The Stay-at Home! Festival was created by writer CJ Cooke in partnership with Paper Nations in March 2020 as an international online literature festival designed to (a) prevent loneliness, (b) champion connectivity and community amidst social distancing, and  (c) celebrate writing and reading as tools to achieve (a) and (b)! It is a free and completely online festival with workshops, readings, panels and Q&A sessions by writers of all genres that people all over the world can enjoy from their sofa!

The programme featured 220 authors and 145 events from 27th March until 11th April 2020, with subjects ranging from poetry to novel writing and nonfiction, career advice, wellbeing and mindfulness, mental health, and publishing. 

All events were live, though we do have a few events that run throughout the project, and recordings may be available at a future date. 

If you would like to help us ensure the festival can continue for another year, please fill in this survey.