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Workshop Schedule

When you book your place at the Festival, you'll be asked for your workshop preferences for each of the 6 slots available. We will do everything we possibly can to accommodate your choices, but it's first come, first served. If we do have to squeeze you into your non-preferred workshops, we'll do so with an eye to what your writing projects and objectives are.

We recommend you select a good mix of workshops on technique (eg: plotting), on genre (eg: writing for kids), and on the business side of things (eg: what agents or editors are seeking). Please note that some 'workshops' will be highly interactive; others will be more in the nature of talks. All events will include ample Q&A opportunities.

if you have any questions, please contact us.

Workshop 1 (Saturday 10.20 - 11.20)

1A) Lesley Eames - Writing & selling short stories
Lesley is a prolific women’s magazine fiction writer with over sixty-five short stories published and she a creative writing tutor with Writers' News. She won the RNA’s Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2009, having been the runner up in 2008.
Many writers 'warm up' with short stories - only to come unstuck because of the desperately limited market for such work. Few authors in the UK have sold more short stories than Lesley - and she's here to pass that experience on to you.

1B) Debi Alper (info) - Points of view, voice & style
Author of critically acclaimed tough, contemporary novels (published by Orion) and a hugely respected editor of others' work.
Too many first novels fall apart because of a failure to control points of view and multiple voices. There are tricks for getting this right - and Debi is here to reveal them.


1C) Sally Spedding (info) - Safe As Houses: An Introduction to horror
A superb practitioner of contemporary horror, both as a novelist and a prize winning short story writer. Her novels include Wringland, Cloven, A night with no Stars, Prey Silence, and Come and Be Killed. A selection of her prize-winning short stories was published as Strangers Waiting in 2008. She also adjudicates national writing competitions and is an experienced workshop leader.
The workshop will give you Sally's techniques for creating the eerie and the scary. Not just for horror writers: novelists writing about anything involving the macabre or suspenseful will get loads of benefit from this class.

1D) Jeremy Sheldon (info)- Creating a sense of place
Author of classy literary fiction with Jonathan Cape, Jeremy is also a script consultant for Miramax, teaches Creative Writing at the University of London, and is an internationally respected workshop leader.
Too many first-time manuscripts feel bland - almost as though they're taking place in an empty room. This hands-on workshop will teach you to create places so real, they linger after the book has been closed.

1E) Adèle Geras (info)- Do Young Adults really need Young Adult books?
Adèle is one of the world's leading YA authors. She has published more than 90 titles for  all ages, including the young adult novels Troy (shortlisted for both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award), Ithaka, Dido and Happy Ever After. In this workshop, she'll seek to pass on her knowledge to you.
This workshop will try and work out the best way to snaffle  readers and keep their attention at a time when traditionally many young people stop reading altogether. How do you entice  them and help them cross over into becoming adult readers? What's allowed? What's forbidden? And what is a crossover novel when it's at home?

1F) John Jarrold (info) - The market for SF & fantasy
John is a hugely experienced agent and editor, who knows the SF/fantasy market better than anyone else in the UK. If you write for this market, you MUST come to this workshop.
John will talk about the market for science fiction and fantasy and how new writers should aim to shape their work to suit it.

1G) Lynne Patrick (info) - Making crime pay
Lynne is the managing editor of one of the country's few specialist crime publishers - and one created purposely to find and promote new crime writing talent.
As one of the UK's foremost crime-publishing specialists, Lynne knows more about how to break into this over-crowded market than almost anyone. What editors (including her own publishing company) are desperately looking for - and what makes them hurl manuscripts into the dustbin.

Workshops 2 (Saturday 11.50 - 12.50)

2A) Jeremy Sheldon (info) - Show don't tell: a guide for dummies
Author of classy literary fiction with Jonathan Cape, Jeremy is also a script consultant for Miramax, teaches Creative Writing at the University of London, and an internationally respected workshop leader.
"Show don't tell" - a rule more important, and more misunderstood than almost anything else in creative writing. By the end of this workshop, you'll know exactly what this rules means, when to apply it ... and when it needs to be ignored.

