This month, we are thrilled to welcome award-winning author and memoirist Aminatta Forna to the Dare to Write? Academy stage, where she will host a series of online workshops and talks for writers and readers of all levels of experience. There are four fantastic events on offer: a two-week Masterclass in Advanced Fiction and Memoir for writers who have a … Read More
A Writing Challenge from Our Duke of Edinburgh Student, Alex
Bath-based writer Alex is in Year 10. He is a Junior Judge for the Bath Children’s Novel Award and a former Junior Journalist for the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. This autumn, I’ve been completing the volunteering section of my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award by helping Paper Nations conduct research into their Dare to Write? Prompts. Each week I was … Read More
Announcing our innovative new CPD programme for writers, researchers, and educators!
We are excited to reveal information about the Dare to Write? Academy – a new series of writing events, flagship courses, and workshops available in 2020. The Dare to Write? Academy is one of our co-produced projects, led by TRACE at Bath Spa University. The Paper Nations’ Writing for All programme will contribute to the The Dare to Write? Academy … Read More
The 2018 NAWE Conference: Reflections
The second weekend of November saw the Paper Nations team visiting our partner, NAWE, the National Association for Writers in Education, for their annual conference in York. The team ran a number of sessions, presenting research-grounded work to the NAWE community and generating exciting discussions on the writing ecology of the UK. Seraphima Kennedy, Director of NAWE, began the conference … Read More
Dare to Write: Christmas Decoration Discovery
Baubles, tinsel, lights and ornaments are our inspiration for this week’s writing challenge! Imagine this… You find something strange in a box of Christmas decorations. What is it and where has it come from? Who did it belong to, and what will you do with it now? Will your discovery change what happens this Christmas? If you’re not sure where … Read More
Dare to Write: Bonfire Night
Remember, remember, the fifth of November; gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. This weekend is Bonfire Night, the annual commemoration of Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot being foiled. Across Great Britain, bonfires will be blazing and fireworks lit. So, in celebration of all that, our next writing dare is… Describe your most … Read More
Dare to Write: Spooky Cottage
It’s Halloween! The night where the border between our world and the magical world is at its thinnest. Fantastic and spooky things can happen on this night. Our writing dare is inspired by the mysterious… “You are going trick-or-treating. You discover an old cottage hidden in your local park. Creeping up the black stone pathway, you reach the front door. … Read More
Dare to Write: What’s Your Wonka?
In honour of Roald Dahl Day, this Dare to Write challenge is inspired by a passage from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: “Mr Willy Wonka can make marshmallows that taste of violets, and rich caramels that change colour every ten seconds as you suck them, and little feathery sweets that melt away deliciously the moment you put them between your … Read More
Dare to Write with David Almond
David Almond is the acclaimed, award-winning author of children’s books including Kit’s Wilderness, The Fire Eaters, Counting Stars, A Song for Ella Grey and Skellig, which won the Carnegie Medal. David is also our Chief Writing Ambassador, working with Paper Nations to share his own writing approaches, techniques and beliefs through special events and other collaborations. We chatted to David … Read More
Dare to Write with Julia Golding
Julia Golding is a multi-award winning writer for children and young adults. She has published over thirty books in genres ranging from historical adventure to fantasy, including the Mel Foster, Young Knights and Cat Royal series. Here, she shares some secrets about her earliest ever adventures in writing, and her advice for would-be writers of all ages, before giving … Read More