Please note that this masterclass will now be led by Nikita Gill. Click here to book your place.
Join us for this interactive masterclass led by Manjeet Mann, who will demonstrate how to approach storytelling through different mediums such as plays, novels, poetry, short-stories, audio, gaming, film and TV.
Manjeet will provide practical examples of how one might need to adapt their approach to the writing process in order to ensure they continue to tell their story effectively, while attendees will also have the opportunity to try this on for size in the form of short writing exercises.
Time will be provided at the end of the session to allow for any questions you might have for Manjeet, and we hope you can join us!
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This masterclass forms part of our Children's Writers & Illustrators Festival 2026. A range of ticket-types are available to purchase, and to view our 2026 festival line-up in full, please visit our Weekend Pass page.can join us! Time will also be provided at the end of the session to allow for any questions you might have.
Manjeet Mann is a multi-award-winning author, playwright, screenwriter, and actress. Her debut YA novel, Run Rebel, was shortlisted for the 2021 Carnegie Medal and won the CILIP Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Award, the UKLA Award, the Diverse Book Award, and the Sheffield Children’s Book Award, as well as being named a Guardian Best Book of 2020. Her second novel, The Crossing, won the 2022 Costa Children’s Book Award, the UKLA Award, and was Overall Winner at the Sheffield Children’s Book Awards. It was also shortlisted for numerous other prizes, including the 2022 Carnegie Medal, Waterstones Children's Book Prize and YA Book Award. Manjeet writes picture books too, including Small’s Big Dream, which won the Readers’ Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards. She adapted Run Rebel for the stage with Pilot Theatre, earning Best Production at the 2025 Off West End Stage Awards. Manjeet lives in Scotland.
And there's more!
Reserving a place at this masterclass means you're also invited to 'The Power of the Pitch', a live panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and a bookseller. This begins at 2pm on Sunday 22nd March, 2026.
Ahead of this session, you will be invited to submit your own book pitch. A select number of pitches will then be chosen by our panel, 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. Weekend Pass+ ticketholders receive three entries, Weekend Pass ticketholders receive two entries, and Masterclass+, Festival Player and Single Masterclass ticketholders receive a single entry. 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 2026 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
2nd prize: complimentary place at any W&A evening masterclass (RRP £30) + Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2026 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
1st prize: gratis Opening Chapters editing service (12,000-19,999 words)
Ticketing information
Weekend Pass+ £135: Access to all festival content (3 live masterclasses, 4 pre-recorded videos + follow-up discussion, and 1 panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller) plus a bespoke editorial report on the opening of a story (plus full synopsis) by Middle Grade author Clare Povey. Limited to 25 tickets. x3 raffle entries
Weekend Pass £95: Access to all festival content (3 live masterclasses, 4 pre-recorded videos + follow-up discussion, and 1 panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller). x2 raffle entries
Masterclass+ £75: Access to a single masterclass session of your choice (with Dean Atta, Manjeet Mann or A.F. Harrold), 4 pre-recorded videos + follow-up discussion, and 1 panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller). x1 raffle entry.
Festival Player £50: Access to all exclusive pre-recorded video content only (plus follow-up discussion) and 1 panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller). x1 raffle entry.
Single Masterclass £40: Access to a single real-time masterclass session of your choice (with Dean Atta, Manjeet Mann or A.F. Harrold) and 1 panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller). x1 raffle entry.
Testimonials
"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 enables access to a real-time masterclass session with Manjeet Mann and a panel discussion between a literary agent, editor and bookseller. You will also receive an single raffle entry.
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.
The single masterclass booking is priced at £40 (incl. 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 [email protected] 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 1st March 2026
- 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 [email protected]