2B) Authonomy talk (info) - Subject awaiting confirmation
Speaker TBC
Workshop subject awaiting confirmation

2C) Toby Frost (info) - Creating Worlds
Author of the funny, energetic and wonderfully successful Space Captain Smith novels. This is SF for the modern marketplace - twisted & unforgettable. Toby is also currently writing historical fantasy and developing new Space Captain Smith adventures.
Science fiction is one of the toughest of all literary marketplaces - and Toby Frost has cracked it! If you're writing SF, then come and learn from a modern master. Moustaches should be worn, if possible.

2D) Imran Ahmad (info) - Writing your life, then selling it
Imran's biography, Unimagined, was one of the most unexpected literary & commercial hits of 2007, with a string of "Best Books 2007" awards to its name. Imran is also a famously funny & inspirational speaker.
We're all interested in the story of our own lives, but how do we make other readers share that interest? Imran knows the answers and is ready to share them. If you're writing your life story, then you must come to this workshop.

2E) Louise Berridge & Victoria Hobbs (info, info) - The Path to Publication
Victoria is a director of AM Heath, London's longest established literary agency. Victoria's client, Louise, used to be executive producer of Eastenders, before turning her talents to fiction. Her Honour & the Sword will be published by Penguin in 2010.
Louise and Victoria will talk about the process from first draft through to publication, concentrating especially on how agents and authors can work effectively together.

2F) Oliver Munson (info) - What every author should know about rights
Oliver Munson is an agent at Blake Friedmann - one of the most respected agencies in London - with a client list that includes bestsellers such Michael Ridpath.
Don't pretend. We know you've wondered about selling your movie rights. You've chosen what to wear on Oprah. Perhaps you've even picked out your Italian translator. Unfortunately, the world of rights sales is a tad more complicated than this, and Oliver is the best possible person to guide you through it. He'll focus particularly on the rights that are most impotant to authors (US sales, foreign language sales, ebooks, etc), but Blake Friedmann has an active film & TV side, so if your book does have movie potential, then don't miss this talk.

2G) Claire Siemaszkiewicz (info) - Are Ebooks the future of publishing?
Claire runs erotic e-book publisher, Total-e-bound, and is one of the few publishers to have pushed digital publishing into the frontline of their operations.
E-books are a huge deal in publishing right now, but the new format is already changing what publishers are looking for. Don't be behind the curve. Understand how to adapt your work to the emerging market. Oh, and if you have an interest in erotica, then Claire's the person to talk to about it.

Workshops 3 (Saturday 15.30 - 16.30)

3A) Adèle Geras (info) - Welcome to the Women's Fiction Ghetto
Adèle is the author of more than 90 books for all age groups. Her women's fiction has been both commercially successful and critically acclaimed - a rare combo.
Writing romantic fiction used to be easy. Girl meets boy. Problems, problems. Resolution. Bingo! These days, writers need to find new ways of dealing with the eternal topics. One of the wise women of the genre presents her thoughts.

3B) Julie Cohen (info) - Creating character
Julie is a high profile author with Headline's genre-leading Little Black Dress imprint - an eclectic and exciting writer. She's also a reader for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.
No book will succeed if the characters don't lift off the page and live on in the reader's mind. That's easier said than done, and Julie will try and tell you everything she's learned about this most crucial of the novelist's arts.

3C) Jane Johnson (info) - Fact and fiction: the exotic and the realistic
Jane is Publishing Director for Fiction for HarperCollins, concentrating on thrillers, imaginative and historical fiction. She also writes fantasy adventure for children, and historical epics (for Viking/Penguin) set in Morocco (The Tenth Gift being the best known). Jane's pseudonyms include Gabriel King and Jude Fisher.
This workshop will talk about bringing the exotic into your work - making it sing, without sacrificing the necessary sense of reality. The workshop will also touch on how to use research, and how you can use your own life as material for your fiction.

3D) Harry Bingham (info) - Plotting for success
Harry is a bestselling author of plot-driven fiction and non-fiction. He also runs the Writers' Workshop (creators of the Festival) and has huge experience in helping first time writers through to publication.
Plot matters. It matters if you are writing literary fiction. It matters if you are writing crime-thrillers or rom-coms. In an increasingly story-driven market, there are rules that you have to follow - or risk failing to interest agents. If you're not 100% sure of your plot, then this workshop is essential.

3E) Val Tyler (info) - Self-editing your children's fiction
Val is the Ottakar prize-shortlisted author of The Time Wreccas and The Time Apprentice and a hugely experienced book doctor.
This workshop will tell you how to analyse your work and fix any problems before it goes out to agents. She will concentrate especially on narrative, pace and focus.

3F) Darley Anderson (info) - How to be successfully published & make money
Darley Anderson is one of the world's best known literary agents, famous for making bestselling superstars of his clients, who include Martina Cole, Lee Child, John Connolly, Alex Barclay & countless others
Darley believes that most agents and authors don't do enough to go for the commercial jugular. That's not a mistake he makes - and it's not a mistake that his clients are allowed to make either. Darley's not a man to mince his words. If you are writing commercial fiction of any sort, then you have to hear this talk

3G) Miranda Dickinson, Sammia Rafique (info)- From Authonomy to Publication
Miranda posted her novel on Authonomy, rose to the top of the rankings ... and was snapped up by Sammia Rafique, a commissioning editor at HarperCollins' exciting young Avon imprint. Her novel, Fairytale of New York, was published in Nov 2009.
Miranda and Sammia talk about the entire process from posting work on Authonomy to getting published: the pros and cons of Authonomy; the experience of working with a pro editor; what commercial editors are looking for - and what they're not. A brilliant case study.

Workshops 4 (Sunday 9.30 - 10.30)

4A) Emma Darwin (info) - History into fiction
Emma is that rare thing: an acclaimed literary author who's graced the bestseller lists. Her historical fiction has been shortlisted and longlisted for numerous prizes and sold extensively overseas.
How do you root your fiction in history without getting stuck in the mud? The workshop will explore how to make There and Then alive in the Here and Now.

4B) Julie Cohen (info) - More than shoes & shopping
Julie is a high profile author with Headline's genre-leading Little Black Dress imprint - an eclectic and exciting writer
Chick lit needs to be frothy, fun and appealing to women. But it can't only be froth. Successful chick-lit nearly always has a depth of emotional resonance that lingers long after the end of the book. Julie reveals her secrets: transcending cliches, creating character arcs and relating to the reader.

4C) Veronica Henry (info) - Keeping all your balls in the air
Veronica has written 100s of hours of broadcast TV (credits include Holby City, Heartbeat, Doctors, etc). She's also a hugely successful novelist, with seven novels to her name. She specialises in strongly-written, character led dramas.
Life has multiple protagonists - so why not fiction? Unfortunately, too many actors can cause your story to fall apart. Using her experience as scriptwriter and novelist, Veronica will show how to structure multi-protagonist fiction and give all the characters a satisfying emotional journey.

4D) Writers from the SWWJ (info) - Writing Groups to Get You Published
Penny Legg, Silja Swaby and Jay Cole (all from the Society of Women Writers & Journalists) in discussion.
Practical advice on using writing groups to further your career. Subjects covered include: How agents think about writing groups • Aims • Size, focus and frequency • Managing groups • Contacts and networking • Constructive criticism and how to survive it • Websites • Publicity • Marketing • and much more.

4E) Emily Diamand (info) - Children in mind
Emily is one of Chicken House's countless successes. Winner of the Times Children's Fiction Competition and a bestselling, internationally successful children's author.
Writing for children isn't just about missing out the long words. This workshop will take you through some of the joys and pitfalls of writing for children, from working with a 'child's voice' through to getting your writing out to your audience.

4F) Genevieve Pegg (info) - Publishing for success
Genevieve is a commissioning editor at Orion, one of the UK's most successful publishers. Her authors include such massive sellers as Kate Mosse, Belle de Jour and Jennifer Worth.
A hugely important workshop. What do publishers want? What's involved in publishing a book? And how can an author contribute most effectively? Case study: The workshop will include a case study of A Soho Farewell, [working title] a book currently being published by Orion. With Harry Bingham.

