Why Writers Matter

Picture of Martin Reed

Martin Reed

Martin was the SoA's Head of Communications from 2016 to 2024.

The SoA fully supports its sister organisation the Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) in its new #WhyWritersMatter campaign and encourages everyone to get involved.

The #WhyWritersMatter campaign is designed to remind us of the value and importance of writers, and the role they play in our lives. TWUC is asking all Canadians why they think writers matter in today’s world and we would like to do the same with UK writers. The Authors’ Guild of America will be doing the same and we hope to hear voices worldwide affirming Why Writers Matter.

Writers, politicians and public figures are offering their own thoughts on #WhyWritersMatter:

Writers are the nearest we’ve got so far to inventing telepathy and time travel.

— Emma Donoghue, Author

The best writing holds us close and gives us courage. By changing a reader, it can change the world. In these times, when we are saturated with opinion rather than thought, and distraction rather than solace, the best writing is as essential as ever. 

— Anne Michaels, Toronto Poet Laureate

Use the hashtag #WhyWritersMatter on Twitter and Facebook, leave your comments below or email your reasons to us here or TWUC here.

The TWUC launched the campaign today (2 June) in conjunction with the inaugural Canadian Writers’ Summit (June 15 – 19, 2016) in Toronto at which our Chief Executive Nicola Solomon will be speaking.  You can find out more about the campaign here

11 February 2026

Catch up on the Translation Prizes ceremony at the British Library, with the event recording and photographs from the night.

10 February 2026

Tonight we shine the spotlight on the often “invisible” creativity of translators, at a ceremony announcing the winners of our 2025 Translation Prizes.  

4 February 2026

Seven shortlisted writers announced ahead of the BBC Audio Drama Awards winners ceremony on 1 March