Island authors have another chance to put their work in front of fresh readers at this year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival.
The Write on Wight programme returns to the festival, which runs at Northwood House in Cowes from 8th to 11th October.
Now in its third year, Write on Wight puts the focus on local writers. It gives Island authors a platform across a wide span of genres, taking in fiction, poetry, memoirs and Island history.
Author! Author!
The Author! Author! event hands aspiring writers the chance to pitch a book idea to a live audience.
Each participant gets just two minutes to argue why their book deserves a readership.
The stories run from the heartbreaking to the hilarious, and that range makes the event both entertaining and hugely popular.
Jean G Owen from Naked Figleaf Press hosts again this year, stopwatch and bell in hand. She will also launch Issue Six of the popular Figlet anthology of Island writing later that same Friday evening.
The Writers’ Marketplace
The Writers’ Marketplace lets authors set up a stall, sell their books and meet the thousands of visitors expected at the festival.
After feedback from previous years, organisers have made the layout less formal so authors can chat more freely with passing visitors.
How to take part
Authors can sign up for one event or both by filling in the form on the festival website.
The deadline for entries falls at midnight on 31st July 2026.
Working with Island partners
This year’s programme also showcases work created alongside three Island partners.
These include Brevity, the Island’s literary handbill; Boojum and Snark, the venue for creative regeneration in Sandown; and Art-House-Life, the creative space at Osborne Stable Block in East Cowes.
Festival sponsor
Robertson Foster sponsors Write on Wight this year.
The Isle of Wight-based communications and public relations consultancy also supports the festival’s marketing and communications.
