As writers, we share our days with fictional people. So how can we make sure that our readers want to spend time with them too?
Join Lesley Parr, author of character-led children’s fiction including Fallout and The Valley of Lost Secrets for this online character creation masterclass.
Lesley will reveal how she writes engaging and authentic characters, and discusses how you can do the same by giving a little extra thought to dialogue and interaction. She'll offer her top tips for a practical approach, and also how to get to the heart of the people in your story. Lesley will also invite you to participate in a writing task of your own.
For Lesley, all stories begin and end with character. In this masterclass, she’ll shine a light on how she uses this to build other elements of story, such as setting and plot.
The masterclass will take place online via Teams. It will also be recorded so if you are unable to attend live, you'll be able to catch-up and access the recording for up to two weeks after the event has taken place. The session will end with a brief Q&A, so come ready with your questions.
Lesley Parr grew up in a South Wales steel town. Her debut, The Valley of Lost Secrets, published in 2021 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month, longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and shortlisted for both the Branford Boase and UKLA awards. Lesley’s books have won the Tir na n-Og Award (2022,2024) and Wales Children’s Book of the Year (2023), amongst others. All four of her novels so far have received CILIP Carnegie Medal nominations. A former primary school teacher, she holds an MA with distinction in Writing for Young People. Lesley now lives in England with her husband and rescue cat, Ramsay. She shares her time between writing stories, tutoring adults and shouting at rugby on the TV.
The workshop fee of £30 (incl. VAT) is 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.
This is a live online event which will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date. Please note, all event timings are in UK time.
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 bursary place available for this event as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page to find out how to apply for a bursary to the event.
- 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.
- At the speaker's discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after the masterclass.
- A link to a recording of the masterclass will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- If you'd like to receive a transcript of the session, please do let us know and we can circulate following the session.
- This 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
