The Real Story

The Real Story is a literature group more focused on truth telling and creative use of real storylines than its fictional siblings in Manchester’s creative writing scene. With a burgeoning digital archive of non-fiction submissions, its live outings are used as a vehicle to transfer this form of writing into the physical realm.

Digitally, its editors, Manchester Literature Festival’s Kate Feld and columnist Adam Farrer, consider anything sent in under 2,500 words, while pieces to be considered for their live shows can be no longer than 1,500 words. Feld and Farrer also pledge to work with writers editorially, including offering feedback and tips to improve.

Its other digital formats are a Ninjas of Nonfiction series and the pair also consider proposals for reviews of nonfiction sources, from e-books to journals. The Real Story is one of the four limbs of Openstories, whose other projects are The Blog North Awards, Rainy City Stories and Writer Development.

Keep an eye out on their website and social media for news of the next live event, pencilled in for late March or early April at Gullivers with a “cracking headliner” as yet unannounced. Open mic slots are also available to those whose original work is accepted.

www.therealstory.org