Now Then - Word Life 62

 Hello!

 Issue 62 of Now Then Manchester's Word Life was fun to curate as it  was all about "Magic". I hope you enjoy this selection of creative writing, whose authors interpreted the theme in many ways, from fantastical to humorous to poignant. 

 We have work from Kersten Christianson, Joan McNerney, Linda Imbler, Joyce Graham, Ann Christine Tabaka, Sarah Hulme, Roy Moller, Kayleigh Jayshree Hicks and Ken Allan Dronsfield. There are also the usual listings for literary events in and around Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Word Life 62.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 61

 Hello!

 December's issue of Now Then Manchester's Word Life page is a special showcase of writing by Mancunian spoken-word collective Young Identity. As a proud member of the group, I really enjoyed curating this month's issue.

 I hope you enjoy these poems by Toreh O'Garro, Shirley May, Ayomide Abolaji, Will Spence, Rabia Tanweer, Yorusalem Okbamichael and Tallulah Howarth.

 There is also the usual information about literary events in and around Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Word Life 61!

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 60

 Hello!

 November's issue of Now Then Manchester - our sixtieth! - is here, and for Word Life I set the theme of "Gifts". I received a huge number of submissions, probably more than for any previous issue.

 The final selection includes writing by J V Birch, Margaret King, Fee Thomas, Gerry Sikazwe, Lynn White, John Grey, Anna Maria Dall'Olio, Andrew Nowell, Sarah Hulme, Kristi Rose, Joan McNerney and Laura Potts. The "Gifts" prompt is interpreted in many different and fascinating ways.

 We also have the usual listings for literary events in and around Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Issue 60!

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 59 and Requiem

 Hello!

 For October's issue of Now Then Manchester's Word Life section, I set the theme of "Animals". It was such fun to edit! In the work submitted, I encountered all kinds of critters, from a goat to ravens to a spider to a cat.

 The final selection of work includes poetry from Glen Sorestad, Ann Christine Tabaka, Peter Burrows, Kersten Christianson, Ion Corcos and Roger Bloor, as well as my own poem "Requiem", which first appeared in The Fat Damsel back in 2016, and is inspired by whales.

 You can also find details of literary events and workshops that are happening in and around Manchester this month.

 I hope you enjoy the issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 58

 Hello!

 September's issue of Now Then Manchester has arrived, and I enjoyed curating the Word Life section. I set this month's theme as "Messages" and received a variety of responses, some quirky, some moving. 

 I hope you enjoy the pieces I chose: fiction from Anne Sheppard, and poems from Kieran Egan, Lisa Reily, Peter Burrows, Antony Owen, Ann Christine Tabaka, Joan McNerney, Glen Sorestad and Ion Corcos.

 There are also listings for literary events in and around Manchester this month. There are quite a few, from the Northern Quarter to Levenshulme to Stretford to Salford. Hopefully if you live in the area you will find something for you.

 Enjoy Issue 58!

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 57

 Hello!

 Issue 57 of Now Then Manchester is here, and is full of bees! There are bee sculptures all over the city right now, and I love seeing them both in real life and on the site.

 For this month's Word Life I set the theme of "Heroes", and was sent some lovely writing. We have poetry by Ann Christine Tabaka, Selin Candan, Alice Spencer, Robert Pelgrift and Tyler Robert Sheldon. 

 There are also listings for various events happening over summer in Manchester, from writing workshops to spoken word nights to film-inspired performances.

 I hope you enjoy August's Word Life.

 Liz x

Open Mic Poetry at the Old Courts

 Hello!

 I was very happy to read some of my poems at Open Mic Poetry, at the Old Courts in Wigan. This was my first visit to this monthly event, which is hosted by poet Louise Fazackerley, and I was made to feel very welcome. 

 The line-up was diverse - some writing was comedic, some emotional, and I appreciated the chance to hear it all. I met new people, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. I was also thrilled to discover I had won the poetry competition, which had the theme of "Growth".

 It was a lovely evening and I hope to return in the future.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 56 and Raspberries

 Hello!

 I have been Editor of the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester for a year and a half now, and something I have been wanting to do is to curate an issue devoted to showcasing LGBTQ+ writing.

 I waited because I hoped to make as many people as possible aware of Word Life, so they knew to submit their work. I also reached out to people who may not usually share their writing through magazines, through getting in touch with the LGBT Foundation, who helped spread the word. 

 

 Now, after a lot of work, Issue 56 is now here, and I am very proud and happy. It features my poem "Raspberries" as well as writing by Emily Cave, Naomi Sampson, Frankie Blaus, Jasmine Taylor, Caitlin Johnson, Roma Havers and Leah Johnson.

 As always, the page also has listings for literary events and workshops in Manchester, so if you live locally, perhaps you could try something new or practise a skill.

 I hope you enjoy July's Word Life.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 55 and Sara

 Hello!

 Issue 55 of Now Then Manchester has arrived. As usual, I curated Word Life and this month I chose the theme of "Nature". My poem "Sara" features, as well as work by Caitlin Johnson, Peter Burrows, Ann Christine Tabaka and Joan McNerney. 

 There are also listings for all kinds of literary events in and around Manchester. 

 I hope you enjoy June's issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 52

 Hello!

 March's issue of Now Then Manchester is here, and as always I really enjoyed curating the Word Life page. This month's theme is "Hope" and I received some beautiful and powerful creative writing submissions. I am very happy with the set I chose.

 We have poetry from Nasim Asl, Hannah Downs, Ken Allan Dronsfield, Ann Christine Tabaka, Carl Boon, John Michael Flynn, Ray Ball and Peter Burrows, and short fiction from Sandra Arnold, Joan McNerney and Samuel Bigglesworth.

 There are also the usual listings for a wide range of literary events in Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Issue 52.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 51

 Hello!

 February's issue of Now Then Manchester is here. As always, I enjoyed curating the Word Life section and providing listings for literary events throughout Manchester.

 For this month's creative writing selection I chose the theme of "Love" and was sent some beautiful writing. You can read work from Robert Pelgrift, Tallulah Howarth, Joan McNerney, Kersten Christianson, John Grey, Chrissi Sepe, Elspeth Vischer and Lisa Reily.

 I hope you enjoy the issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 48

 Hello!

 Issue 48 of Now Then Manchester is out now. For this month's Word Life I decided to celebrate flash fiction, with four very different pieces of writing from Glen Sorestad, Maria Sledmere, AM Roselli and Ray Busler.

 I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 47

 Hello!

 Issue 47 of Word Life is here. Curated by me, it lists various upcoming literary events in Manchester and showcases creative writing on the theme of "Memories".

 I hope you enjoy this set of poems from James Diaz, Ann Christine Tabaka, Genevieve Carver, Claire Sexton, Ryan Quinn Flanagan, Elliott Mills, Fabrice Poussin, AM Roselli.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 42

 Hello!

 I'm very happy to announce that May's issue of Word Life is here! It is my third as editor and has the theme of the sea. 

 My own poem "Ink sea" features, alongside four others and my round-up of literary events in Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 41

 Hello!

 My second issue of Word Life as Editor has been published. It features five poems on the themes of change, healing and moving on, and highlights several upcoming spoken word/open mic events in Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x