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Dr Francesca Benatti @rhymesontheroad.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Is reading comics bad for you? Discover what I think in this podcast where I discuss it with my colleague @shaftowheed.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Our new podcast episode drops today! Dr Francesca Benatti and Dr Shafquat Towheed discuss comics, and whether they are good quality reading material. Find 'The OU Literature Podcast' on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast providers. Image (C) Jessica Abel used under CC 3.0.

A post featuring a very colourful page from a graphic novel showing characters drawn in bright colours with speech bubbles, set in the centre of a blue surround, with the words 'Is reading comics bad for you?' in the centre, followed by the words 'A new episode from re: reading - The OU Literature Podcast'

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Happy birthday to the magnificent Elizabeth Gaskell, born 29th Sept 1810. Gaskell is remembered for novels including Cranford (1851–1853) and North and South (1854–1855), and biographies such as The Life of Charlotte Brontë (1857). Her writing often highlighted the challenges of the working class.

Black and white image of Elizabeth Gaskell sat in a chair, dressed in Victorian era clothing.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

OU Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, Emily Bullock’s new novel is out now! Almost a Ghost Story is the tale of four strangers who meet onboard an Isle of Wight ferry, but who is alive and who is dead? www.instagram.com/emily.bulloc... www.instagram.com/everythingwi...

Almost a Ghost Story by Emily Bullock; a ferry sails into the distance

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The new YouTube channel from the English and Creative Writing department at The OU is now live! www.youtube.com/@OULiterature It hosts videos from 're: reading – The OU Literature Podcast'. We post a new podcast episode on the first of the month - videos go on YouTube mid-month. Please share!

A screenshot of a YouTube channel home page which says 'OULiterature' and 'The YouTube channel of the English and Creative Writing department at the OU'. There is a navy blue folder of videos under the 'playlists' tab and a tag which reads '@OULiterature'.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Happy birthday to iconic queen of mystery Agatha Christie! (born 15th Sept 1890). Christie wrote 66 novels, alongside many short stories and plays. She is remembered for legendary characters such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Learn more on our free course (Link in comments)

Black and white photo of Agatha Christie as a young woman, looking out of a window. From the Christie Archive Trust.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Happy birthday to writer Mary Oliver, born on 10th September 1935. Mary Oliver was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, often considered one of America’s finest poets. Her use of attentive yet understated language to explore the natural environment, led to an enduring popularity across her many works.

Image of book cover of Mary Oliver's "New and Selected Poems: Volume Two". This includes black and white image of poet.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

And we're live! re: reading - The OU Literature Podcast is now available. Just search "OU Literature Podcast" on your usual podcast provider. (Please note that some services take longer than others to make episodes available.) We will post a new full-length episode on the first day of each month.

A screenshot from an iPhone screen with Spotify open, showing 're:reading The OU Literature Podcast'.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Three days to go! Our new literature and creative writing podcast goes live on the 1st of September. Available on all the main platforms: just search 'OU Literature Podcast'. Please repost and share widely. #rereading #creativewriting #OUliteraturepodcast

A graphic showing the words 're: reading - The OU Literature Podcast' and the date '01/09/2026' in white on a navy blue background.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Happy birthday to these authors with birthdays on the 24th of August: Top, L to R: A.S. Byatt (1936); Paulo Coelho (1947); Ali Smith (1962). Bottom, L to R: Jorge Luis Borges (1899); Stephen Fry (1957); Alexander McCall Smith (1948). In the centre the great Jean Rhys, born on this day in 1890.

