Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
University celebrates creativity for National Writing Day
Lisa Stephenson, course leader in MA Drama and Creative Writing
‘Writers on Writing’, held by the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities, will bring together a panel of authors, poets and playwrights who enjoy writing to share their passion with others.
Dr Rachel Connor, course director in English with Creative Writing, will be joined on the panel by Melvin Burgess, Malika Booker and Jacob Ross.
Rachel said: “National Writing Day celebrates self-expression and creativity across all communities – not just children in schools.
“Writing isn’t just for ‘professional writers’ – we all have a story to tell. My years of writing and teaching writing have led me to see that it can be a pleasurable activity, connecting us to a sense of play that – for some of us – we haven’t accessed since childhood.
“Writing can also prompt us, and others, to alter our thinking, shift positions, so that we’re able to see the perspective of others more clearly.”
The event is being held at The Leeds Library, one of the UK’s oldest subscription libraries, on Monday 25 June, 5.30pm to 8pm. To book tickets, click here.
The Story Makers Company, a practice-based research centre in the Carnegie School of Education, will also be hosting two events on 27 June to celebrate National Writing Day.
Experts in drama, creative writing and theatre will host workshops exploring story development, motivation, curiosity, compassion and literacy in the Jubilee Room, Headingley campus, between 5-8pm.
Lisa Stephenson, course leader in MA Drama and Creative Writing, said: “Research shows there has been a steady decline in children’s enjoyment of writing over the past five years.
“The decline coincides with national curriculum reforms which have led to a highly prescriptive style of English being taught in primary schools and a decline in teaching of the creative arts. The events both celebrate the importance of creative spaces for learning.”
The second event will see 75 secondary school pupils attend a workshop to write alongside a range of authors, with a focus on social media. Their stories will be used as research focus for Story Makers.