DIALECT

off the beaten track

Dialect is a collective offering learning and publication opportunities to aspiring, emerging and experienced writers in rural and edgeland places

Donate
Two women sitting at a white table with books and a coffee mug, in a room with a white brick wall, a black stove, and a floral patterned curtain.

Meet the Team

Dialect is run by JLM Morton & Emma Kernahan, both award-winning writers.

JLM Morton is a poet and non-fiction writer with more than 20 years’ experience of working in education in the UK and globally.

Emma Kernahan is a short fiction and comedy writer with a background in support work.

As an organisation, Dialect is focused on building good quality learning and development opportunities that help writers from rural and edgeland spaces to tell their stories - in whatever way they chose. We’re doing this by focusing on three key areas:

  • Strengthening the ecosystem for story development across rural and edgeland communities through partnerships with other organisations, our community membership, retreats and events.

  • Quality, inclusive provision of courses, workshops and mentoring.

  • Access to publishing opportunities through Dialect Press and our online journal, Notes from the Edge.

We’re here to make sure writers from the edges have the space, support and chances they need to grow - sign up to our newsletter below to keep up to date with what’s happening! We look forward to seeing you along the road…

'Beautiful and inspiring!' ~ Sarah, Day Retreat

"The tutor was just, so so so good!! Everything she said was gold. The most effective and brilliant class I have ever had, and it will have changed my entire novel for the better." David, 'Making a Scene' workshop

'Beautiful and inspiring!' ~ Sarah, Day Retreat "The tutor was just, so so so good!! Everything she said was gold. The most effective and brilliant class I have ever had, and it will have changed my entire novel for the better." David, 'Making a Scene' workshop

"The facilitator was such a lovely, warm and encouraging workshop leader. Inspiring materials to look at and great exercises to get us writing." Katie, Beginning to Write

"The facilitator was such a lovely, warm and encouraging workshop leader. Inspiring materials to look at and great exercises to get us writing." Katie, Beginning to Write

"The facilitator was such a lovely, warm and encouraging workshop leader and she also brought inspiring materials for us to look at and had good exercises to get us writing. "' Joanne, Time to Write Monthly Workshop

"The facilitator was such a lovely, warm and encouraging workshop leader and she also brought inspiring materials for us to look at and had good exercises to get us writing. "' Joanne, Time to Write Monthly Workshop