A WEEKEND of creativity is set to take place in a town’s annual festival.

The Darlington Writers festival will take place from May 17 to 20 as part of this year’s Darlington Art’s Festival.

Taking place over a variety of venues, the Art’s Festival aims to encourage people to try something new by showcasing the types of arts activities Darlington has to offer.

The overall theme for this year’s festival is ‘Follow Your Art’ and organisers have said this year will pay special focus on writers.

Opening the Writers Festival on May 17 is poet Ann Cuthbert who will host poetry workshops to inspire writers to see everyday small things in a new way.

She will be followed by Susan Chapman who will show how to take ‘slices of life’ and write them in reflective ways.

Saturday and Sunday will offer a variety of workshops with a host of authors such as award-winning crime writer John Dean with his ‘Introduction to crime fiction’ and ‘And the meek shall inherit the storyline’ events.

Here writers can learn more about plotting crime fiction and how conflict informs the modern age of crime stories.

The weekend will also feature local author Tracey Iceton who will be drawing on her experience of writing a series of novels and giving advice when it comes to writing a book.

Also available will be a ‘Show, don’t tell’ workshop by writer, and regular contributor to Darlington for Culture’s monthly open mic night, Peter King.

Local author Michael Jarvie’s ‘The art of the novel’ will explore the depths of research and how to develop story ideas.

On Sunday evening there will be an open mic night which invites writers to share their stories, poems, prose or scripts and, on the final day of the festival, Bennet House Writers will be holding an open meeting for their regular writing group.

Darlington Writers Festival will take place at various venues including Hash, Dr. Inks and Crown Street Library.

Booking is required for most events and tickets are available from individual workshop and talk organisers.

Contact details and more information can be found at darlingtonforculture.org/writers-festival-2019/