Join us for this practical masterclass designed to focus on the different ways to approach the task of editing your own writing.
Whether you feel competent in editing your own work or you're going through the process for the first time, this live online masterclass led by author and editor, Sara Grant, will leave you stocked with useful, take-away tips and advice.
In this hands-on session, Sara will share the tips and tricks that she’s honed throughout her career as an author, editor, mentor and lecturer. Her step-by-step process will convey how to dissect and rebuild a work-in-progress, while you'll also scrutinise the beats of your story versus the information that actually appears on the page.
Through exercises and in-class discussion, this invaluable session is there to provide writers with the tools they need to self-edit and, ultimately, make the journey from rough draft to submission-ready manuscript that little bit smoother.
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This session forms part of our Children's Writers & Illustrators Festival 2025. A range of ticket-types are available to purchase, and to view our full 2025 festival line-up, please visit our Weekend Pass page.
In June 2025, Bloomsbury will publish Sara’s The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel: A revolutionary approach to transform your writing, which is a step-by-step guide on how to edit and revise a novel for children/teens. Sara writes and edits fiction for children and teens. Dark Parties, her first young adult novel, won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Crystal Kite Award for Europe. Ten of her books have been traditionally published, for a range of ages and across several genres.
As an editor of series fiction, she has worked on fifteen different series and edited nearly 100 books. She’s consults with Storymix, an inclusive fiction studio, helping develop exciting and engaging stories with children of colour at the heart. She’s taught master’s courses on writing for children/teens at Goldsmiths University and the University of Winchester. She has given writing workshops in the US, UK and Europe. She co-founded Undiscovered Voices – which has launched the writing careers of more than a hundred authors and illustrators, who now have published more than 400 children’s books.
Sara was born and raised in Washington, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University with degrees in journalism and psychology, and later she earned a master’s degree in creative and life writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She lives in London.
And There's More... Pitch Your Work to a Literary Agent!
Reserving a place at this masterclass entitles you to a place at our literary agent panel discussion, which begins at 14.45 on Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Two specialist children’s agents will join us to critique your pitches live, offer general guidance and advice on the submission process for both authors and/or illustrators, and take questions via a live Q&A.
Ahead of this session, you will be invited to submit your own novel pitch. A select number of pitches will then be chosen by our agents, and critiqued during the session itself! Look out for an email from W&A in days leading up to the festival, which will contain all the information you need about how to submit your pitch.
Festival Raffle
Every festival attendee is automatically entered into our festival raffle, while weekend pass holders receive two raffle entries. The raffle will be drawn at the end of the festival, with the following prizes up for grabs:
3rd prize: Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2024 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
2nd prize: complimentary place at any W&A evening masterclass (RRP £30) + Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2024 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
1st prize: gratis Opening Chapters editing service (RRP £240/£380)
Testimonials from 2023 and 2024 Festivalgoers
"Treated me like a professional, motivated artist"
"Inspiring, informative, inclusive & confidence building."
"Excellent speakers, a well thought out and balanced programme, very inspiring and enjoyable."
"Made a few little idea's into a realistic possibility of being published one day; something between a big hug & a kick up the proverbial bum."
"Practical tips, inspiring and well organised."
"Something for everyone currently writing for children."
"Inspirational. I felt like I had been immersed in a world of children’s literature and heard the perspectives of many from the industry."
"Such a great sense of community and lots of really interesting workshops and talks"
"Inspiring, uplifting and made me want get back to my desk and write :-)"
"Really feels like it has been totally designed with writers in mind."
"Absolutely FANTASTIC! [...] I'm new to the world of writing - and I wasn't expecting much as a result - but I have to say that it completely knocked my socks off in every way."
"Every live session left me with loads of notes in my notebook and really inspired."
"A lovely way to enter this world and get some helpful, encouraging advice."
A booking for this masterclass gives you access to three hours of festival content. This is made up of a real-time masterclass with Sara Grant (10.30-12.00, Sunday 23rd March 2025) and a live panel with two literary agents (14.45-16.15, Sunday 23rd March, 2025). You will also receive a single entry to our festival raffle.
This festival will take place online in full, and will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions, links, and full guidance will be circulated for the above in the week leading up to the festival.
Any event materials associated to individual masterclasses will be made available to attendees at the author's discretion, and all recordings will be made available for a time-limited period.
A single masterclass booking is priced at £40 (inc. VAT), and payable in full online.
Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on events@writersandartists.co.uk so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made one Weekend Pass+ available as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page for further information about how to apply. All bursary applications must have been submitted for consideration by 2nd March 2025
- At the author’s discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after their real-time masterclass.
- A link to a recording of live masterclasses will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- Each event will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email AccessWA@bloomsbury.com
