by Pam Plumb

For over three years I have been attending and now, co-hosting, a monthly open mic, Stop Write Hear, in my local community in Darlington, UK. My friend, Ann Cuthbert, who is a published poet, started the group as a way of enabling local writers of all kinds to share their work and listen to others. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, with poets, short story writers, flash fiction writers and novelists all contributing regularly.

Each reader has 7 minutes to share whatever they wish, some choosing to read a poem or the opening of a short story or novel chapter. Undoubtedly it can be daunting to read out in front of an audience, so what is the value of putting yourself through this?

Our regular open-mic attendees keep coming back as it allows them to test-run some new work, getting some on-the-spot feedback from the audience, hearing their words out loud and identifying what works and what needs more tweaking. They also get a chance to share their successes, reading from published anthologies or self-published novels. Each month we have a spotlight, where one writer will get a few more minutes to showcase their work. This is often one of our regulars, though we sometimes invite more established writers to share their work, which can be incredibly inspiring.

Not only does the open mic allow such a varied range of writers to share their work, it also helps more socially isolated writers connect and feel supported by like-minded people. We are so lucky here in Darlington that we have this wonderful open forum to hear stories and poems and new writing of all kinds. It inspires me to continue writing and helps me generate new ideas. The vibe is always supportive and there’s always good news and writing opportunities to share. And as new members of the audience are joining every month, it all helps to enrich the experience.

If you would like to share your work in a similar forum, it may be that there is an open mic in your area. And if there isn’t one, perhaps you could set one up – I can guarantee your fellow writers will appreciate it! 

About Pam Plumb:
Pam is a crime writer from Darlington, UK, who was shortlisted for the Northern Writers’ Award in 2025. She also received an Arts Council grant to help develop her writing. She is querying her first novel and editing her second. She has a short story forthcoming in “Guilty Secrets,” a new short story anthology from the Crime Writers’ Association. She is also a member of the CWA.

For More Information:
Website: https://www.pamplumbauthor.co.uk/
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