Romance Writing Festival. Saturday 3rd October, Marsham Court Hotel. Details here.
For writers, by writers.
The Bournemouth Writing Festival inspires writers to write with practical and hands-on events, workshops, talks, writing activities and networking opportunities throughout the year.
The jewel in the crown is a three-day festival in April where a carefully curated selection of self-published, published and writing professionals impart their knowledge and advice to writers of all ages and genres, regardless of where they are on their writing journey.
The festival has grown to offer multiple free and ticketed events and activities throughout the year, incliding a Romance Writing Festival, Writing Sanctuary (our take on a writing retreat, writing groups, competitions and an online forum for writers to discuss and ask questions to help them with their writing journey.
The festival is run and organised by Dominic Wong.
Romance Writing Festival
Bournemouth Writing Sanctuary
Writing Competitions
Writing Havens
Writing Forum
The Bournemouth Writing Festival organises approximately 100 innovative events and activities over three days in venues within Bournemouth Town Centre. Award-winning, best-selling authors, BAFTA-winning screenwriters, journalists, poets, editors, publishers, marketing experts and even a contracts lawyer, all gave talks and workshops to hundreds of writers to help them on their writing journey.
Working with our partners, a range of free and ticketed events and activities are put on to encourage attendees to explore the shops, cafes, beaches and restaurants in and around Bournemouth.
Our festival was inclusive for a wide audience, including adults with additional needs, teenagers, primary schools, home-educated children and those sidelined from society.
To read the Impact Report from the 2025 Writing Festival, please click here.
Festival Director
Dominic Wong
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is led by Dominic Wong - an award-winning entrepreneur and author of two novels.
Dominic is a globally-recognised marketing professional with a diverse background in promoting tourism destinations and visitor attractions. With a passion for creating innovative tourism experiences, Dominic has successfully marketed various iconic locations worldwide. Notably, he was the first marketing director of the Harry Potter Studio Tour - overseeing the build, launch and Royal inauguration.
He runs the Bournemouth Writing Festival in his spare time.
Photo credit: Solid Imagery
Advisory Panel
Curating the Festival Programme and advising the Festival Director on strategy and content is our four-person advisory board.
John Foster
Kim West
Poet, creative collaborator and Curator for Wilkswood Reggae Festival.
Bradford Gyori
Programme Leader of the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University.
Carol Maund
Freelance curator, lecturer, creative producer and arts manager. Director of BEAF.