Novel Slam for Children's Writers

The Writers Workshop is bringing a Novel Slam to the Zest Centre on Wednesday 25 November, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. If you've never come across it, the Novel Slam is a long-running night where aspiring novelists pitch their books to a supportive audience and a panel of industry judges to win prizes. It's been running for 15 years, and while children's writers have always been welcome, the judging has usually been left to adults. This time is different: for the first time, the night is being staged specifically for people who write for children.

That change goes all the way to the judging panel. Alongside a representative from Hachette publishers, there are two successful children's writers, Genevieve Carver and Amy Sparkes, and readers from The Writers Workshop's own children's Writing Club. Having people who actually write for children—and children themselves—on the panel means the pitches are being heard by the very audience they're written for.

If you're entering, the format is straightforward: you prepare a 60-second pitch and a three-minute extract, ideally the opening of the book. You get your pitch and your reading in front of the judges and the room, and the prizes are on the line. If you're not pitching, you can still come along as part of the audience and hear what's being worked on.

It's at the Zest Centre, 18 Upperthorpe, Sheffield S6 3NA, on Wednesday 25 November, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are £10 for participants and £5 for audience members.