Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events.

hyndland bookshop inside

Books, talks and poetry events. Glasgow has everything on offer for lovers of literature, including major book festivals, book launches, poetry slams and spoken word open mics.

Plenty to choose from with events showcasing new talent as well as acclaimed writers and poets.

Events and New Books To Watch Out For

Mara Menzies, Creative Conversations

mara menzies

7 March, 2022 at 1 p.m. University of Glasgow Online (UNFORTUNATELY EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO HEALTH ISSUE) *Please note that, due to Covid, this event has moved completely online. If you’ve already registered for in-person tickets, you will be sent the link in an email on Monday morning. Otherwise, you may register for online tickets […]

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Writers for Ukraine Online Event

writers for ukraine

Sunday 6 March, 2022 at 8.30 p.m. Standing in solidarity with their peers in Ukraine, local Northern Irish writers are coming together to read excerpts from contemporary Ukrainian works. Organised and hosted by Jan Carson, the night will include: Glenn Patterson reads Oksana Zabuzhko (novelist and short story writer) Dara McAnulty reads Myroslav Laiuk (poet) Anna Burns […]

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Michael Pederson Creative Conversations

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Monday 28 February, 2022 1 p.m. Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ Michael Pedersen is a prize-winning Scottish poet, writer, & animateur. He has published two highly acclaimed collections of poetry (Polygon Books) with a prose debut, Boy Friends, forthcoming with Faber. Pedersen was awarded the John Mather Trust Rising Star of Literature […]

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Gray Day at OranMor 2022

gray day oranmor

Friday 25 February, 2022 at 7.30 p.m. OranMor, Top of Byres Road, G12 8QX with Canongate Books, Neu! Reekie!, The Alasdair Gray Archive, and Òran Mór GRAY DAY returns for a second year with a day-long celebration and a live event at Òran Mór featuring readings, film and music. The annual celebration of the late […]

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An Evening With Louise Welsh – The Second Cut

louise waterstones 2022

Waterstones, Sauchiehall Street, 17 February, 2022 – review by Pat Byrne Twenty years ago Louise Welsh’s debut crime novel, The Cutting Room, was launched at Waterstones Book Shop, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. The prize winning book introduced us to Rilke, a Glaswegian auctioneer and coincidental amateur detective. On 17 February, 2022, there was a strong sense […]

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Flight of the Dragonfly Open Word

dragon fly

22 February, 2022 at 7.30 – 9.30 pm Online – Free A fabulous evening of poetry and prose Excited to be back in 2022 with a wonderful array of talented readers and amazing guests – Linda Jackson and Andy Breckenridge Register for Event seahorsepublications.com

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Scottish Writers Centre: Flooers fae thi fillin-stayshun

Words from the heart SWC Speakeasy Tuesday, 22 February, 2022 at 7 p.m. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD BOOK NOW SWC’s First  Speakeasy and Event of 2022. Come and share your work! 12 readers at 5 mins each. Contact John for a slot! or more information. Cunningly avoiding the feasts and frolics of […]

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The Carrbridge Rose – Brian Whittingham

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A poem about love: THE CARRBRIDGE ROSE The Packhorse Bridge arches its back like a grey stone rainbow over the hard flowing river hurtling past banks of snowy ice. We explore chatting holding hands ever so slight as if young love though we are not. Our pasts ensure we tread warily. Not knowing where these […]

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Balloch Open Mic on Zoom

ann mackinnon reading balloch open mic

14 February, 2022 at 7 p.m. Poetry and Prose from various local writers. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 868 5436 9222 Passcode: 9XKffC   Reminder – ‘LIVE’ open Mic at Balloch House Hotel first Monday in March.  Hugh McMillan is headline act. Check out facebook for further details…

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Poetry at Inn Deep

inn deep

Tuesday, 15 February, 2022 – 8 p.m. 445 Great Western Road, Glasgow West End G12 8HH Three Featured Performers: Gray Crosbie-Kinnaird, Jim Monaghan, Mark Richardson Plus open mic with ten acts Every Tuesday Msg the page to reserve a 5 min spot. Poetry starts at 8PM Free inn Hosted by @samsmallpoetry