4G) RJ Ellory (info) - A day in the Life: The Truth about Professional Writers
Roger is the author of seven novels, all published in the UK by Orion, and available in twenty-three additional languages.  He was been twice shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger, twice for the Barry Award for Best British Crime Fiction, once for the CWA Dagger in the Library, also for the Quebec Booksellers’ Prize, the 7th European Du Point, and was Winner of the Prix Du Roman Noir 2008 for ‘A Quiet Belief In Angels’.  He has also adapted this book for the screen, for the director of ‘La Vie En Rose’.
Another huge workshop. Roger Ellory is one of the master craftsmen of the contemporary thriller, and this offers his take on the job & vocation of the professional author.

Workshops 5 (Sunday 11.20 - 12.20)

5A) Emma Darwin (info) - Finding Voice
Emma is an acclaimed historical novelist, a tutor for the Open University and a hugely experienced book doctor and tutor.
Many writers will be able to produce a competent novel - but how do you make yours dazzling? Above all else, agents are looking for a compelling, distinctive, engaging voice. Emma will do all she can to help you find yours.

5B) Fiona Shaw (info) - Finding the soul of your book
Fiona burst onto the scene with Out of Me, a stunning account of postnatal breakdown, shortlisted for the MIND Prize. Fiona followed this with three novels, most recently Tell it to the Bees (Tindal Street) which was published in May 2009.
Good books reverberate for a long time in the memory. It's not the plot that we tend to remember, but the themes: the issues raised, the questions asked. The trouble is, if you approach things too directly, you'll end up sounding preachy and didactic. Fiona shows you how to find your soul without raising your voice!

5C) Harry Bingham (info) - The Prose Laboratory
Harry is a bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction. He also runs the Writers' Workshop (creators of the Festival) and has huge experience in helping first time writers through to publication.
Most submissions to agents are rejected unread. By far the commonest reason is a prose style that falls short of the standard required. This workshop will deal with all the major issues - and show you how to spot them and how to fix them

5D) Lucy Gilmour & Meg Lewis (info) - Doing it right
Lucy and Meg are editors at Harlequin Mills & Boon, the world's most successful romantic imprint.
Mills & Boon know how to create books that sell. Meet two of their editors and understand writing technique from a pair of world experts.

5E) RN (Roger) Morris (info) -- Constructing the perfect mystery
Roger writes wonderful historical crime fiction - his A Vengeful Longing was shortlisted for the 2008 CWA Dagger for best crime novel, among much else. As Roger Morris, he also writes thoughtful spare contemporary fiction, has collaborated on operas, and even published a comic book. Frighteningly versatile.
How do you construct, maintain and develop mystery? That's a challenge for any crime writer, but it's also a challenge to anyone for whom revelation and mystery lies at the heart of their novel. If that applies to you, then this workshop is a must.

Sally Spedding
Crime & horror
Workshops 1C & 5G

Jeremy Sheldon
Sense of place / Story
Workshops 1D & 2A




Debi Alper
Points of view, style, voice
Workshop 1B

John Jarrold
Market for SF & fantasy
Workshop 1F

Toby Frost
Creating Worlds
Workshop 2C

Julie Cohen
Character / Shoes & shopping
Workshops 3B & 4B




Jane Johnson
The exotic & the realistic
Workshop 3C




Harry Bingham
Plotting / Publishing success
Workshops 3D & 5B

Claire Siemaszkiewicz
Are Ebooks the future of publishing?
Workshop 2G



Val Tyler
Self-editing children's fiction
Workshop 3E





Miranda Dickinson
Workshop 3G




Emma Darwin
Art & Money / Finding Voice
Workshops 4A & 5A




Veronica Henry
Story, story, story
Workshops 4C




Emily Diamand
Flood Writer
Workshop 4E




Roger Ellory
Crime / thriller workshop
Workshop 4G




Victoria Hobbs
Working with agents
Workshop 5C




Louise Berridge
Working with agents
Workshop 5C




RN (Roger) Morris
The perfect mystery
Workshop 5E




Matt Hilton
Workshop 6A




Fiona Shaw
The business of publishing
Workshop 6B



Robin Harvie
Workshop 6G