Writing for Young Adults with Melvin Burgess & Patrice Lawrence, Guest Dean Atta

Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon 1st Nov - Sat 6th Nov, 2021
12:00am

Location
Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire , IV4 7HT

Are you passionate about writing fiction with young adult protagonists? This week will give you the motivation you need to develop your knowledge and skills. Through individual and group exercises, plus individual tutorials, you will explore ways to create and develop authentic and relatable characters and story arcs, find your narrative voice, write compelling beginnings and tackle controversial and sensitive issues.

Melvin Burgess was born in 1954 and was brought up in Sussex and Berkshire. He started writing in his twenties, and wrote on and off for fifteen years before having his first book, The Cry of the Wolf, published in 1990. In 1997 his controversial bestseller Junk won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal (a prize for which four of his novels have been shortlisted). Junk was also shortlisted for the 1998 Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year. The Guardian has described him as the godfather of YA fiction.

Patrice Lawrence is an award-winning writer for children and young people. Her debut YA novel, Orangeboy, won The Bookseller YA Prize and The Waterstones Prize for Older Children’s Fiction, and was shortlisted for The Costa Children’s Book Award. Indigo Donut, won The Bristol Crimefest YA prize. Her recent books include Toad Attack for younger readers and Diver’s Daughter, inspired by UK Black and Asian history. Patrice has contributed to several short story anthologies including Malory Towers: New Class of Malory Towers. Her third YA novel, Rose, Interrupted was published in July 2019.

Dean Atta was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. His debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. His Young Adult novel in verse, The Black Flamingo, won the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, and was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, YA Book Prize and Jhalak Prize.

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If you want to attend a course with a family member, or someone within your extended household please do let us know and we can arrange use of our former twin rooms. These are available at £600 per person.

 

Covid Update 19th Aug 2021 (subject to change): Please note, due to Covid-19, all residential courses and retreats at this time will be fully catered, offering delicious and nutritious meals and snacks to allow you to fully immerse yourself in your writing. Prior to your visit with us, we will provide information about our virus mitigation measures and send you our Covid-19 guidance notes.

Bookings