Aberford young authors seek new recruits to join creative hub

A quiet revolution in storytelling is taking place every month in the back room of The Arabian Horse pub. Far from the typical quiet rows of a school classroom, local youngsters are gathering over creative writing prompts, collaborative drama exercises, and short story drafts, establishing Aberford as a surprising hotspot for the next generation of British authors. 

The group, an initiative tailored for young people aged 11 to 16, meets on the first Monday of every month from 6pm-7pm. The group is currently looking for new members to join its ranks, welcoming any local young people with a passion for stories or a desire to try creative writing for the first time. 

Under the guidance of local author and journalist Chris Berry, who acts as the primary coordinator, the sessions provide an open, supportive space for young minds to experiment with fiction, poetry, and scriptwriting. The focus is entirely on guiding and developing the creative writing skills of the young writers. Members are highly encouraged to bring their own writing projects to share and review with peers. 

The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed; parents do not sit in on the activity session, but are instead actively encouraged to stay, socialise, and enjoy a drink at the pub while the workshop takes place nearby. 

“We want to encourage young people to enjoy and lose themselves in books, stories, writing, and reading,” Berry told me. 

In addition to leading the monthly workshops, Berry also visits local schools to inspire pupils and bring creative writing directly into local classrooms. His initiative is part of the broader Aberford Authors network, a movement that has rapidly put the West Yorkshire village on the regional literary map. 

The Young Author’s also took centre stage at the recent annual Aberford Literature Festival (ALF), which was a great success.  

Pieces created by the group during their monthly development sessions and masterclasses were published in a collective anthology book displayed throughout the festival weekend. The hard work of these young writers is already yielding professional results, with their flagship anthology, Aberford Youth Authors 2026, edited by Berry, officially hitting the shelves of major commercial retailers, including Waterstones. For many of the participants, seeing their names in a professionally bound book has transformed a casual hobby into a serious passion. 

The authors were subsequently celebrated at the festival’s annual community writing ceremony, the Alfies, which celebrated the best new writing from the area. The event proudly featured both the Aberford Junior Authors Award and the Aberford Youth Authors Award.  

For a village community, the group represents more than just an after-school club; it is a sustainable incubator for local talent and a testament to what happens when young people are given a platform, a mentor, and a place to create. 

Those interested in joining the upcoming monthly sessions can find out more by getting in touch with Chris Berry on his email below: chrisberrymedia@gmail.com.