Young Writers Group
Are you a full-time daydreamer and a part-time poet? A short story scribbler? A secret novelist? A sofa songwriter?
We’d love you to share your talents with us and join our Young Writers’ Group. It’s a chance to meet likeminded people, develop your writing skills and take part in fun activities!
What is Young Writers?
Young Writers is a group run by Ilkley Literature Festival for those who love to write, get inspired and learn. The group is based in Ilkley and sessions take place on a variety of Mondays during term-time, run from 5.45pm-7.30pm and cost £60 per term.*
Meetings are varied but consist of writing games, prompts and discussions to inspire you to write in a range of genres and mediums, including poetry, prose, songwriting and playwriting. Prompts are broad to suit people’s interests, keeping both the novelist and the songwriter scribbling. Some weeks you might find yourself in a forest, writing from the perspective of a tree. Other weeks you’ll be inspired by current affairs.
Group leaders also teach performance skills and breathing exercises, great for those who want to improve their public speaking and for those who want to take their writing to the stage.
*If you are new this term, you can join us for a free taster session. If you wish to continue with the group, you can pay for the term by the following session.
Who is Young Writers for?
The group is open to everyone between Years 8 and 13. You don’t need to be a confident writer to join – all you need in an interest in writing, fun and, preferably, biscuits!
If you’re not sure whether Young Writers is for you, drop us an email at info@ilkleylitfest.org.uk to find out more.
Who Leads the Young Writers?
The group is led by professional writer and workshop facilitator Andy Craven-Griffiths and supported by emerging writer Martha Boyd.
In poetry, Andy Craven-Griffiths has won various slams including Glastonbury Festival and Manchester Literature Festival, has performed on BBC Radio and Television, and had poetry published in various journals. As a lyricist in the band Middleman, he has toured the UK and abroad, played live sessions for Radio 1, 6 Music and XFM, and had 15 songs synchronised to television, film and computer games. In 2016, he was a Radio 3 Verb New Voice and begun writing drama. Andy also completed his PhD in creative writing in 2021.
Martha Boyd volunteered at creative writing workshops for prisoners while studying English Literature with Creative Writing at UEA. She then became an assistant at Young Writers in 2019; was commissioned to write a poem for Ilkley Literature Festival’s 2021 Spring Programme; had two poems shortlisted and another won second prize for the 2021 Leeds Poetry Festival Anthology; was Highly Commended in the 2020 Hive 20-30 category; won second prize for the 2018 Wilko Johnson Award; and has had poems and short stories published, including in the 2018 HG Wells anthology Peace.
When is it?
- Mon 23rd January
- Mon 30th January
- Two week break
- Mon 20th February
- Mon 27th February
- One week break
- Mon 13th March
- Mon 20th March
If you would like to attend this term of Young Writers, please email info@ilkleylitfest.org.uk to find out how to book your place!
