WriteEvents

WriteEvents

Everything you always wanted to know about book events but were afraid to ask

Tutors: Clare Helen Welsh and Fiona Barker 

Format: 3 x 1hr sessions followed by 1 x 2hr session all run via Zoom, with course notes and a max of 12 writers

Day/Time: Mondays 6-7pm

Start date: 7th February 2022

Cost: £99

Who is it for?

Any author who’d like to know more about preparing for and carrying out events, from school visits to festivals to book launches.

Course preparation:

Attendees will be sent a questionnaire asking about their existing experience and expectations in terms of events. What are they writing and what would they like to get out of the course? What are their worst fears about events?

Session 1:

An introduction to each other and to different types of events: school, bookshop, library, festivals. Thinking about your skill set. Go through worst fears.

Session 2:

How to find and approach contacts to arrange events. Getting the admin right pre-event including when and how much to charge, DBS and insurance. Setting  expectations re group size. An overview of school expectations including differences according to educational key stage. Building the excitement pre-visit.

Session 3:

Ideas for content chunks; intro, reading, quizzes, craft activities, games, songs, planning for classroom extension activities, Q&A, book sales etc. A discussion about whether to go hi or lo-tech. Exploring some ‘what if?’ scenarios.

Session 4:

A chance for participants to try out a 5 minute ‘chunk’ of content based on their own book. The group and tutors will give feedback. Active participation is optional but advised especially for those who haven’t done any events previously. 

Book your place here:

Clare is a former primary school teacher turned children’s author living in South West England. She is the author of over 50 books, including picture books and early readers with clients such as Andersen Press, Harper Collins, Little Tiger Press, Nosy Crow, Maverick, Pan Macmillan and Quarto. Clare loves all opportunities to work with young readers and their families. In fact, she loves doing events SO MUCH she has started the Write Events course with author chum, Fiona Barker! 

Fiona Barker’s first picture book Amelie and the Great Outdoors was self-published in 2016. She has gone on to be traditionally published with two books with Tiny Tree Children’s Books and more coming from Scholastic and Quarto. She loves events and is currently Writer In Residence at The Marist School in Sunninghill where she is working with staff and pupils to promote reading for pleasure.