FICTION, SCRIPTS, POETRY, MEMOIR & LITERARY ESSAYS
A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS IN BRUSSELS
The Brussels Writers Workshop brings together writers of fiction, poetry, memoir, scripts and literary essays to share work, exchange ideas and develop their writing.
We meet twice a month in Brussels, welcoming writers at different stages of their creative lives.
Patrick ten Brink's short story "A Present, an Apology and a Tribute" has found a home in The Berlin Literary Review . “A little bit of a mad, romantic, speculative piece.”
Brussels Writers Workshop member Paul Stephenson has new poems in three recent issues of Poetry Worth Hearing. Read them on the page, then hear Paul read them aloud on Spotify.
Short Story :
‘Apparently he’s short, but wears stacked heels’, someone whispered as we waited for the lift lights to blink their way up to floor 40. We craned our necks to see him as he exited. Rubbish, I thought.
Poetry: A manifesto-poem about poetry, voice and defiance
Subversification
You may have heard that poetry
Makes nothing happen.
This is fake news.
In this week's "100-words-in-10-minutes" challenge, writers tackled the prompt "Next Sunday." From a pirate’s cunning deal to a poetic reflection on change and resilience, and a humorous tale of forgotten birthdays and mundane chaos, explore how each story brings its unique twist
This week, our 100-words-in-10-minutes challenge was sparked by a rather shocking comment overheard at our bimonthly meeting at Le Cocq: "I've often been told that French people stink, especially women." While we all know this isn't true, it inspired some amusing interpretations. Read more here as we turn stereotypes on their head and share our creative takes on this bold statement, all crafted in just 100 words.
6 writers converge on 1 location, each writing a 100-word story in 10 minutes. The stories reveal a wide range of perceptions of this singular place, providing a unique perspective, uncovering layers of symbolism and architectural nuance, generational dynamics, nostalgia, and introspection, painting a vivid and diverse portrait of the place.
A backstabbing gone wrong
Discover two short stories. Journey into the night, where a secret mission takes an unexpected turn under the moonlit sky, or enter the underground world of a theatre to unravel the mystery of an enigmatic figure, cloaked in red and shrouded by rumours.
She walked down the street that ran parallel to the main street, the ‘butchers’ alley’. The air was suffocating. It was a little after two o’clock. She was sweating profusely and had a haut-le-cœur. She felt suffocated and covered her mouth with her hand. The smell of blood and dead meat was overwhelming and more than she could handle. She had never liked it.
In Urban Enigmas, Patrick ten Brink transforms the overlooked fragments of city life into poetry rich with imagery and meaning. From discarded shoes to cryptic half-apples, his chapbook reveals beauty in what is often cast aside. At the Brussels Writers Workshop, his readings sparked lively discussion and reminded us to look closer at the world around us.
The Brussels Writers' Workshop was honoured to have Mimi Kunz present her last book of poetry and illustrations, Mother Tongue. Mimi combines elegant, fluid, black sumi-e style brushstrokes with poems, Mimi reminds us of all the little fleeting eternities between a motehr and her newborn and urges us to enjoy each special moment. It is a book for all who wish to slow down and immerse themselves in someone else’s joy.
2025 promises to be year rich in self-exploration for our authors. These are the books that have caught the eye of our authors. Which of these we will have read by next year remains to be seen, but if one thing is certain, it’s that books, like the passing of time, will continue to shape our stories and inspire us both within and beyond their pages.
The Brussels Writers Workshop (BWW) recently hosted Sharon Galant, director of Zeitgeist Agency, for an insightful and motivating session on navigating the publishing world. Writers were treated to Sharon’s practical advice, deep industry knowledge, and her clear passion for helping authors find their voice and audience.
The Brussels Writers' Workshop (BWW) was delighted to welcome poet Paul Stephenson for an engaging presentation of his latest poetry collection, Hard Drive. Paul’s deeply moving exploration of grief, memory, and love offered a powerful reflection on the human experience. His work sparked thoughtful discussion and insight among attendees, making the session both poignant and deeply thought-provoking.
Reading is to a writer what oxygen is to the brain, what food is to the body. One cannot – and should not – come without the other. They are as complementary as teaching is to learning or … cooking is to tasting.
For Stephen King, "if you don't have time to read, you don't have the time to write.
As we head off for the summer, which books will accompany our writers to their exciting destinations, or take them on a journey without leaving home?
The Brussels Writers Workshop (BWW) recently welcomed its first guest author, David Beaver, professor of linguistics and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Beaver captivated the audience with his thought-provoking book, "The Politics of Language," which offers a revolutionary perspective on how we communicate.
From classics to the latest award winners, our authors tell us which books made the biggest impact on them in 2023.
Loretta Fahy was placed first runner up for the Mairtín Crawford Award in Belfast this summer, and has two poems, "Waiting" and "Hellebore," featured in the summer issue of The Soliloquist.