Are you a writer of fiction and/or script, looking to develop your craft? Do you want to understand more about the process of getting your work into the world from the people who know it best, such as editors, literary agents and producers?
We’re delighted to be partnering with the Open University to offer a full day of in-person advice to help you take your writing to the next level. You will get the chance to hear from fiction authors, playwrights and screenwriters who will each share their top writing tips, help you to develop your craft, and offer guidance on how to ensure your work is ready for publication or production (as well as sharing insight into their own journeys).
Our line-up has been purpose-built to provide a range of guidance on the writing craft across both fiction and script, as well as insight into the world of publishing and production. A panel of literary agents, editors and producers will end the conference by shedding light on the process of getting your work out into the world.
A particular focus of this event is language and character, and how to use both to your advantage when writing fiction and script. We hope that the inspiration, information and writing advice on offer will encourage you to return to your work-in-progress with renewed optimism.
Agenda:
10:00 - 10:30: Registration
10:30-10:45: Intro
10:45-11:45: Session 1 - Writing Fiction
11:45-12:00: Short comfort break
12:00-13:00: Session 2 - Writing Script with Sabrina Mahfouz
13:00-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:00: Session 3 - Writing Fiction & Script with Angela Clarke
15.00-15.30: Break
15.30-16.30: Publishing & Production Panel
Find out about our speakers below. More speakers to be announced soon!
Sabrina Mahfouz grew up in London and Cairo and is a writer of books, plays, TV and poems.
For TV she has recently worked on HBO's Full Circle; A24’s BEEF and #1 Happy Family USA.
In theatre, she recently wrote for Danny Boyle and Boy Blue's dance adaptation of The Matrix, Free Your Mind. She was an inaugural Writer in Residence at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, where she co-wrote an adaptation of Ovid's Metamorphoses. She wrote and performed her cross-genre show A History of Water in the Middle East at the Royal Court Theatre.
Her numerous other plays have garnered a Fringe First Award, Herald Angel Award, Old Vic New Voices Award, BBC Best Drama Award, Radio Academy Award, UK Theatre Award and an Offie Award.
Sabrina is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Literature and has written, edited and been anthologised in a number of books for adults and children.
Angela Clarke is a screenwriter and best-selling crime thriller novelist. Angela is currently working on an original drama in development with ITV, and has new developments with a number of production companies, including Wild Mercury, SunnyMarch, FilmWave, Lookout Point, West Road Pictures, and Double Dutch Banijay.
Angela contributed an episode to Lookout Point’s AMC adaptation of the Agatha Christie Tommy and Tuppence books. And she was part of the writing team for Happy Prince’s psychological thriller WILDFIRE, and Indefinite Film (Channel 4’s) dramatized response to the Euro 2020 final Siege under Tony Grisoni. Her credits include; JOJO & GRAN GRAN S2, MALORY TOWERS PODCAST and WEED,THE BREAK S5. Angela was one of thirteen writers invited to join the BBC Writersroom Writers’ Access Group 2020/2021. And one of six invited to join the Sony Left Bank NFTS Diverse Writers Development Programme in 2024.
Angela is the author of the crime thrillers On My Life (Hachette, 2019), Trust Me (HarperCollins, 2017), Watch Me (HarperCollins, 2016), and Follow Me (HarperCollins, 2015). A sufferer of the rare genetic condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome III, Angela is passionate about bringing disabled talent into the industry. She also wishes there were more mirrors in accessible toilets, so she could check her hair before meetings.
I joined Curtis Brown in 2008 having graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Law degree.
I am an agent concentrating on building a list of exciting writers and directors for film and television, so I am always keen to track new talent.
I previously worked with Amanda Davis representing an amazing list of both new and established writing and directing talent across drama, comedy and documentary.
Study for an MA in Creative Writing with The Open University
Launched in 2016, our two-year Master’s Level course is taught by practising writers and is entirely online, giving students across the world access to workshops, forums and our acclaimed course materials. One of the most exciting aspects of the MA is its flexibility and the way it explores the relationship between genres, offering four distinct strands – fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and scriptwriting.
The OU’s Creative Writing modules and qualifications have attracted over 50,000 students since 2003, and our course materials have been praised by publishers, leading authors, and teachers in other universities.
For more information about the MA in Creative Writing, click here. For more information on how Creative Writing is taught at the OU and our undergraduate modules, follow this link. If you are interested in studying for our BA (Hons) English Literature and Creative Writing or BA (hons) Arts and Humanities (Creative Writing) see our Undergraduate degrees.
The conference fee of £95 (incl. VAT) is payable in full online. Please note, all timings for the event are UK Time.
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 an in person event. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date.
If this event is Sold Out, please look out for more events by visiting our Events homepage. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for this particular event, please email events@writersandartists.co.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Open University student discount:
All Open University students receive a significant discount on attending the conference. Open University students will find details about the OU discount code on their module website.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- There are three designated on-street parking bays for blue badge holders on Endsleigh Gardens.
- You can enter the reception via the garden, from either Euston Road or Endsleigh Gardens. It has step-free access. The entrance to The Light is on Euston Road and has six steps. There is a street-level lift which provides access to the ground floor and upper level of The Light. The Quaker Centre entrance on Euston Road has eight steps with handrails along both sides, although the steps are quite steep. The Quaker Centre has step-free access via reception.
- Registered guide, assistance and support dogs are welcome.
- There are four lifts within the building.
- Reception: The two lifts at reception are too small to accommodate large wheelchairs.
- South corridor lift: The third lift is larger and provides wheelchair access to the first and second floors.
- North lobby: This lift provides wheelchair access to the upper level of The Light and first floor meeting rooms. This lift is also accessible directly from Euston Road at street level to wheelchair users. When entering this lift from Euston Road, it is necessary to use the intercom to contact the reception team, who will allow you to access the lift.
- Seed Kitchen restaurant: This accessible lift for wheelchair users is located outside the reception entrance in the garden.
- View full venue access details here: https://www.accessable.co.uk/friends-house/access-guides/friends-house-main-building
- This event will include written text and visuals, both during and in the form of handouts from the sessions. 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
