Angie Thomas event for young writers
Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2021
Category: Events
The Young Writers festival, organised by the First Story Young Writers programme, kicks off on 24 March 2021 and will be accessible online to thousands of young writers and readers from across the UK and beyond.
Angie Thomas event for young writers
The festival provides an opportunity for hundreds of young people from less advantaged backgrounds to engage with a literature festival, often for the first time. Pre-pandemic, it was an inspiring day-long event featuring acclaimed speakers, book signings, readings and writing workshops.
Following changes as a result of the pandemic, for 2021 the festival will become predominantly a free and open access online festival available to thousands of young writers and readers.
Angie Thomas (pictured) is the headline event, kicking off the activities on 24 March with an in-conversation event with First Story student Merin Kazi from George Green's School in Tower Hamlets.
The festival events open to the public are as follows:
24 March Angie Thomas - access will be open until 23 April 2021
24 March Young Writers Showcase, chaired by Dean Atta
From 24 March, all Craft and Technique Resource short events will also be available to watch at any time.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Gemma Seltzer, Hafsah Faizal, Melvin Burgess, Sita Bramachari and former First Story Alumnus Priya Gill are among the authors who will offer creative writing tips, techniques and exercises on subjects such as subverting storytelling tropes, using the five senses as stimuli for writing, and taking inspiration from song lyrics in the Craft And Technique Resources.
Previous mentee of First Story, young writer Priya Gill, makes her debut on the festival programme. She said, "Being part of First Story has grown my confidence no end. I have gained enough confidence to read my work in class, help others, and it was one of the reasons I applied for Youth Mayor of my city."
First Story partner schools will all take part in live writing workshops with First Story Writers, streamed into their classrooms.
Events can be accessed via the festival site here:
