Headlined by Patrice Lawrence MBE

Patrice will kick off the events of the day by being interviewed live by First Story students on the Lady Mitchell Hall stage. Patrice is the author of nine books including Eight Pieces of Silvia, Orangeboy and Splinters of Sunshine. She has been awarded the inaugural Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize, the Waterstones Prize for Older Children’s Fiction, and the Bookseller YA Prize. She was also shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award.

Workshops led by talented writers

Students will have ample opportunity to meet, work with and learn from diverse professional writers, this year including Dan Simpson, Theresa Lola, Xanthi Barker, Jasmine Cooray, Jim Hall, Sonya Hundal, Paula Rawsthorne, Owen Craven-Griffiths, Kevin Fegan, Andy Craven-Griffiths, Becky Cherriman, Nick Toczek, Irene Lofthouse, Emily Diamand, Dan Ingram Brown, Nik Perring, Ben Mellor, Jamie Thrasivoulou, Khadijah Ibrahiim, and Debris Stevenson.

MC’ed by Khadijah Ibrahiim

Throughout the day, events on the main stage of Lady Margaret Hall will be ably hosted by the celebrated poet (and First Story Writer-in-Residence), Khadijah Ibrahiim. Khadijah is the Artistic Director of Leeds Young Authors and the Producer of Leeds Youth poetry Slam festival.

Young writers showcase

Teachers and writers are encouraged to nominate up to two pieces of outstanding writing by students in their First Story group. It can be poetry or prose, on any theme, up to five minutes’ reading length.

Entries will be judged by headliner Patrice Lawrence, with up to ten young writers being invited to read their work live on stage!