Featured materials/resources

Here are all the writing tips, anecdotes, blog posts and exclusive content our writers in residence have all provided for us.

Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness, the author of The Knife of Never Letting Go, was our first writer in residence. He blogged about the writing process, his daily life and wrote an exclusive short story based on characters from his Chaos Walking books.

Writing tips

1: Getting started

2: Laying out a structure

3: On When to Read

4: Compare and Despair

5: On Finding Time to Write

6: Freedom from Tyranny

7: It Talks!

8: Getting Published 1 (of 3)

9: Getting Published 2 (of 3)

10: Getting Published 3 (of 3)

Exclusive short story: 'The New World' by Patrick Ness

Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Nii Ayikwei Parkes, a performance poet and author of Tail of the Blue Bird as well as many poetry collections, was our second writer in residence. He blogged about writing poetry for children, his writing methodology and how to research novels as well as providing video interviews, performances and an exclusive poem.

Writing tips: Don't write the X

Writing tips: The Plosives

Writing tips: Daydream Diaries

Video interview: What makes a good poem?

Video interview 2: Writing poetry

Video interview 3: Inspiration

Video poem: 'By Yourself Boy' by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Exclusive poem: 'Constellation' by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Evie Wyld

Evie Wyld, the multi-award-winning debut novelist of After the Fire, A Still Small Voice was our third writer in residence. She blogged about writing her second novel, her love of picture books and being an independent bookseller as well as writing an exclusive short story.

Facebook writing clinic: Facebook users asked for writing advice

Writing tips: Distractions

Writing tips: Rude writing

Writing tips: Awful writing

Writing tips: Terry is my new name

Writing tips: Grubby tools

Writing tips: Rules

Writing tips: Five things that have scared me

Writing tips: What I think about when I think about being scared

Interview: Evie Wyld interviews short story writer Steven Amsterdam

Exclusive short story: 'The Whales' by Evie Wyld

Polly Dunbar WIR 1