Leaf Journal: On Writing for Young People

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. Speakers include Varsha Varghese, who will present the paper 'What Can We Learn About the Children’s Book Landscape from Analysing Indian Book Awards?' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. Speakers include Tom O'Shea, who will present the paper 'How Should Middle-Grade Fiction Balance Historical Truth with Storytelling, Ethics and Commercial Success?' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. In the run up, we will be sharing some of our speakers, panellists and workshop leaders. Including Sophie Anderson, who will run the workshop 'Reimagining Traditional Tales'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. In the run up, we will be sharing some of our speakers, panellists and workshop leaders. Including Sope Martins, who will run the workshop 'The Picture Book as a Physical Object'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. In the run up, we will be sharing some of our speakers, panellists and workshop leaders. Including Simon Bor who will deliver 'Adopted and looked after children: adding agency or reflecting young lives.' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. In the run up, we will be sharing some of our speakers, panellists and workshop leaders. Minaz Ansari will deliver a paper, 'Picturebooks as a reflection of growing up in urban India'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. In the run up, we will be sharing some of our speakers, panellists and workshop leaders. Lola Chavez Rodriguez will present her paper on 'The Mental Health of Latine Boys in YA Literature'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On Writing for Young People Conference Spotlight. On 5th & 6th November, our online conference returns. Join Jill Stuck for 'Writing a picturebook for the adult reader who is not a performer' and 'Improv for Writing: Investing vs Inventing'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On Writing for Young People Conference Spotlight. On 5th & 6th November, online. Featuring, Isobelle Whinnett who will present 'Separating Living from Death: How Young Adult Writers Can Approach Writing the Queer Ghost Without Associating Queerness with Death.' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

On Writing for Young People Conference 2026. Online. 5-6 Nov. Speakers include Karen Sands-O'Connor on the panel 'Writing Black British History for Children' with Yinka Olusoga, J. T. Williams and Aneesh Barai. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

We've had to change the venue for our upcoming conference but we're very pleased to say that it will now take place at St Anne's Parish Hall, Kew Green, London TW9 3AA, right next door to the Gardens. 🚂 Kew Bridge (main line) and Kew Gardens (District Line) stations are nearby.

On Writing for Young People Conference 2026. Online. 5-6 Nov. Speakers include Aneesh Barai on the panel 'Writing Black British History for Children' with Yinka Olusoga, J. T. Williams and Karen Sands-O'Connor. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

ONE WEEK TO GO before our Call for papers and workshops closes. Send ideas for 10-15 minute papers on any topic likely to be of interest to writers for young people. Join us at our online conference 5-6th Nov! ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/conference

The deadline to pitch an idea to us approaches! Send ideas for panels/workshops by 28th Aug to join us at our online conference 'On Writing for Young People' 5-6 Nov ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/conference

'On Writing for Young People' Conference returns with a stellar line-up. The Call for Papers is open, and tickets are on sale now. 100% online, 5-6 Nov. For children's and YA writers to come together and share insights. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/conference #ukkidslit #kidslituk #academicsky

NEWS JUST IN We are delighted to be able to confirm that our 2nd keynote speaker will be Waterstones Children's Laureate, Patrice Lawrence MBE. Our conference is shaping up to be the best yet! Join us 4th & 5th Nov, online, for 'On Writing for Young People' 2026! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

As Volume 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Including the astute '‘I Need To Learn – Am Learning’: How To Use Inexperience To Craft A Young Adult Voice' by @bethtrainbrown.bsky.social ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

Our 2026 Conference, 'On Writing for Young People' is on sale! Join us, 5-6 Nov to hear a keynote from the Carnegie-award winning Beth O'Brien on disability in literature, and many other panels and workshops. 100% online. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

As Volume 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Noah Weisz reflects on the ‘literary magic’ of re-readability with particular focus on Frances Hardinge’s ‘Cuckoo Song’. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

As Vol 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Inc the thoughtful analysis of 'Crossing the Line: Considering the Dual Accessibility of the Verse Narrative...' by Edward Davies ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

As Volume 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Including the sharp insight of 'Time-Play: Slipping the Bounds of a Classic Children’s Genre' by @ruthmoore.bsky.social Read it here: ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

As Volume 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Including the thoughtful 'How to Write Queer Antagonists in YA Fiction Without Making Queerness a Signifier for Evil' by Jo Baker. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

As Volume 4 of 'Leaf Journal' is out, we now get to shout about the articles! Writer and emetophobia sufferer George Purves offers creative techniques to produce realistic and transformative depictions of the condition in this wonderfully helpful article: ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/v...

