such as galdem and Bad Form.
https://aitkenalexander.co.uk/literary-agents/monicamacswan | Instagram @monicamacswan
Okechuku Nzelu
Okechukwu is a novelist, freelance writer and teacher based in Manchester.
In 2015 he won a Northern Writers' Award from New Writing North. His debut novel, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney (Dialogue Books, 2019), won a Betty Trask Award; it was also shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Polari First Book Prize, and longlisted for the Portico Prize.
His second novel, Here Again Now (Dialogue Books, 2022) was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award, the Polari Prize, the Jhalak Prize and the Diverse Book Awards.
In 2024 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2025 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Kingston University, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to literature and reading pleasure. He has made several appearances on national radio, and is a regular contributor to Kinfolk magazine. He is a non-executive director of ALCS and CLA, and Lecturer in Creative Writing at Lancaster University.
(Okechukwu Nzelu photo by Ajamu X)
https://www.nzelu.org/ | Instagram @nzeluwrites
Kristina Turner
Kristina’s professional background is in training with a specialist interest in experiential learning and self-development. She is currently working on her latest novel, a totally different genre, which she describes as political fiction. As well as writing, Kristina is a pianist and has performed in the Manchester International Festival and the Manchester Jazz festival.
Melissa Welliver
Melissa writes Young Adult Speculative novels. She works at Writementor and runs the Community Writing Hub for Children's writers. She has two dystopian rom-coms, My Love Life and the Apocalypse and Soulmates and Other Ways to Die, published with Chicken House Books.
The first in her dark dystopian trilogy, The Undying Tower, was published by UCLan Publishing in August 2024.
She has been longlisted for the Bath Novel Award, the #BNAKids award, and Mslexia's Children's Novel Prize, and she was shortlisted for both the inaugural Hachette Children's Novel Award in association with New Writing North, and the Wells Book for Children competition. Alongside her writing work, Melissa provides editorial services for writers.
https://melissawelliver.com/ | Instagram @melliver