Open Pen launched in 2011, as London’s first “Open Literature” magazine. It encourages writing from anywhere and anyone, and is free. In 2016 they published The Open Pen Anthology, a collection of short fiction old and new from favourite Open Pen authors.
The print publication is both interesting and relevant, and encourages growth within the talented, fertile, literary underbelly. It is a platform for up-and-coming writers from all backgrounds, with particular interest in working-class writers.
Available in independent bookshops, including Newham Bookshop, libraries, university campuses, writers’ centres, coffee shops and bars. In 2018 they started publishing books, in particular novelettes. For more information and to contact Open Pen, visit their website.
Following a successful event in Hackney, raising over £1,000 for a local homeless charity, Open Pen presents an evening of readings at The Wanstead Tap, in partnership with Newham Bookshop. The readings will be by a host of celebrated authors donating their time to read live. There will be books on sale at half price, generously donated by ten publishers. All proceeds from book sales and profits from drink sales will be donated to Bridges, a local charity which supports homeless and vulnerably-housed people in Plaistow E13. For more information about Bridges, visit their website.
Interested in learning more about Newham Bookshop and some of the people connected with it? We have four lessons for classroom or family use developed from On the Record’s oral history project centered around Newham Bookshop, Writing and Reading Newham. Click here for full details.
We are proud that Newham Bookshop is LoveReading’s Bookshop of the Month. The article features a Q&A with Vivian Archer, which you can read here.
