Young writing project celebrates part of Exeter

Sirisha Damarla said her poem was inspired by a hair salon on Fore Street

A booklet of stories inspired by an area in Devon has been published.

The Fore Street Stories pamphlet was produced by 12 young writers under the age of 30 who have written a series of poems and stories to celebrate Fore Street in Exeter.

The project was part of a creative writing challenge by the bookshop Bookbag in McCoy's Arcade with support from the Creative Arc Programme.

Braids of Home, written by Sirisha Damarla, is based on a hair salon on Fore Street.

Ms Damarla said she was inspired by the shop where her "dark curly hair can call home".

She said: "Since I moved to the UK I haven't been able to find a place that can take care of my hair the way that I was raised to care for it.

"When they opened up, it was this complete shock."

'A sensory experience'

Writer Tabitha Blurton said the vegan cafe Sacred Grounds was an inspiration for her poem in the booklet.

"I've made it a sensory experience I would say, it's kind of a lot about what you hear and what you see and kind of what you're around in the atmosphere when you're there," she said.

Other poems and stories include a play set in Crankhouse Coffee focusing on climate activism and community and poems that connect tea and the meaning of home - inspired by the tea shop House Of Hope And Mercy In The Jungle.

The project was part of a creative writing challenge created by Bookbag

Charlie Richards, producer of the creative writing challenge, said the book had received a great response.

She said: "It's the first time we're run a writing project and published something.

"What was clear was the love that people have for the area and that came through in their writing."

The project ran from June to November with a budget of about £7,000 - including the summer mentorship, a 48-hour challenge weekend and printed pamphlets.

Coach Davina Quinlivan said inspiration was all around in the area.

"From Fore Street you can see the top of Holden Belvedere, which is the highest point in Exeter, we're not far from the River Exe as well so we have this lovely combination of town, of city, of place," she said.