Essex Writers Day
Saturday 24 June, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Chelmsford Library

Pick up writing tips and inspiration from workshops led by experienced authors; join in with or listen to our popular Writers Slam and meet other writers.

Workshops

10am-11.30am
Crafting a Killer Crime novel: An introduction to writing crime fiction
Paul Gitsham

Join Essex-based crime writer Paul Gitsham for a fun, hands-on workshop looking at structuring a crime novel and how to create compelling characters.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite

10am –11.30am
The Path to Traditional Publication – taking your novel from laptop to library
Julia Stone

This workshop will demystify the steps to getting a novel published. It will explore the role of various key players – you, the agent, and the commissioning editor. How to find an agent and create ‘a pitch’ for you and your novel and, the pros and cons of traditional publication versus self-publication.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite

10am – 11.30am
Writing Characters Through Dialogue in playwriting
Clare Shaw Burgess

The workshop will look at examples of characterisation through dialogue in plays and books, will consider the pitfalls, dos and don’ts of creating characters and writing dialogue, and participants will write a piece of dialogue with two new characters they create at the workshop.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite

2pm-3.30pm
Visual prompts to spark a story
Syd Moore

Join Syd in her cabinet of curiosities and be inspired to create a character based on an object within.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite

Other Activities

11.30am -12pm
Scarlett V Clark Q&A

Award-winning CEO and founder of Smart Girl Tribe, Scarlett V Clark will be chatting to author Syd Moore about empowerment in literature and signing her book The Smart Girls Handbook.

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: library-events.essex.gov.uk

1.00-1.30pm
Writer’s Slam

Join Essex Writer’s Day very popular Writer’s Slam where participants have 3 minutes at the microphone to introduce themselves and read aloud a piece of their work, this can be prose or poetry.

Tickets: Free
Box Office: library-events.essex.gov.uk

11am-4pm
Book Fair

Various local authors will be on site to sell and sign their collections of works.

Plus other networking opportunities and other activities to take part in throughout the day – no booking needed.