I perform a variety of talks and workshops in schools, libraries, reading clubs and book festivals.
 

Talks

I offer different talks for year 4 upwards, depending on the time available and the composition of the group. My main talks fall into the following categories:

Talking with students at The Priory School, Dorking, Surrey

1. Me & My Books
   The background and inspiration for writing them, with personal anecdotes and selected readings if desired - with a chance for a question and answer period at the end, plus a signing session. This is for any size audience.
2. The Craft of Fiction
   I give my views on the essential elements needed to write really compelling stories.
3. Successful Fantasy Writing
   Hints, tips and techniques for writing powerful fantasy stories.
4. The 5 great stories
   The 5 endlessly repeated archetypes in fiction, and how to use them to create powerful stories of your own. 
5. Bespoke talks on request
   A mixture of the above and anything else that may be of special interest to the school or other group can be considered.

Workshops and individual tuition

I’m willing to be flexible about the requirements of any particular group, but my main workshops fall into the following categories:

1. The Craft of Fiction/Developing Great Characters
   We explore the key principles in writing truly compelling stories across all genres and how to develop fascinating characters that readers will love or hate. As an interactive workshop, this is best suited to groups of around 30 people or less. For larger groups a talk on the same subject with more limited audience participation is more suitable. Appropriate for all aged 9 and upward.
2. Creating fantasy worlds that readers will love to be inside
   We develop a fantasy world that is original and convincing, using ideas solely from the students themselves and their interraction. This is normally  a vibrant, often funny, session in what it takes to make fantasy a world real and compelling. Appropriate for all aged 9 and upward.
3. Tell me a picture (for younger students)
   I use characters and pictures from my own novels to stimulate the visual imaginations of the children. They go on to create their own personal images, which become the basis for an exercise in expressive descriptive writing. Suitable for all children aged 5-8.

Individual student tuition

If schools have individual students they would like me to work with personally, I am happy to do this.

If you are interested in me giving a talk or workshop, please contact me or write to the publicity department of my UK publishers, Orion Children’s books, Orion House, 5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9EA.