Oliver Sykes

Awards

• Alfie's First Fight - Best Indie-published 'Illustrated Young Reader'

Organisations

• National Literacy Trust
• Stories Of Care
• Big Imaginations

Details

2023 CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVALS BOOK AWARDS – WINNER

2022 MANCHESTER PEOPLE’S CULTURE AWARD – NOMINEE

2022 BRITISH CITIZEN AWARD MEDALLIST

2022 LITERACY CHAMPION

ENDORSED BY JACQUELINE WILSON, ANTHONY MCGOWAN, ALEX WHEATLE, DOM CONLAN & E.L. NORRY! 

I am an award-winning, self-produced, independent Children’s Fiction Writer/Performer and Arts Practitioner. I am also an experienced, fully DBS-checked workshop facilitator, and am able to deliver drama and/or creative writing workshops. I have also guest-lecturered at Manchester Metropolitan University and Lancaster University. 

“Oliver’s creative writing workshops are profound. He works incredibly well with a mixed-ability group, creates a safe space for our pupils who feel comfortable exploring their lives and expressing themselves at what is a crucial point in their lives. It was a joy to watch.” Cringle Brook Primary School, Levenshulme

My standard one-hour workshop explores both the forms and themes of my award-winning debut children’s book, Alfie’s First Fight.

These include:

• Using autobiography to inspire creativity
• Characterisation
• Comedy
• Solo Devising
• Storytelling

Working with young people from all different backgrounds, my workshop aims to build confidence and find creative ways to empower participants to tell their own stories.

“Interesting, fun and inspiring.” Alberto (11), Longsight

“I really enjoyed the activity, especially writing for myself without having the pressure to perform or share it.” Musfirah (12), Moss Side

“My favourite thing about the workshop was performing a monologue as a member of my family.” Erin (8), Burnage

I would love to visit your school and play a part in getting your pupils excited and inspired to tell their own stories.

​(Bear in mind that visits will additionally be charged travel expenses - I live in Denbigh, North Wales and charge petrol at 45p a mile)

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Half Day Visit

£200 (plus travel expenses)

I’ll facilitate one classroom workshop, featuring stories and poems that are inspired by my own life experiences. I’ll talk about the link between lived experience and creative writing, and how I believe the key to writing great stories is to try and write ‘a story only you can tell’.

I’ll then support your pupils to discuss their own lives with a partner and come up with a title for a short story that is inspired by a real life event of their own. I’ll then share my top author tip on how to write an amazing first sentence that will be sure to have their reader ‘hooked’ and we’ll have a go at writing and sharing our opening sentences.

The workshop is designed to reach children of all abilities – including children who believe that reading and writing stories aren’t for them! The workshop will generally last about 60 mins, with 10 mins devoted to a Q&A at the start.

After a break, I’ll then perform my critically acclaimed one-person family-theatre show, Alfie’s First Fight, in a full assembly setting.

‘With a plucky underdog to root for, and a mystery to solve, the show will appeal to children of all backgrounds while giving them an insight into the lives of others… If you enter with any preconceptions about boxers in your mind, this eloquent, thoughtful and gentle performer will quickly shatter them.’ The Family Stage

Then, if appropriate, I’ll sell and sign books. I am able to bring copies of my books directly to the school.

Full Day Visit

£300 (plus travel expenses)

​The same as a half-day visit, but more so, with two/three classroom workshops and one/two performance(s), followed by selling and signing books.

​Please ask if there is anything specifically you'd like me to cover. I am an experienced writing coach, so can deliver bespoke sessions on character development, world building, three-act-structure, etc.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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