SoA @ Home Festival – 36 free online events for authors

Martin Reed

Martin Reed

Martin leads the SoA's Communications team. He oversees our strategic communications and campaign-based activities, including PR, social media, events and partnerships.
Nurture your wellbeing, keep your professional development on track and hone your craft with this ambitious mix of online sessions to guide you through the lockdown.

Starting on 21 April 2020, the SoA @ Home Festival will feature authors in conversation, including Philip Pullman, Joanne Harris, Sarah Waters and Neil Gaiman, workshops on research, storytelling and more, and panel discussions on the state of the industry, wellbeing, activism, and financial support for authors struggling financially during the health crisis.

With three sessions every week, we hope there’ll be something for authors of all types and all career stages.

Bookings are now open for the first fortnight of events – societyofauthors.org/events

The schedule

We’re running sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…

  • Tuesdays @ 3pm: professional development workshops (SoA members only)
    Bookings are open for Secrets of Cyberspace with Adam LeBor and Spin a Creative Writing Workshop with Cat Weatherill
  • Wednesdays @ 3pm: SoA Live – Industry Insider panel discussion
    With participants from English PEN, Creative Scotland, Royal Literary Fund and more – starting with a review of our Authors’ Emergency Fund on 22 April
  • Thursday @ 4pm: Afternoon Tea with…
    Meet Joanne Harris on 23 April and Philip Pullman on 30 April – and future conversations with Sarah Waters, Joanna Trollope, Neil Gaiman, Vanessa O’Loughlin and Roger McGough.

Fundraising for authors in need

The entire programme of events is free, with many available to non-members as well as members – but if you would like to donate to our Authors’ Emergency Fund, you can do so via our Go Fund Me page.

11 May 2023

Celebrated crime writer announced as keynote speaker for annual Society of Authors’ Awards ceremony on 29 June

6 December 2022

A look back at our Sustainability Week activities in November, and a look ahead at what we’ll be doing on sustainability over the next 12 months

1 April 2022

The Society of Authors’ Management Committee has agreed to increase fees again for event speakers and panellists.