Revitalise your Writing: Summer School

Yvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, host, creative producer and writer. Remembered (Dialogue Books/Blackstone) was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (2019) and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize (2020). Yvonne has nonfiction children’s titles in Penguin Random House’s Ladybird series. Yvonne's second novel Curdle Creek (Henry Holt/Dialogue Books) is available now. Yvonne is the Academic Director of Creative Writing at Cambridge University Institute of Continuing Education and a former Senior Commissioning Editor at John Murray.

Guest speakers:

• British Library curator(s), to be announced
• Hannah Chukwu, Publishing Director, Dialogue Books
• Shelagh McCarthy, artist and creative practitioner

Day 1 – Monday 21 July, 10.30–16.30

We spend our first day getting to know each other and your writing projects. In the afternoon, you’ll be guided by our bookbinding tutor, Shelagh, to make and sew a notebook, where you’ll write down your intentions for the week. You’ll finish the day with an individual writing task and some group reflection.

Day 2 – Tuesday 22 July, 10.30–16.30

Our second day is focused on getting to know the Library. We’ll be joined by a curator for an exclusive collections show-and-tell, and later, visit the Newsroom for a guided tour. There’s time to register as a Reader (if you aren’t already), and personal study time. We finish the day by mapping out a research plan tailored to you.

Day 3 – Wednesday 23 July, 10.30–16.30

As we approach the midpoint of the week, you’ll spend the morning with dedicated writing time for your personal project. We’ll stop mid-morning to welcome our guest speaker, Publishing Director, Hannah Chukwa, to discuss the publishing industry and tips for getting your work published. After lunch we’ll be guided in a writing and mindfulness workshop, with time at the end of the day for personal study.

Day 4 – Thursday 24 July, 10.30–16.30

Our penultimate day starts with a collection show-and-tell with a Library curator. You’ll then be guided in a writing task creatively responding to the items you’ve seen. After lunch we’ll have a curator tour of our exhibition Unearthed: The Power of Gardening, followed by an afternoon of writing (outdoors, weather permitting) inspired by the natural and the built environment around the Library.

Day 5 – Friday 25 July, 10.30–17.30

On our final day you’ll focus on your writing project. Yvonne will have 1:1s with each of you, giving tailored advice and guidance on aspects of your writing. After lunch, we write together as a group, reflecting and sharing feedback together. At 16.00 we finish the week with a drinks reception to celebrate your hard work and dedication over the past five days.

Programme is subject to change.

Previous knowledge or experience

None required. You’ll get the most of the week if you come with a writing project (at any stage of your process) to work on during the week.

Accessibility

Please email adultlearning@bl.uk to discuss your accessibility requirements.

Dietary requirements

Please email adultlearning@bl.uk to discuss your dietary requirements.