A collage showing head shots of authors A.S. Byatt, Paulo Coelho, and Ali Smith in the top row. On the bottom row, photos of Jorge Luis Borges, Stephen Fry and Alexander McCall Smith, and in the centre an image of author Jean Rhys.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Two weeks until the launch of our new podcast. Re: reading will feature OU English and Creative Writing academics discussing books, reading, and creative writing. Going live on the 1st of September. Full details to follow. Please share! #literaturepodcast #creativewriting #booksandreading

A plain blue background with the words, 're: reading The OU Literature podcast'

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Happy birthday Angus Wilson, a pioneer author celebrated for his sharply satirical novels, short stories and criticism. A trailblazer, he was an openly queer public figure and helped establish Creative Writing as a university discipline at UEA. #queericon @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social

A picture of an older gentleman in a smart blue tweed suit, wearing a colourful red and gold tie. He is seated in a comfortable armchair and holds a pair of spectacles.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Prof Siobhan Campbell's essay on Creative Writing with displaced Lebanese women available now on open access. Find it here: www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/15... This work was done with AHRC grant AH/V01045X/1 from @ukri.org in partnership with Akkar Network for Development. Full issue: shorturl.at/PFp7K

Image of a woman, with back to camera, wearing a navy blue fleece jacket that says Akkar Network for Development, while working on three flipchart boards with writing in Arabic on each.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

'Red Mona', a poem by our colleague Prof Siobhan Campbell has won first prize at Kenmare Arts Festival's Poets meet Painters comp!! The poem responds to John McNulty's work, 'Circus Tractor'. Tickets for the launch event on 8 Aug at Carnegie Arts Centre: www.kenmareartsfestival.com/poets-meet-p...

An image of the painting 'Circus Tractor' by John McNulty, showing a large red tractor with geometric engine design.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Happy birthday Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights! We're delighted to announce the launch our new podcast: Re:reading The OU literature podcast. The podcast goes live on 1st September. Ep 1 is on Brontë's (and Fennell's) Wuthering Heights #OUliteraturepodcast #EmilyBrontë #WutheringHeights

A poster for Wuthering Heights, the 1939 film starring Merle Oberon and Lawrence Olivier, who are pictured in the image. Accompanying text reads 'Happy birthday Emily Brontë. Born on this day, 1818'

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Today’s author birthday is a big one! This writer authored one of the most famous novels of all, adapted as a film many times, most recently with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. We will reveal the answer later today here – and we'll be making a big announcement! Check in here for more this pm!

A picture of a young female VIctorian novelist with the words, 'Born on the 30th of July 1818'

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Join us for our online conference tomorrow: THE PUBLIC HUMANITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Talks and discussions on the role of the arts in society from 0930 until 1800 - all free! For registration and questions, please email: FASS-Arts-Research-Centre@open.ac.uk Supported by @openarc.bsky.social

A flyer showing details of the online conference:
THE PUBLIC HUMANITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

✍️ Can taste, touch, smell and sight inspire creative writing? Join Dr Lania Knight for a sensory writing workshop featuring tea tasting, historic objects, and creative practice. 📅 11 June 2026 | London 🔗 www.goldsmiths-centre.org/whats-on/cre... @ouliterature.bsky.social @laniaknight.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Free registration is now open for the @openuniversity.bsky.social Literature and Music Research Group Study Day on words, music and place Friday 26 June at @bournemouthuni.bsky.social University. Visit bit.ly/4tA4Www for full details and a link to Eventbrite. www.hardysociety.org/oxo/917/stud...

A picture of the Dorset countryside with green rolling hills and distant rural views. Event details and participating organisation logos overlaid, with details of the Words, Music and Place Study Day on Friday the 26th of June 2026, 1045am to 630pm at Bournemouth University.

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University English @univeng.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

#EnglishCreates: Futures Today, Dr Shafquat Towheed (The Open University) asks a crucial question: Will we still be reading English literature in the future? Despite numerous challenges, he suggests that the answers are more promising than we might assume... universityenglish.ac.uk/will-we-stil...

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University English @univeng.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

#EnglishCreates: Futures Today's post features a range of rich and inspiring reflections on the life-long benefits of studying English, shared by graduates of The Open University: universityenglish.ac.uk/open-univers...

