Join Olivia Chapman as she leads this workshop sharing practical tips on how to write a synopsis for submission to an agent, producer or for a competition. In order to participate fully, you will need to have a complete story (in whatever form) which you can talk about from start to finish. Although you do…
Join Author Vaseem Khan as he leads this session covering the essentials of writing series fiction, i.e. fiction that features returning characters and settings. We will explore examples of brilliant series across different genres such as crime, fantasy and romance, and examine the key ingredients that make such fiction successful. The session will detail how to create narrative arcs that ‘grow’ your characters, how to develop overarching themes, and the elements of world-building that make readers consistently come back for more. We will also discuss what agents and editors are currently looking for in new series pitches. To access the recording, please input the following password: S3riesFiction1310
Join Los Angeles-based illustrator and joint ALCS Educational Writers’ Award winner, Ellen Surrey for a colourful, Halloween-themed sketch session to kick off the spooky season. Inspired by her love of painting and printmaking, Ellen will walk you through a technique she often uses in her sketchbook to create multiple colours with a limited palette. This…
Making enough money from book sales alone is hard. So how do most children’s authors and illustrators make a living? Our expert panel Tọlá Okogwu, Jo Nadin, Rikin Parekh and Steve Cole will talk about income streams including making the most of both traditional publishing and self-publishing, school visits, funding opportunities, teaching and more. This…
Substack can provide a powerful tool for authors to grow their audience and connect with readers. It combines blogging, social media and newsletters, with the option to earn from paid-for subscriptions. In this session you’ll learn how to set up your Substack the right way, consider your launch, explore monetization options and grow sustainably and…
You’ve written your book. You’ve researched agents. You’ve taken the leap and sent your query and then you wait. What happens next? For many, it’s a polite reply “thank you, but this isn’t right for us.” Sometimes you might not hear back at all. Both scenarios can sting, and for some writers, that rejection is…
Grab a cuppa and get to know author and founder of Black British Book Festival, Selina Brown. Selina is in conversation with author and activist, Karen Arthur, to discuss her work and career and to offer a glimpse into her creative routines.
If you love the escape of listening to audio drama, the freedom of writing audio drama, or you just want to find out more about the medium, join industry experts as we unpick what makes a truly great audio play hosted by SoA Scriptwriters (SWG) Committee Member Robin Mukherjee. Panellists include fellow SWG committee members James Clarke and Sean Grundy; this year’s Imison Award winner, Sylvia Anne Parker; and Imison Award shortlistee Sherise Blackman. This event was in conjunction with our Scriptwriters Group (SWG).
As writers, do we constantly juggle inspiration with self-doubt? Can this lead us to question every word we write, even when we have a track record of being successfully published? How does this impact our output and ability to cope with the inevitable rejections all writers face? Is self-doubt a necessary part of the creative…
This session on neurodiversity and disability spotlights the work of Sofia Brizio, an Italian writer, translator and editor based in Wales. Sofia lives with cerebral palsy and writes about disability rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and trans-inclusive intersectional feminism. She is currently a PhD researcher in Media Diversity at Birmingham City University. Chaired by Francesca Sobande, a…
This more advanced session focuses on taking things to the next level and growing on TikTok. If you’re already set up on the platform but want to use it more strategically, you’re in the right place. Perhaps you’re struggling to connect with readers effectively, or perhaps you’re looking for some fresh, practical ideas for content…
Writing is often characterised as a solitary act but take a look at the acknowledgements page of any book and it’s clear that it takes a village. Tom Jeffreys, Mai-Anh Vu Peterson, Noreen Masud and Mohamed Tonsy discuss bringing together writers and book workers involved in a range of collective end endeavours, from building writing communities, to organising as workers to improve labour conditions, to inspiring possibilities of collaborative writing projects. This event was in conjunction with the Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS)
