Myth / Maiden / Muse: Writing Feminine Folklore with Sophie Parkes

Join Sophie Parkes for an exploration of the powerful female figures of British folklore, from fairies and mermaids to witches and the ancient sheela-na-gig. This workshop delves into these mythic figures, uncovering their stories and the strange, symbolic roles they’ve played in shaping our cultural imagination.

Through storytelling, group discussion and creative exercises, you’ll delve into the folklore surrounding these figures, understanding their roles in mythic traditions and how to draw inspiration from their enduring power. 

Sophie Parkes

Sophie Parkes is a writer of novels, short fiction, and music journalism with a PhD in creative writing and folklore from Sheffield Hallam University. Her historical novel Out of Human Sight (2023) was shortlisted for the NorthBound Book Award, and in 2017 she won the Arvon Award for her short stories inspired by English folk songs. She also authored the official biography of folk musician Eliza Carthy, Wayward Daughter (2012). Sophie teaches creative writing at Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Arts Universities and leads community workshops including Mossley Writers.

Weird Women

Weird Women is a creative programme from Levenshulme Old Library celebrating the strange, the uncanny, and the unexplained. Led by and designed for women-identifying participants, each session offers a safe and supportive space to explore the darker, more mysterious sides of creativity.

All Weird Women events are free to attend as we believe in making creative spaces as accessible as possible. However, we recommend those who are to support our work make a donation of £10 when booking. Every contribution helps us continue running events like this at Levenshulme Old Library, supporting artists, writers and facilitators in our neighbourhood.

Weird Women is open to all women, including cis and trans women. If you have any questions about accessibility or participation, feel free to get in touch - we’re happy to help.