Are you a secret writer of poetry for children? Or are you ready to begin exploring how to get your poems published?
Join Laura Mucha, who will talk about her career transition from lawyer to poet and author, how she uses poetry to be playful but also to broach mental health issues, and how poetic techniques influence everything she writes – from picture books for children to narrative non-fiction for adults.
The Writing Poetry masterclass is always a popular session within our festival line-up, and attendees can expect Laura to guide you through some simple exercises, share helpful takeaway tips, and answer any questions you might have.
Fun, playful, creative and inspiring, this session is designed to get your creative brain in gear and to encourage you to think about your writing in a new way. As such, it's open to allcomers, so whether you're brand new to poetry or someone with a collection that's ready to go, we hope you can join us!
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This session forms part of our Children's Writers & Illustrators Festival 2025. A range of ticket-types are available to purchase, and to view our full 2025 festival line-up, please visit our Weekend Pass page.
Laura Mucha is an ex-lawyer turned poet and Author-in-Residence in the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge. Her writing has won multiple international awards and been featured on TV, radio and public transport, as well as in hospitals, hospices, prisons, books, magazines and newspapers around the world.
Her books have been described as ‘stunningly original’ (BookTrust), ‘fantastic’ (Daily Mail), ‘brilliant’ (The Telegraph), ‘a must for every school library and classroom’ (The School Librarian) and ‘a marvellous feat’ (Richard Curtis). When not writing, Laura spends her time visiting schools around the world and working with organisations such as the Royal Society of Medicine, National Literacy Trust and UNICEF to try to improve the lives of children.
And There's More... Pitch Your Work to a Literary Agent!
Reserving a place at this masterclass entitles you to a place at our literary agent panel discussion, which begins at 14.45 on Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Two specialist children’s agents will join us to critique your pitches live, offer general guidance and advice on the submission process for both authors and/or illustrators, and take questions via a live Q&A.
Ahead of this session, you will be invited to submit your own novel pitch. A select number of pitches will then be chosen by our agents, and critiqued during the session itself! Look out for an email from W&A in days leading up to the festival, which will contain all the information you need about how to submit your pitch.
Festival Raffle
Every festival attendee is automatically entered into our festival raffle, while weekend pass holders receive two raffle entries. The raffle will be drawn at the end of the festival, with the following prizes up for grabs:
3rd prize: Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2024 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
2nd prize: complimentary place at any W&A evening masterclass (RRP £30) + Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2024 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
1st prize: gratis Opening Chapters editing service (RRP £240/£380)
Testimonials from 2023 and 2024 Festivalgoers
"Treated me like a professional, motivated artist"
"Inspiring, informative, inclusive & confidence building."
"Excellent speakers, a well thought out and balanced programme, very inspiring and enjoyable."
"Made a few little idea's into a realistic possibility of being published one day; something between a big hug & a kick up the proverbial bum."
"Practical tips, inspiring and well organised."
"Something for everyone currently writing for children."
"Inspirational. I felt like I had been immersed in a world of children’s literature and heard the perspectives of many from the industry."
"Such a great sense of community and lots of really interesting workshops and talks"
"Inspiring, uplifting and made me want get back to my desk and write :-)"
"Really feels like it has been totally designed with writers in mind."
"Absolutely FANTASTIC! [...] I'm new to the world of writing - and I wasn't expecting much as a result - but I have to say that it completely knocked my socks off in every way."
"Every live session left me with loads of notes in my notebook and really inspired."
"A lovely way to enter this world and get some helpful, encouraging advice."
A booking for this masterclass gives you access to three hours of festival content. This is made up of a real-time masterclass with Laura Mucha (10.30-12.00, Saturday 22nd March 2025) and a live panel with two literary agents (14.45-16.15, Sunday 23rd March, 2025). You will also receive a single entry to our festival raffle.
This festival will take place online in full, and will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions, links, and full guidance will be circulated for the above in the week leading up to the festival.
Any event materials associated to individual masterclasses will be made available to attendees at the author's discretion, and all recordings will be made available for a time-limited period.
An single masterclass booking is priced at £40 (inc. VAT), and payable in full online.
Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on events@writersandartists.co.uk so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made one Weekend Pass+ available as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page for further information about how to apply. All bursary applications must have been submitted for consideration by 2nd March 2025
- At the author’s discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after their real-time masterclass.
- A link to a recording of live masterclasses will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- Each event will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email AccessWA@bloomsbury.com