MEMBERS of the LGBTQ+ community who have their own story to tell, could use enforced isolation to put pen to paper.

A new book written by and contributed to by members of the Isle of Wight's LGBTQ+ community will be published later this year.

Out On An Island, a project run by StoneCrabs Theatre Charity and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is looking for prose, historical themed articles and autobiographical experiences telling the story of what it has meant to be part of the community on the Island.

Following publication, 350 copies of the book will be sent for free to heritage archives and museums to populate national archives with LGBTQ+ stories.

Writers whose work is selected will receive two copies of the book when it is launched at the Isle of Wight Literary Festival — scheduled to take place in October.

The deadline for contributions, which should be no longer than 1,500 words, is June 2.

They should be sent to hello@outonanisland.co.uk with the subject line Out On An Island Writing Submission.

Project manager Caroline Diamond said: "Although we have put our events and face-to-face activities on hold, we remain active on social media and busy planning our exhibition which launches at Quay Arts on September 19."

The project is also keen to support anyone who is feeling isolated during lockdown, and will be holding online Zoom meetings with anyone who would like to join them.

Franko Figueiredo, artistic director the group, said: “We are so excited to hear personal accounts and historical stories. We can’t promise we’ll use all the work we receive, but we’ll do our best.”

Out On an Island can be contacted by emailing hello@outonanisland.co.uk or calling 07786 080 203. You can also follow Out On An Island on social media @OutOnAnIslandIW