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Scottish Slam Poetry Final 2022

scottish slam poetry

Saturday 12 March, 2022 at 2 pm – 4.30pm Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, 113 – 117 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HD Buy Tickets Live poetry competition to decide the Scottish Slam Champion of 2022. A dozen winners of slam throughout the past year vie for the chance to become Scottish Champion., scoop the cash prize money […]

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An Evening with Louise Welsh ‘The Second Cut’

the second cut

Thursday 17 February, 2022 at 7 pm Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3EW Thrilling and atmospheric, The Second Cut delves into the dark side of twenty-first century Glasgow. Twenty years on from his appearance in The Cutting Room, Rilke is still walking a moral tightrope between good and bad, saint and sinner. Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd Twenty years […]

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Monday, February 7, 2022 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Wanderlust Women on Zoom

wanderlust women

Wednesday 9 February, 2022 at 7.30 p.m. Event by Fife Writes The next Zoom session will be slightly different with four guest poets, each reading a selection from their recently published collection, Wanderlust Women. The poets are Tracy Patrick, Lesley Benzie, Donna Campbell and Linda Jackson. They said about their book, ‘Finding ourselves limited with […]

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Kavya Prize – New Writers Prize To Celebrate Scotland’s Ethnically Diverse Communities

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A new Scottish literary prize has been launched aimed at celebrating published work and new writing by Scotland’s ethnically diverse communities. The Kavya Prize, in association with the University of Glasgow, seeks to encourage Scottish black, indigenous, and people of colour writers – either living in Scotland or abroad. The inaugural prize for full-length published […]

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Second International Alasdair Gray Conference

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16-17 June 2022 Theme: Across Space & Form A two-day, interdisciplinary gathering held in Glasgow in the summer of 2022. Keynote Speakers Ali Smith – Internationally acclaimed novelist, short story writer and longtime Gray supporter Jenny Brownrigg – Exhibitions Director at the Glasgow School of Art Tickets Tickets for the whole two days of the […]

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Balloch Open Mic Blog: A New Kid On The Block

malcolm goldie open mic

Martin Goldie Despite only writing poetry for just over a year, sixty two year old Martin Goldie, has had poems published in ‘Writer’s Forum’ and the Scottish Poetry Publication ‘Wee Dreich and Dreich.’ He enjoys reading his poems live and online and regularly participates in live and zoom open mic events, including the Balloch Open […]

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Calton Ceilidh Open Mic 14 December, 2021

calton ceilidh open mic

Music and Spoken Word The Calton Bar, 415 London Rd, Glasgow G40 1AG Tuesday 14 December, 2021 at 7 p.m. Featured Artist Doctur Normul – the East End Chanteuse. Plus performers including: Ann Marie O’Hare Spike Munro Richard Lala Lesley O’Brien Douglas Thompson Louise Malone Eileen Farrelly plus other writers featured in: Floor spots still […]

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Scottish Writers Christmas Speakeasy 2021

swc christmas speakeasy

‘WHAT INSPIRES AND DELIGHTS’ DECEMBER 14 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM FREE – £3.00 Register for event. Join Scottish Writers’ speakeasy celebration at the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street,  Glasgow G2 3JD Hear new voices and meet old friends with ‘What inspires and delights’. For those who cannot attend in person, please register to join […]

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Balloch Open Mic Blog: Interview with Evelyn Lawrie

‘Gie Me a Word’ Mary Irvine interviews debut author and regular supporter of Balloch Open Mic, Evelyn Lawrie. Where were you born/brought up? I was born and brought up in Bonhill in 1936. I went to Bonhill Primary and then the Vale of Leven Academy. Christie Primary School, in Middleton Street, was the original Academy. […]