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Congratulations to our colleague, fiction writer Emily Bullock! Emily has been shortlisted for the Aurora Metro Virginia Prize for Fiction with her manuscript: For Always Only. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the OU and Associate Lecturer on Advanced Creative Writing module A363.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Join us for an OU symposium exploring how literature and creative writing respond to the richness of the UK coastline, and the challenges faced by coastal communities. Featuring Andrew Michael Hurley, Jessica Mookerjee, and journalists from The Guardian. June 3rd, Milton Keynes. shorturl.at/s6fGB

Morecambe Bay at sunset, the tide out, revealing a wet stretch of smooth sand and scattered pebbles.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

A visit today to the Home for Cooperation in the UN Buffer Zone in Nicosia, Cyprus, by the historic Ledra Palace Hotel. Part of the Theatre in Contested Spaces research project, funded by @openarc.bsky.social - arts research centre of @openuniversity.bsky.social #IrelandCyprus26 #theatreresearch

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Thanks to former UN spokesman for Cyprus, Brian Kelly, who gave us a guided tour of both sides of the city of Nicosia, passing through the Ledra Crossing and the UN Buffer Zone for our Theatre and Contested Spaces research project. #IrelandCyprus26 #theatreactivism @openarc.bsky.social

An image of the Ledra Crossing between south and north Nicosia

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Excited to be working with colleagues at the University of Cyprus on the Theatre and Contested Spaces research project, funded by @openarc.bsky.social at the @openuniversity.bsky.social #IrelandCyprus26

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Next up, a presentation with the Irish Studies Collective at the University of Cyprus on Thursday the 23rd at 1800 EET (1600 BST), where we will discuss Brian Friel's play, Translations, currently running at Cyprus Theatre Organisation in Nicosia. Really looking forward to this! #IrelandCyprus26

A flyer for a public lecture.
Translations: linguistic colonialism and liminal spaces

A public lecture to accompany the THOC production of Translations

Dr Dónall Mac Cathmhaoill, The Open University, UK

LRC 014 Amphitheatre, University of Cyprus Library, Nicosia
Thursday 23 April 1800

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

We spent a wonderful day in Lyon yesterday presenting research for the Theatre Performance in Contested Spaces research project. Thanks to @marionbourdeauphd.bsky.social and all at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 and to @openarc.bsky.social who funded the trip. #IrelandCyprus26 #theatreresearch

An image of the courtyard at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University in France

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Our Borders and Literature series with @mklitfest.bsky.social concludes on 24 April as podcaster and broadcaster Jonn Elledge talks about his book, A History of the World in 47 Borders. Join us in-person or online. Tickets/series info: www.mklitfest.org/borders #borders #geopolitics #jonnelledge

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Join writer Anne Caldwell and artist Jo Gorner for a series of creative workshops. These events bring creative writing, printmaking and book making together, through the lens of the River Ribble. For full details and to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984461553...

eventbrite.co.uk

River Ribble Art and Writing Workshops (Source to Coast)

Creative writing, printmaking and bookmaking workshops with writer Anne Caldwell and artist Jo Gorner.

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Podcasts of episodes 1 - 4 of our Borders and Literature series now available. Episode 5 (in-person/online) with Jonn Elledge follows on 24 April at @WaterstonesMK Info/tickets: www.mklitfest.org/borders #borders @jonnelledge.bsky.social #geopolitics @ouliterature.bsky.social

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

The first three episodes of our fascinating online series on Borders and Literature events with the Open University are now available as podcasts. Links on the Series webpage: www.mklitfest.org/borders @ouliterature.bsky.social #borders #literature #books

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Writer/broadcaster Jonn Elledge takes a witty, surprising look at world history through its borders, and stories they tell about political identities and human folly. www.mklitfest.org/in-person-ev... #border #geopolitics #jonnelledge @ouliterature.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

An excellent opportunity from our friends @mklitfest.bsky.social for writers from Bucks / Beds / Northants: submit your creative writing about places in Milton Keynes and you could be part of MK Lit Fest's April Festival! Spread the word! More here: www.mklitfest.org/raisingvoice... #localwriting

mklitfest.org

The Raising Voices Project | MK Lit Fest 2025

A multimedia project capturing the original writing of Milton Keynes' communities in response to the local places that have inspired them, creating a verbal and aural map of the city.

