Writing the River

Free online writing workshop inspired by the River Tweed, brimming with creative prompts, personal reflections & colourful border folklore.

Join us for a refreshing dip in a river of stories, with time to immerse yourself in your own watery narrative.

This free online workshop provides inspiration by diving into Tweed Stories, a growing archive of community memories connected to the River Tweed, and splashing about with Wilson’s Tales, stories of the border country collected by Tweedsmouth’s John Mackay Wilson in the 1830s.

In 2025, a local team began gathering Tweed stories and memories. The archive they are creating and sharing as part of Destination Tweed’s major river restoration project is both legacy and inspiration. In 1832, John Mackay Wilson, editor of the Berwick Advertiser, began collecting and publishing stories of Border rivers, moors, coast and communities. These were soon international bestsellers, read across Britain, America and Australia.

One evening, two projects, two centuries of stories inspired by the same stretch of water – and your chance to add a new narrative or adapted tale to the archives.

The session will include:

· A brief overview of Tweed Stories and Wilson’s Tales projects

· Creative prompts for real time writing exercises, inspired by the Tweed

· Examples of new and historic writing from the projects’ archives

· Opportunities for new writing, from adding your river reflections and memories to Tweed Stories to reworking or creating a Wilson’s Tale

Whether you live near the Tweed, love to explore the Borders or are a virtual visitor from source to sea, you’re invited to write with us – and afterwards, if you’d like to, you can add your memory, reflection or river-related special place to the archive.

Free to attend. Pre-booking essential.

Please note: there is no obligation to share your own writing on the night or after the event – but we hope you will be inspired to do so!