A nude writing session is to be held at this month’s Bournemouth Writing Festival in partnership with British Naturism.
The private, ticket-only event will be led by Poet Jon Seagrave and invite participants to shed their inhibitions, distractions and clothes in search of literary inspiration.
It takes place just before the start of the festival on April 23 at Springbourne Library.
Festival Director Dominic Wong said: “Whilst this session will be a ‘first’ for the festival, naked writing certainly isn’t new in literary circles.
“Agatha Christie was said to be a huge fan, whilst Ernest Hemingway not only stripped, but also stood up naked to write.
“Indeed, when faced with writer’s block the great Victor Hugo was said to have ordered his manservant to take all his clothes and leave him with only a pen and paper, so he would
have nothing left to do except sit and write.
“Who knows, maybe this year’s festival will inspire the author of the next Les Misérables!”
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is now in its third year and is a diverse celebration of creativity designed to inspire writers from any background and at any stage of their creative journey.
The event offers over 100, free and ticketed writing events and activities – including expert talks, workshops, panels, networking, and walks – at venues across Bournemouth Town Centre.
Dominic said: “The writing workshop will feature a mix of naturists and non-naturists who will all be nude.
“But this will be delivered and managed with the utmost discretion and respect thanks to our partnership with British Naturism, which has embraced the idea, advised us on protocols, and is marketing it to their diverse and multi-talented membership as we speak.”
Andrew Welch, spokesman for British Naturism, said: “Social nudity is on the rise in the UK with more and more people eager to ditch their clothes along with the stresses of daily life and experience the freedom it brings.
“We’re delighted, therefore, to be involved in this new activity, giving people to choice to follow in the footsteps of such famous authors and find their creativity in a perhaps unexpected way.”