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Writer and lawyer Abda Khan explains how cultural differences and misunderstandings create barriers, and explores how we might overcome them. www.mklitfest.org/borders @ouliterature.bsky.social

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Writer and lawyer Abda Khan explains how cultural differences and misunderstandings create barriers, and explores how we might overcome them. www.mklitfest.org/borders @ouliterature.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

We really enjoyed a wonderful day of research talks at the @openarc.bsky.social Spring Festival yesterday. OpenARC is the research centre for Arts and Humanities at The Open University. Thanks to @shaftowheed.bsky.social and the team for making it such a success! #artsresearch #publichumanities

Spring flowers at the foot of a tree, in warm Spring sunshine

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

We are very much looking forward to tonight's talk in the MKLitFest / OU series on Borders. Kit de Waal in conversation with Dan Taylor, tonight at 7 pm. Tickets (pay what you can) here: www.mklitfest.org/borders

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Novelist Kit de Waal, a leading voice for working class writers, joins Dr Dan Taylor to discuss how to challenge the class ceiling. www.mklitfest.org/online-event... @kitdewaal.com @ouliterature.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

This Monday novelist Kit de Waal will be talking to our colleague Dan Taylor about working class writers and the class ceiling, part of our series, Borders in Literature, with @mklitfest.bsky.social 16 Mar, 7pm, Zoom. Tickets (free): bit.ly/mklfdewaal #classceiling #workingclasswriters #literature

Image of author Kit de Waal in a red jumper with images of recent book jackets, Without Warning and The Best of Everything

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Was Jane Austen a feminist? Was she ahead of her time? OU Creative Writer @emmaclairesweeney.bsky.social explores all this with Prof. John Mullen & Director of Jane Austen's House, Lizzie Dunford. Follow @openarc.bsky.social for more arts news from the OU. theconversation.com/how-much-can...

A portrait of noveilst Jane Austen in a bonnet and blue gown

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Was Jane Austen a feminist? Did she draw from her own life? Was she ahead of her time? OU Creative Writer @emmaclairesweeney.bsky.social explores all this with Prof. John Mullen & Director of Jane Austen's House, Lizzie Dunford. Follow @openarc.bsky.social for more arts news from the OU.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

After an excellent discussion yesterday with Tim Marshall @mklitfest.bsky.social we are looking forward to next week's talk with @kitdewaal.com and Dr Dan Taylor Routes and Roots - Breaking Through the Class Ceiling. Monday 16 March 7pm, on Zoom Tcikets here: www.mklitfest.org/borders

A photo of author Kit de Waal in a red jumper, along with the cover images of two of her books: Without Warning, and The Best of Everything

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

TONIGHT Drawing the Line? Monday 9 March 2026, 7.00pm, on Zoom. Tim Marshall, bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography, discusses with Philip Seargeant (OU) why physical borders are such a live issue in today’s globalised, interconnected world. Free tickets at www.mklitfest.org/borders

Head shots of authors Tim Marshall and Philip Seargeant and the cover of Marshall's book Prisoners of Geography

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Milton Keynes Literary Festival @mklitfest.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Gracie Mae Bradley, co-author of Against Borders, explores how we might reshape the world to overcome barriers that fuel division and disparities. www.mklitfest.org/borders @ouliterature.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Together with @MKLitFest, we welcome Tim Marshall to our series on Borders in Literature, talking to @philipseargeant.bsky.social about the impact of geographical borders on today’s interconnected world. 9 Mar, 7pm, Zoom. Tickets (free): bit.ly/mklfmarsh #geography #politics #literature

Images of authors Tim Marshall and Philip Seargeant

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

We are delighted to be partnering @mklitfest.bsky.social for a third year offering free online events with distinguished writers on Monday evenings throughout March 2026. This year’s theme is Borders in Literature. All these events are free to attend. Book your tickets at www.mklitfest.org/borders

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