Wirdsmit was a creative writing group conceived in 2011 by writers Alison Flett and Amber Connolly for children and young people aged 8-15 living in Orkney. Run by Amber Connolly and nitially under the umbrella of Orkney Library and Archive, it became part of the George Mackay Brown Fellowship in 2012 and of Writing Orkney in 2025.
The group met regularly throughout the year and members enjoyed the time they spent writing together. Latterly, sessions were led by writer Gabrielle Barnby and planned with input from the group on the writing activities they wanted to try. In a typical session there would be a warm-up exercise, a stimulus for writing and the chance to read and listen to each other’s work-in-progress. Sharing was encouraged; equally, no one had to read aloud or show their work at times when they preferred not to.
Over the years local and nationally known writers have led workshops for the group. Some have remarked that they wish a group like Wirdsmit had existed when they were younger.
When in 2025, Gabrielle Barnby moved on from running the group, we tried very hard to find someone to take over, but no new potential group leader came forward. Sadly we felt we had to suspend the group, with the proviso that we would start it up again if we could find someone suitable to lead it.
Comments from parents showed that they appreciated the group too:
“Our daughter thoroughly enjoyed her years at Wirdsmit under Amber and then Gaby. It was a great place to be with like-minded people developing creative skills.”
“I am extremely grateful and supportive of the work Gaby, Wirdsmit and Writing Orkney have done. The English skills that my three oldest daughters have are due in some part to the Wirdsmit initiative.”
Three anthologies of Wirdsmit’s writings have been published by the GMB Fellowship: Wirdsmit: A Sea of Stories, Word Ribbons and Spring Wark. The last of these includes a selection of writing in English and Orcadian from Sanday, Stronsay and Westray Junior High Schools as well as writing and drawings by Wirdsmit members. You can read more about Wirdsmit’s publications by using the links at the foot of the page.
Poems and prose written during a workshop with RSPB officers and writer Yvonne Gray were also used in Hen Harrier, a booklet published by the RSPB illustrated with drawings and paintings from pupils at Firth Primary School.
Wirdsmit also commissioned That Bright Lifting Tide: Twelve Orkney Writers to introduce not only young writers in Orkney but others too to the variety of writers and writing in the islands. The booklet was compiled and edited by writer Alison Miller as part of a year-long project celebrating the richness of Orkney’s literary and storytelling heritage.
Wirdsmit has had links with other organisations in Orkney, for example the RSPB, and has run an open session as part of the Orkney Nature Festival each year 2015-19.
Sessions were free of charge. These aimed to reflect the interests of its members who were encouraged to share in the selection and planning of activities. During lockdown becuse of COVID -19, sessions were held online on Zoom.
Some of Wirdsmit’s writing activities were shared on the group’s public page on Facebook.
Publications
Wirdsmit: A Sea of Stories
Word Ribbons
Spring Wark
Hen Harrier (out of print)
Featured image: Iain Ashman
Writing Orkney 