Mark Rutterford

A new town, a new writing competition, a new event, a new venue, a new format and a new champion of the world. All on a Friday night...in January…in Swindon. Yes Swindon, I tell you. The Squat Pen Rests Writing Competition came to a lovely conclusion with the final on Friday 26th January. Safely ensconced in The Wyvern Theatre, what looked like around a hundred people braved Winter’s chill and tropical temperatures to be welcomed by Squat Pen supremo Stephen Tuffin and his te

First reading of 2018 was at the lovely Novel Nights – a well established jewel in Bristol’s literary crown. It’s been a while since I was last at Novel Nights and there has been change and continuity. The venue is new to me: The Square Club in Clifton, Bristol. Intimate and plush. A lovely place. What hadn’t changed was this: · the warmth of Grace Palmer’s welcome · the quality of the readings – this time from Freya Morris and Nastasya Parker – excellent both

I love a challenge and I want to push boundaries. So, when the chance to busk short-stories was introduced as part of the Bristol Festival of Literature, I was so up for it I was suffering from vertigo. With fellow Stokes Croft Writer, short-story ace and writing resource guru Mr Christopher Fielden, we shared a busking hour in Millennium Square in Bristol’s Harbourside. As you can see, we shared with Cary Grant too. It was a sunny and warm October morning – made all the more