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Book launch: Like A Tree Walking by Vahni Capildeo

like a tree walking

1 December, 2021 at 7 p.m. By Carcanet Press Online event celebrating the launch of Like a Tree, Walking by Vahni Capildeo, the 2021 Poetry Book Society Winter Choice. Hosting the reading will be fellow Carcanet poet Padraig Regan, joining Vahni to discuss the new book. The event will feature readings and discussion, and audience […]

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Community Ownership – Assets or Liabilities Online Discussion

23 November, 2021 at 6 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. Glasgow Against Closures Event by Jim Monaghan and Fatima Uygun Join Glasgow Against Closures for an open discussion on the subject of Community Ownership, Asset Transfers and the implications of the People Make Glasgow Communities programme. All welcome. Event on Facebook

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Creative Conversations: Apphia Campbell

apphia campbell

Monday 22 November, 2021 University Chapel, Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ Free Event  – Register at Eventbrite About this event Apphia Campbell is originally from United States, and graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in theatre performance. In 2013 she wrote her critically acclaimed piece, ‘Black Is The Color […]

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Book Launch: Wild Women Of A Certain Age, Magi Gibson

wild women of a certain age

Tuesday, 7 December, 2021 at 7 p.m. Event by Magi Gibson Dram Glasgow 232 -246 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6ND Celebrate with Magi Gibson the publication of the 21st Anniversary Edition of this iconic poetry collection! It includes a new intro – and a few poems missed out first time round. In the ‘Wee Dram’ Magi […]

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Poetry and the Climate Crisis: Scotland and India

poetry abd climate crisis.

Thursday 16 November, 2021 – Online University of Glasgow Arts Exploring poetry and the climate crisis through the works two great, international writers: Patrick Geddes and Rabindranath Tagore. About this event Part of the Being Human Festival 2021 How can poetry be of practical help in the climate crisis? How can it set the tone for […]

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The Landing Hub – COP26 Fringe Event

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29 October – 14 November, 2021 The Landing Hub is a vibrant, welcoming space where the climate and social justice movements meet the arts. The Space is a fringe event of COP26, and is running from the 29th of October to the 14th of November. The Landing Hub, is right next door to: The Sustainable […]

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GWL – Walking Tour with Denise Mina

book week scotland denise mina

15 November, 2021, 12.30 – 1.30 p.m. Part of Book Week Scotland 2021 This event is part of the 2021 Book Week Scotland Digital Festival. It is a pre-recorded film. Join Crime writer Denise Mina and Glasgow Women’s Library volunteer Melody House on this special, conversational tour of the Glasgow Garnethill area. Denise’s debut novel Garnethill was […]

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Book Week Scotland: Writing Trumpet with Jackie Kay

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17th November, 2021 Film Jackie Kay’s debut novel Trumpet was first released in 1988 and received high critical acclaim. It won the Guardian First Fiction prize, the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and a Lambda Literary Award. Inspired by the life of Billy Tipton, the novel explores the fallout left in the wake of the death […]

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Book Week Scotland – Built Upon the Rock SWC

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16 November,2021 – 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Stephen Watt – Poet in Residence Dumbarton Football Club Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD Amongst his many other achievements, Stephen Watt has been  Dumbarton FC’s Poet-in-Residence since 2016.  This special Book Week Scotland Event by Scottish Writers Centre is supported by the […]

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COP26: A Radical Act of Love, Arborescence

oak seedling tree planting woodlands

10 November, 2021, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Woodlands Community, 66 Ashley Street, GlasgowG3 6HW Woodlands Community – Local to Global at COP26 Hosted by Healy Arts and Prof Richard DeMarco The event will be a video presentation and a platform to discuss future projects relating to tree planting with particular reference to Joseph Beuys […]

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Calton Ceilidh anthology by Ruby McCann

calton ceilidh launch

The anthology ‘Calton Ceilidh’ includes the work of many of the writers who performed at Cheeky Besom’s Glasgow’s Literary Lounge.   It also includes a link to audio musical performances and live poetry. The anthology is a celebration of Cheeky Besoms and ‘Calton Ceilidh’ edited by Ruby McCann – published by Rymour Books. The launch of […]

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calton ceilidh launch

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