Festival Guests

'There isn't another writing festival in England as good as Writing on the Wall' Irvine Welsh


'I support any event that uses music and art as a tool for social change. WoW is a great example of this in action. Over a hundred artists performed across Merseyside for a thought-provoking ride. It was a pleasure to be part of WoW's 10th Birthday Festival.' Don Letts, Broadcaster and DJ, 2010



'I hope you and all the trustees of Writing on the Wall realise how much you contribute to literature, both local and international. We writers are really grateful. All the hard work you put in during the year means that the soil is well ploughed for writers of all sorts to flourish. It is your effort, organising readings, competitions, publicity, funding etc. that enables writers to meet each other, discuss work and ideas and to present their work to a new public. It’s very stimulating. So a big thanks from all of us. We couldn’t do without you.' Pauline Melville, Award-Winning Writer, 2009

'I loved my time at WoW, one of the best literary festivals in the country for its adventurous, leftfield and coherent programming. The events I saw generated great discussion and audience participation, and I was proud to be a judge for Pulp Idol when I was delighted to read three extracts from novels that showed real promise. It's refreshing to find a festival that pays such attention to politics and to the writing community of the area it serves.' Luke Brown, Publisher at Tindal Street Press, 2010



 'We treat literature usually like it's fragile china. We want people to appreciate it... but so respectfully, they mustn't get too close in case they break it, they mustn't touch. The brilliance of the Writing on the Wall festival is that it gets rid of all the elitism surrounding books and art, and gives the chance for readers to engage easily with the writers they admire (and writers they've yet to try!). And, better yet for the writers, it gives an opportunity to descend from the ivory tower and interact with a community directly and find new purpose in the stories they want to tell. Of all the writing festivals I've ever attended, it's the warmest, the friendliest, the most entertaining and the least pretentious - and you leave it buzzing with new books to read and new tales to invent.' Rob Shearman, Award-Winning Writer, 2010

'WoW's a terrific festival. I had a great event and was really well looked after. I hope they invite me back.' Joe Dunthorne, Award-Winning Writer, 2010