The Hunting Ground is Cliff's latest book









Read the latest spine-chilling thriller from a master of dark young adult fiction.

School Talks and Workshops

I PERFORM A VARIETY OF TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

IN SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, READING CLUBS AND BOOK FESTIVALS

If you would like me to come to your school, library or festival please ring or email Jan or Kate Powling at Speaking of Books. They organise my visits, and can discuss fees and the kind of visit that will best suit you. Please ring them 0208 858 6616 or, if email suits you better, contact them on jan@speakingofbooks.co.uk

ABOUT MY TALKS

I will talk to year 4 upwards, but in the main my talks and workshops are for years 6 to 11 and fall into the following categories:

  • My books The background and inspiration for writing my books, with personal anecdotes and selected readings if desired - with a chance for a question and answer period at the end, plus a signing session.
  • The Craft of Fiction I give my views on the essential elements needed to write really compelling stories.
  • Successful Fantasy Writing Hints, tips and techniques for writing powerful fantasy stories.
  • Ghost Story Writing How to create a really suspenseful chiller. I find all age groups love this session.
  • The Four Great Stories The four endlessly repeated archetypes in fiction, and how to use them to create powerful stories of your own. Works fantastically with teens and adults.
  • Bespoke talks on request A mixture of the above and anything else that may be of special interest to the organization. Please contact me to discuss your needs.

WORKSHOPS

All workshops are highly interactive and work best with groups of 40 students or less. I’m willing to be flexible, but my main workshops fall into the following categories appropriate from year 6 to adults:

 

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 readers will identify with.

 

The Four Great Stories

We use classic and contemporary examples from story to explore the repeated archetypes in fiction, and how to use them to create powerful stories of your own. Works fantastically with teens - and adults for that matter.

 

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 interaction. This is normally a vibrant, often funny, session in what it takes to make a fantasy world real and compelling.

 

Ghost stories: Crafting a Chiller

A practical and fun workshop students enjoy immensely. 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. 

 

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.

WORKSHEETS

example worksheet page - creating great villains in your stories
click image above to view sample

I have created a number of practical worksheets to inspire students and improve their skills. Copies of these are left with the school, regardless of the workshops I'm asked to run.

Example worksheets
Worksheet examples

PRAISE FROM SCHOOLS

A big thank you for working with the class of year 7’s on creative writing skills last week. They have come up with some wonderful pieces of work since your visit. Librarian, Downsend School, Leatherhead

 

You visited our school recently and we loved it so much we were hoping you might be interested in coming again. Librarian, SouthHampstead Junior School

 

The children loved every moment of it. Head of English, St. Michael’s Primary School, Highgate

 

The whole year have had follow up lessons in story construction, which have been very effective with good outcomes. Quite frankly, we all enjoyed the day so much. You were wonderful. Head of English, Guilsborough School, Northampton.

 

It was great having you in school. The students have all been talking about your books. I would love to invite you back next year. Headmistress, Marner Primary School, Tower Hamlets