MONDAY 15 - SUNDAY 11
Carol Batton - Manchester's unique poetic talent, Batton's works can be seen in the window of the Green Room. Green Room, Whitworth Street West, City centre (615 0500).

WEDNESDAY 17
Eve's Back - A feminist networking magazine for women congregates every first and third Wednesday of the month. Contact 881 6989 or 860 4285. Pankhurst Centre, 60/62 Nelson Street (273 5673). 7pm-9pm.
Literary Lunch - Rageh Omaar, Josceline Dimbleby and Santa Montefiore appear at this literary event. Omaar's new book Revolution Day (Viking) is a powerful account of Iraq under seige. Dimbleby will read from her new book, A Profound Secret (Doubleday) which tells the story of her great grandmother set in a turbulent period of English history, and Montefiore talks about The Swallow and the Hummingbird (Hodder & Stoughton) which tells of a man returning to his Devon home, but irrevocably changed by the horrors of war. Lowry Hotel, The Lowry Hotel, Chapel Wharf, Salford (827 4000). 1pm - 3.30pm. £35. Margaret Brown on 01423 772217.
Identity Black Writers' Workshop - Commonword group for African, Caribbean, Chinese and Asian writers, meets on a termly basis. Commonword, 6 Mount Street (entrance on Bootle Street) (832 3777). 7pm-9pm.

THURSDAY 18
My Blue Heaven - It might seem like hell for City fans at the moment, but they are, after all, renowned for their optimism. Dante Friend appears along with former City greats Alex Williams, Peter Barnes, Roy Little, Paul Lake and Tommy Booth to talk about his book My Blue Heaven (Empire) which features players recalling their favourite games. Stockport Waterstone's, 86, Merseyway, Stockport (474 1455). £1.
Chorlton Folk Club - Music, floor singers and the occasional bit of poetry. South Manchester Cricket Club, Ellesmere Road, Chorlton (881 1921). 9pm. £1 (voluntary).
Freelance Journalism - Hulme Adult Education Centre, Hulme Library, Hulme Walk (226 8411). 1-3pm. 226 1416.

FRIDAY 19
Manky Poets - A night of verse and good company with guest poets Mindy Meleyal and Carter performing. Mindy is a poet, playwright and Egyptian dancer, while Carter is, we are reliable informed, "an expert in gerbils and cardigans." Which is perhaps explained by the fact that both poets are featured in the anthology Cardigans and Gerbils and Other Things to Do with Being a Dyke (Hot Press). Or maybe not. Anyway, there's all that plus floor poets and live music. Enjoy. Chorlton Library, Manchester Road, Chorlton (881 9568). 7.30pm. £2(£1 - voluntary). 862 9275/07811717635. copland.smith@lineone.net.

SATURDAY 20
Cultureword National Black Writers & Publisher Conference - The second such conference which gives writers and readers of black writing the chance to meet up and talk with each other, as well as with major figures from the world of poetry, fiction and publishing. The conference will include panel sessions on poetry and fiction, as well as launching the second Shorelines National Black First Chapter competition. Zion Arts Centre, Stretford Road, Hulme (226 1912). conference 10.30am - 5.30pm. £15(£10). Admission includes evening entertainment at the Green Room 7.30pm-2am.
Northern Gay Writers - Open to all lesbian and gay writers. Commonword, 6 Mount Street (entrance on Bootle Street) (832 3777). 2-4pm. 236 2773.

MONDAY 22
Peter Riley and R F Langley - Stockport born Riley is now based in Cambridge - his latest work is Alstonefield (Shearsman Books) which explores his preoccupation with a village in Dovedale. Langley, meanwhile, is inspired by the Suffolk landscape and his Selected Poems (Carcanet)was published in 2000. Bolton Octagon, Howell Croft South, Bolton (01204 520661). 7.30pm. £4(£2). 01204 520 661.
Reading Group - Book group which meets every other Monday. This week the book up for discussion is The Child in Time by Ian McEwan (Vintage). New members welcome. Withington Library, Wilmslow Road, Withington (445 1991). 7pm-8pm. Free. Contact Tim Shearer 445 0546 or timothyshearer@yahoo.com.
Monday Night Group - One of Manchester's most long established and respected writers' groups, co-ordinated by Commonword and open to all. Commonword, 6 Mount Street (entrance on Bootle Street) (832 3777). 7.30pm-9.30pm. 236 2773.
n Survivors' Poetry Manchester - Run by and for survivors of the mental health system, sharing ideas and skills in a supportive environment. Commonword, 6 Mount Street (entrance on Bootle Street) (832 3777). 2pm-4pm. Information from Clare on 226 8264.

TUESDAY 23
Scriptwriting for Television - A writing group developing ideas and scripts. Phone Glenda Cox on 226 8411. Hulme Adult Education Centre, Hulme Library, Hulme Walk (226 8411). 1pm-3pm.
The Writers' Workshop - This Didsbury-based weekly meeting has been running for 22 years now, encouraging writers of all abilities to develop their work. The focus is on getting published, with discussions on literary agents etc, as well as the backbone of the evening - people reading out their work for constructive criticism. Didsbury Methodist Church, Sandhurst Road, Didsbury (431 4717). 7.30pm. £1.50. Info from Philip Caveney on 431 4717.
Womanswrite - Encouraging and stimulating workshop just for women. All levels of experience welcome. Commonword, 6 Mount Street (entrance on Bootle Street) (832 3777). 11am-1pm. 832 3777 or email cathy@commonword.org.uk.

WEDNESDAY 24
Identity Black Writers' Workshop - See Wednesday 17.

THURSDAY 25
Steve Haywood - Haywood discusses his book Fruit Flies Like a Banana: England by Canal and Classic Car (Summersdale). On his 50th birthday, Haywood decided to explore the country via narrow boat and Triumph Herald in an attempt to define what Englishness is, I'd have thought. Which pretty much defines what Englishness is. Stanfords, 39 Spring Gardens (831 0250. 6.30pm. £2. Tickets should be reserved in advance.
Chorlton Folk Club - See Thursday 18.
Freelance Journalism - See Thursday 18.