Caleb Azumah Nelson to deliver keynote speech at the National Creative Writing Industry Day 2021

Caleb Azumah Nelson will deliver a keynote speech to aspiring writers as the National Creative Writing Industry Day returns to its usual venue in Manchester on 5 November. Nelson is a 27-year-old British-Ghanaian writer and photographer living in South East London. His photography has been shortlisted for the Palm Photo Prize and won the People's Choice prize and his Open Water was longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and the Desmond Elliott Prize.

The conference will also include a panel discussion on The Paths of Northern Writers with editor of Aurelia Magazine Kya Buller, Desiree Reynolds, and 2021 BBC National Short Story Award shortlistee Richard Smyth, and workshops delivered by debut author Sarah Schofield and writer Jenn Ashworth.

The conference will also see the return of in-person one-to-ones with agents for attendees, which have led to the signing of new writers in previous years. Participating agents include The Good Literary Agency, David Godwin Associates, Eve White and Charlie Campbell Literary Agents. Capacity is limited this year to ensure covid safety; tickets are available from Comma Press Eventbrite.

Zoë Turner of Comma Press said: "It’s so exciting to be able to bring the conference back to its in-person format, while also filming the keynote speech and panel event for free online delivery to maintain the accessibility and reach of last year’s online iteration. Caleb will be the perfect keynote for 2021, inspiring new writers both in the North and nationally."

Find out more here.