The Jawbone Collective

Poetry, Prose and Community Storytelling

"Jawbone encouraged me to step beyond my comfort zone. From my first open mic to winning the Bard of Caer Dur contest and publishing my debut collection 'Blood on the Bramble'. Their support has always came with trust. Giving me space to develop in my own way."

– Molly Dunne - Third Bard of Cear Dur, Dorchester

JOIN THE HEARD

We Champion Under-Represented Voices

Based in Dorchester, The Jawbone Collective is a not-for-profit small press and events producer with a passion for bringing words to life. We believe that diverse, unheard voices deserve a platform and a clear pathway to publication.

We nurture creative talent and community connection through full day and community workshops, vibrant open mics, poetry showcases, and regional Bardic contests.

Beyond the stage, we provide tangible publishing opportunities through The Jawbone Journal, personal collections, community broadsheets, and local podcasts.

A collage of people holding books at different events, smiling and presenting their books.

Six women engaged in a discussion or meeting; one woman is standing and speaking, others are seated reading or taking notes at a table with coffee mugs.

People sitting and talking outside a cafe on a sunny day, with a white building that has a sign reading 'Bean on the Green' and a street with parked cars in the background.

People sitting and standing on a sidewalk in front of a row of houses, with some parked cars in the street. A building with a sign reading 'Bean on the Green' is visible.

Jawbone Word Cafe

Launching 1st August 2026.

When we first conceived the idea of The Jawbone Journal in a coffee shop in 2019, we had no idea that we would end up as custodians of an actual coffee shop. Of course there are many bookshops that can make a claim to having a coffee bar in their retail area but how many coffee bars can say they have a publisher in their cafe space?

‘Jawbone @ Bean on the Green’ is going to be a meeting place, a dreaming space, a performing space and a sometimes quiet place. Most of all we want it to be a space to continue to build the fantastic supportive community that has wrapped its arms around us since 2019.

About the cafe

The Jawbone Journal

Two women smiling and holding magazines titled 'JAWBONE Journal', standing in front of a black banner with the same title and a dinosaur skull illustration. The banner includes text about publishing, workshops, and spoken words.

The Jawbone Journal transforms raw creative sparks into beautifully finished pages. Published twice a year as an A5 perfect-bound print edition, this curated collection serves as a dedicated launchpad for emerging and underrepresented writers. Inside, you'll discover an inclusive mix of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories, alongside insightful craft insights like our "Write on Form" feature.

Led by our core editorial team of Peter Roe and Izzy Darkwood, and supported by Caroline Burrows hosting the "Write On Themes" section, our upcoming summer edition launches at the end of July. We can't wait to share these vital new literary voices with the wider world.

We pride ourselves on offering a fully supported path to publication. By guiding writers from free community sessions in Dorchester to full-day workshops in Burton Bradstock and Cerne Abbas, we help local creatives transition from early drafts to the printed page and live spoken-word performances.

Get more information

Get involved

Two women are standing in front of a poster about Caer Ddur, a place in Dorset. One woman has red hair with a floral headband, and the other has short blonde hair and is wearing a green jacket decorated with leaves.

Events

Bridport, Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland and Online

Not only do we run open mic nights across Dorchester and online – we are also always seeking opportunities to bring live spoken word events to locations across the South West. With a creative core of 16 members, we can bring diverse voices to any event. We also produce the well-loved annual Bard of Dorchester contest and OmniVerse West Dorset 2025.

Upcoming events:

Jawbone @ the Poet Laureate, Poundbury – Open mic on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Jawbone Online – Open mic on the last Monday of the month.

Bard of Dorchester Contest at The Corn Exchange on 14th September 2026

See all upcoming events

Two smiling women sitting at a table in a brightly lit room, with colorful blankets and a window with plants outside in the background.

Workshops

Various Places Across the South West & Online

Over the last four years our fully day workshops have become known by the South West creative community as a generous, enriching experience where creatives are encouraged to share and grow.

We also run free monthly community workshops at Dorchester Museum and Art Gallery
the 2nd Wednesday of the month

Explore our workshops

Our Vision & Community Impact

At The Jawbone Collective we hold a vision to reclaim the power of the spoken and written word and the transformative nature of shared narrative. We believe that when voices are given space, without judgment or pressure, they do more than just speak; they weave the fabric of a stronger, more connected neighbourhood, town, city, country and world.

"Now more than ever, the world needs empowered, expressive citizens to ensure that every voice finds its place." Megan Simson