Professional Development – Writing about family
2 December @ 10:00 - 11:30 GMT

Join Maame Blue in this taster workshop that approaches writing about family from different angles, whether you’re telling a fictional or nonfiction story.
#SoAatHome Professional Development events – free for SoA Members
As of Feb 2025, #SoAatHome professional development sessions will continue to be free as a member benefit. However, for non-members, the price is £35 including VAT.
Not a member? Sign up here with our special #SoAatHome offer and get 20 per cent off for the first year of membership – use code SOAATHOME20.
Programme
- Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Lilly Brend-Fish – Events & Engagement Manager, SoA (3 mins)
- Presentation by Maame Blue (60 mins)
- Comfort break (5 mins)
- Q&A with audience – moderated by Lilly Brend-Fish, SoA (20 mins)
- Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
Who is this session for?
This session is for emerging writers and those with a work in progress.
What will this session cover?
In this session, participants will:
- Explore context for writing about family
- Use conflict to drive your narrative
- Consider the benefits of centring one family character to anchor the narrative.
Send us your questions
If you would like to send questions in advance, email LBrendfish@societyofauthors.org with ‘Writing about family’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.
#SoAatHome Fundraising Bookshop
Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the #SoAatHome. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.
The Line-up
Maame Blue
Maame Blue is the author of two novels; Bad Love, which won the 2021 Betty Trask award, and The Rest Of You, published internationally in 2024. Her short stories have appeared in Joyful, Joyful, Not Quite Right For Us and New Australian Fiction 2020. She has written for multiple publications and teaches for City Lit, Arvon and The Stinging Fly.
Instagram: @maame_blue | Threads: @maame_blue | Website: maamebluewrites.com
Need to know
Accessibility
- Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
- If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org
Before the event
- Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
- If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
- Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails
During the event
- This online event will take place on Zoom Webinar; you will not be visible on screen but will be able ask questions via the Q&A function or interact via the chat box
- This event will be recorded but you won’t be on screen
- Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
- This event is 90 minutes
After the event
- Hashtag for this event: #SoAatHome
- SoA Members and paid attendees of this event will be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel (password protected) or members can access via the SoA website.
Booking
SoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID, please email info@societyofauthors.org.
Non-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below, complete the registration form, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment.
For event or registration questions, email events@societyofauthors.org.
SoA Members – Free
Non-Members – £35
Register - SoA Member
Please use the booking form to register for this event.
Please email
events@societyofauthors.org if you have any questions.