Inspired to Write: Conversations with Writers from the Royal Literary Fund

Inspired to Write: Conversations with Writers from the Royal Literary Fund with Bob Beagrie, Christy Ducker and Harry Man

In the first in a series of eight events throughout 2026, North East writers and Royal Literary Fund Fellows share their insights on the shape and nature of inspiration. How do writers get their ideas? What is the journey that a writer goes on from idea, to page, to publication? How does the world we observe, or the memories we have, become transformed into a story, an image, a novel or a poem?

Join Bob Beagrie, Christy Ducker and Harry Man as they read short pieces from the RLF archive to kick off a conversation about the creative process followed by a Q & A.

They’ll share their own insights into how ideas evolve, and what to do when the well runs dry. So whether you’re a new writer chasing your own inspiration, or simply curious, this event offers rare insight into the working lives of some of the North’s most exciting contemporary writers.

The venue is on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible.

Book your free space today.

Free tickets also available at the library on the day.

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Bob Beagrie (Ph.D) is a poet, writer and performer and literary activist who has also written short stories and plays. He lives in Middlesbrough and has published fifteen collections of poetry, most recently: The Hand of Glory: a biography' (Yaffle 2025), Romanceros (Drunk Muse Press 2024), Eftwyrd (Smokestack Books 2023), The Last Almanac (Yaffle Press 2023). When We Wake We Think We’re Whalers from Eden (Stairwell Books 2021). His poetry has been translated into Finnish, Urdu, Swedish, Dutch, Spanish, Estonian, Tamil, Gaelic and Karelian. He is a former Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, is a founding member of the experimental music and spoken word collective Project Lono and currently works as a writer, performer, creative producer and workshop facilitator. Bob's latest book Hand of Glory is available from Yaffle Press: https://www.yafflepress.co.uk/collections

Christy Ducker is the author of four poetry books and pamphlets: Messenger (Smith Doorstop, 2017), Heroes (Smith Doorstop, 2016), Skipper (Smith Doorstop, 2015) and Armour (Smith Doorstop, 2011). Her work has won a Northern Writers’ award, a Forward prize commendation, and a selection as PBS pamphlet choice. Favourable reviews and articles about her writing have featured in the TLS, The Guardian and Brain Pickings, among others. A social poet, Christy takes poetry into places it rarely travels. She has collaborated with a wide range of people to generate poems, including transplant surgeons, hydrographers, horse dentists and trawlermen. To discover more of Christy's work visit: https://www.christyducker.co.uk/

Harry Man won the UNESCO Bridges of Struga Award, and has been shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. His co-collection authored with Endre Ruset, Deretter (‘Thereafter’, Flamme Forlag, 2021) won the Stephen Spender Prize for Translation and was a Dagbladet and Broken Sleep Books Book of the Year. He has also translated Endre Ruset’s poetry collection Noriaki (Broken Sleep Books) into English which contains a foreword by bestselling crime novelist Jo Nesbø. His latest book, Popular Song was published by Nine Arches Press (2024) and has been shortlisted for a Gladstone’s Library Writer in Residence Award 2026. He teaches at the University of Oxford and lives in the Tees Valley. He is the RLF Reading Round Fellow in Darlington. To find more of Harry's work visit: www.manmadebooks.co.uk