It's going to be a busy year for me, as an author. I have not one, but two books coming out, the first of which has its official publication day on World Book Day (March 5th). If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may have heard of the Time School series. I've...
I am sitting in a bedroom of a house dating back to the 1600s. The upstairs floor is so warped that my desk is at a slight angle. The white-washed walls are cracked and anything but smooth or symmetrical. I adore this room. It's cosy and charming and I keep finding...
Do you see social media as a positive thing? A recent discussion with friends got me thinking about my own relationship with social media. Some of these friends have come off it completely, but I'm not sure I could do that, or even if I would want to. What about you?...
Many children have no problems coming up with a story idea. Others can think of ideas, but struggle to write them down. Then there are those who not only find coming up with ideas an arduous task, they are reluctant to write at all. I’ve met all these types of...
I’d like to discuss why I think it’s useful for children to learn about creative writing from an author, but first, I’m going to start by telling you about my favourite part of the creative writing process. Initially, it’s exciting when an idea comes to me. When this...
Helping your child to prepare for writing is about more than just making sure they can write before they start school. A common mistake many parents make, especially first time ones, is to compare their child to other children. I'm as guilty of this as any one, as I...
Creative Writing Summer Workshops at Storymakers This summer, I will be running one week of workshops for 7-10 year-olds and in addition, a week of English Revision for Year 5’s. Please go to the Storymakers website to book. The summer holiday creative writing...
I’ve been thinking a lot recently, about being an introvert and what that means. I guess that’s something an introvert might typically do, but it’s helped me gain an understanding of the type of person I truly am. I often joke, there’s a reason why I’m a writer and...
Over the May Bank Holiday, I took part in the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Fair. The fair, which takes place both inside the castle and around the ground, runs from Saturday to Tuesday and this was it’s fourth year. I was there on Family Day, running workshops with...
Although many would argue handwriting is a dying art, learning to write by hand is an important part of development, covering everything from hand-eye coordination, to cognitive and fine motor skills, gross motor skills and core strength. The brain works in a...
What are the best ways for a small business to communicate with customers? In addition to being an author, I've been a freelance copywriter for seven years and I own an run a creative writing club. I may not have premises or staff, but nevertheless, I am a small...
As the year draws to a close, it always feels fitting to reflect on the year gone by. The Storymakers Creative Writing Club has grown from humble beginnings in 2017, to a fully established club, with a wonderful community. The last twelve months have been amazing. In...
I have been helping people improve their writing for a long time. Using words is a powerful way to communicate, and businesses understand that. We may live in a digital world, but we can’t ignore the need to reach out to customers, to stand out from the competition...
Did you ever have a pen pal? Did you regularly write letters to friends? Recently, I shared a picture on Instagram of a box of old letters I’d kept, dating back to my early teens. I remarked on how this box of letters is my teenage life, catalogued. It is my email...
If you have a child who finds writing difficult and doesn’t enjoy it, have you considered whether it is the physical act of writing that is holding them back, rather than a disinterest in doing it? The physical requirements for writing are extensive and may surprise...
Every year the National Literacy Trust conducts a survey among children and young people to gauge their interest and enjoyment in writing outside of school. The 2017/18 survey interviewed 47,786 UK school children aged 8-18 years, asking them questions about how often...
This week, the Young Writers looked at story openers. We examined different ways to open a story, to see which worked best for the story ideas they're currently working on. The group is currently writing stories aimed at young readers who have just moved on to...
Research by the National Literacy Trust examines attitudes towards writing among children and young adults. Much has been done in terms of studying the importance of wider reading for enjoyment and its connection to reading ability, but what about writing? The...
Many of the children who come to my creative writing club start out as reluctant writers. They have absolutely no problem talking, funnily enough, and that’s fine if they’re sharing ideas. But when it comes to actually writing these ideas down, it’s often a different...
Most children love stories and they all have amazing imaginations. With a little support and guidance, they can become a confident writer too. It goes without saying that if you want to improve at something, first you have to practice. The more you practice, the...