Stories From Beyond the Door

Stories from beyond the Door, is the new and adapted online incarnation of what has been a successful creative writing project since 2017, ‘From Pen to Paper’ at Kirkby Gallery.. The project has established Knowsley’s first creative writing group and to which additionally, saw one if its participants win their first writing prize in July 2020; winning first prize in Prescot Festival’s short story competition, Rita Simpson.

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the project is being broadened to new and isolated audiences and adapted to function online. It will continue to feature and encourage creative writing; the stories and imagination which have been developed at home and to share them online. We see this as a great opportunity to bring together communities and better understand the issues we have all encountered over the last few months whilst supporting personal and creative development.

“I Had been feeling low, due to bereavement and illness, I found my levels of concentration very poor. The course helped me gather my ideas to create pieces of prose and poetry. Each week I was able to either start or even complete some writing. I liked having a product to develop and improve”

Margaret

“I wasn’t sure on what I could do but once I got writing I didn’t want to stop. I just loved doing the course and it has awoken something I didn’t know I had!”

Sharon

“I started the From Pen to Paper course in September 2018 in Prescot. I was nervous, apprehensive and felt out of my depth but it’s turned out to be one of the best challenges I’ve had since retiring. Throughout, we have been guided through the skills of writing. Writing, for me has now become a pleasure. The group support one another, sharing and critiquing each other’s efforts. 

Due to the lockdown, we are sharing our work via email and zoom. It has been great to get involved with our sister group in Kirkby. I feel very fortunate and this is thanks to Susan Comer the Writer in Residence.

The Prescot Festival Short Story competition is the first I have entered.  It came as a great surprise that my story won.  I’m so pleased and glad they liked it”

Rita