Our annual online conference 'On Writing for Young People' returns 5-6 Nov 2026. At this point, we warmly invite proposals from our wider community for topics they would like to present on at the conference, or a writing workshop they would like to run. Details: ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/conference

Anyone lurking around Frome on 26th March, would be lovely to see you at this event for After Darcy… winstonebooks.co.uk/products/fro...

Come to this free online event as part of the Good Grief Festival! I’ll be talking to former children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho about how books can help children deal with grief. www.ticketsource.co.uk/goodgrieffes...

I have no idea why, or for how long, but 'Writing for Young People' by me is currently cheap(er) on Kindle. If you've ever wanted an easy-going, accessible guide to why children's books are works of staggering genius, then this is for you! #kidlituk #academicsky www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Youn...

Huge congratulations to our editorial board member @joannanadin.bsky.social. Carnegie Longlister!!! 🔥😍

It is a NEW BOOK DAY! 'Writing for Young People', by me, is an accessible look at how fiction for children and young adults is crafted. In eight chapters, we take a DEEP DIVE into picturebooks, MG and YA with AUTHOR INTERVIEWS and WRITING EXERCISES #kidlit #ukkidlit uk.bookshop.org/p/books/writ...

'Leaf Journal' is a scholarly journal that publishes insights and observations on the act of creative writing for young people. We are currently welcoming submissions of articles for Volume 4. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/about/sub... #UKkidLit #academicsky

'Leaf Journal' is a scholarly journal that publishes insights and observations on the act of creative writing for young people. We are currently welcoming submissions of articles for Volume 4. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/about/sub... #UKkidLit #academicsky

I'm available for freelance & remote work! If you need lecturing / tutoring / teaching / expertise in: Creative Writing, Children’s Literature, Girls' Writing, or Libraries, then I'm your bookish gal. Contact: didyoueverstoptothink.com/hire_me/ #WritingCommunity #KidLit #Freelance #HireMe

Happy birthday J.R.R. Tolkien! Here’s my latest tribute to “On Fairy-stories” and the way it shaped the thinking (and writing!) of later fantasy authors. dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/in-tolkien... @tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social

Children's/YA writers in need of feedback, you can bid for a (min) 2k editorial report on the first 15k of a novel. Written by me, an award-winning author with 15 years experience and a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. I am kind but thorough. #UKKidLit #kidlit app.galabid.com/creatives4su...

If you missed our conference, and you're feeling glum about it, then the post-conference ticket might be for you! It gives you access to the panel papers and Q&A with the authors until 1st Feb 2026 for only £8! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

Wow! So many amazing creative treats are available to bid for as part of the 'Creatives 4 Sudan' auction. And the money raised will be used to help people escaping the terrible situation in El-Fasher. See app.galabid.com/creatives4su... Thanks to @raafaye.bsky.social for the design.

Our two-day conference, 'On Writing for Young People' is over for another year. We had, amazing speakers, wonderful workshops and the quality of the CHAT was off-the-scale. Thank you to everyone who made it possible. It was maybe the best one yet. Now to lie in a darkened room for the weekend...

👀👀👀 Permanent! Full-time! A truly gold-dust job, run don't walk!

Our delegates have started watching the pre-recorded panel papers. But there are live sessions too - our Q&As, workshops and our keynote! Including 'Flash Fairytales' with the ever-brilliant Claire Hennessy www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

With only two weeks to go until the live sessions of our online conference, the pre-recorded panel papers are live today. Including those on 'Centring the Reader' www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

Huge congratulations to our brilliant Editorial Board member, @joannanadin.bsky.social! We'll be keeping our fingers and toes crossed!

With less than three weeks to go before the conference returns, check out the programme! Including a workshop on creating your characters with Alyssa Hollingsworth www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

There are some fantastic workshops as part of the 'On Writing for Young People' programme, including 'Building Worlds Through Words' with Apeksha Harsh. Online 20-21 Nov www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

It's November! Which means the conference is THIS MONTH! Join us to hear panels like 'Writing Non-Dominant Voices' 20-21 Nov. Online. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing...

We're so excited to be joined by the wonderful @clarefurniss.bsky.social and @sambeckbessinger.bsky.social for 'Practical Process' as part of On Writing for Young People, the online conference, 20-21 Nov. Last few tickets left: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-writing... #ukkidlit #academicsky #booksky