London Festival of Writing – Jericho Writers
Jericho Writers
167-169 Great Portland street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
UK: +44 (0)330 043 0150
US: +1 (646) 974 9060

London Festival of Writing

From £215
The Festival of Writing is back for its 14th year. Join hundreds of fellow writers from around the world for a weekend of writing workshops from bestselling authors, literary agent one-to-ones and more.
29-30 June 2024
2 days
Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel

Tickets are now on sale for London Festival of Writing 2024

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£420

London Festival of Writing Full Weekend Ticket

This ticket gives you access to all workshops on Saturday and Sunday, plus an entry into Friday Night Live (But On A Saturday)
Your ticket includes a buffet lunch on both days, tea and coffee throughout and a glitzy gala dinner on Saturday evening
Your ticket includes two agent one-to-one or book doctor sessions
Please note accommodation is not included with your ticket
£285

London Festival of Writing Saturday Ticket

This ticket gives you access to all workshops on Saturday, plus an entry into Friday Night Live (But On A Saturday)
Your ticket includes a buffet lunch, tea and coffee throughout and a glitzy gala dinner on Saturday evening
Your ticket includes one agent one-to-one or book doctor session
Please note accommodation is not included with your ticket
£215

London Festival of Writing Sunday Ticket

This ticket gives you access to all workshops on Sunday
Your ticket includes a buffet lunch and tea and coffee throughout
Your ticket include one agent one-to-one or book doctor session
Please note accommodation is not included with your ticket

“It’s fair to say that I am a published author today because of the Festival of Writing” – Amanda Berriman

Since 2010, over three hundred writers per year have travelled to The Festival of Writing, which sees writers, literary agents and industry professionals gather from around the world for a weekend of writing workshops from bestselling authors, literary one-to-ones and more. Find out everything the festival has to offer this year by checking out our brochure.

A big “hello” from festival director Becca Day

Last year, we brought the Festival of Writing to London after 12 years of holding it in York. This year, we’re back in London, but bigger and better than ever before. With more workshops to choose from, more opportunities for networking, a fabulous gala dinner and a glitzy venue to add the WOW factor that the festival deserves, you’re in for a real treat.

The Location

The weekend will take place at the stunning Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel, London on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June. While the festival will still be non-residential, the hotel has offered 50 rooms at a reduced rate, so if you’d like to stay on site you’re best to get your booking in nice and early. There are also options such as a Travelodge and Premier Inn that are just across the street from the hotel, making it the perfect easy-to-access location.

Where writing careers are born

Every ticket includes at least one literary agent one-to-one (or book doctor session), and Saturday and Weekend tickets also include entry to our famous Friday Night Live (But On A Saturday) competition.

 

“I’m excited BEYOND BELIEF to announce that I am now rep’ed by the wonderful Kiya Evans at the incredible Mushens Entertainment. I first met with Kiya at the Jericho Writers Festival of Writing at the end of last year, and it was a real turning point in my writing and querying journey.”

– Rebecca Lewis Smith

Are you a low-income or Black writer?

You could be eligible for a bursary. Take a look at our bursary schemes here.

Festival of Writing Success Stories

Throughout the years we have welcomed hundreds of authors to the Festival of Writing. Festival attendees have gone on to secure representation, get a deal from Big-5 Publishers, or successfully self-publish their books. Will you be next?

Saturday 29 June Workshops

Take a look up at the incredible and varied line-up we’ve got in store for you this year

Previous
Opening Keynote -  The Five Magic Ingredients To Writing A Bestseller

Opening Keynote – The Five Magic Ingredients To Writing A Bestseller

with Vaseem Khan • 9.45-10.15am

  • Bio

Vaseem Khan is no stranger to the bestseller lists, having had his first crime novel, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020. Two award-winning series later, and with translations in 17 languages, he was elected the first non-white Chair of the 70-year-old UK Crime Writers Association in 2023, and now he’s here to share his knowledge with the Jericho Writers community.

Making Your Characters Leap Off The Page

Making Your Characters Leap Off The Page

with Kerry Fisher • 10.45-12.15am

  • Bio

Discover all the tips and tricks to elevate your characters to people so real that readers will mutter, ‘I know someone like that’. This workshop focuses on the nuances of personality and realistic interaction to make your protagonists leap off the page.

Working With Small Publishers

Working With Small Publishers

with Alan Kane Fraser • 10.45-12.15am

  • Bio

Writers often assume there are two routes to publication: self-publishing or getting an agent. But there is a third way – being published by a small press. We’ll look at whether a small press is right for you, and how to avoid the common pitfalls of submitting and working with them.

The Fantasy of a First Chapter: How To Open Your SFF Novel With A Bang

The Fantasy of a First Chapter: How To Open Your SFF Novel With A Bang

with Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson • 10.45-12.15am

  • Bio

Receive practical advice, with examples, about how to craft first chapters that grip the reader. It will cover methods for weaving in worldbuilding, introducing characters to love (or hate), and of course, convincing people to turn to the next page.

Understanding Genre Conventions

Understanding Genre Conventions

with Philippa East • 2.30-3.30pm

  • Bio

Unlock the essential cheat-sheet to planning, writing and editing your next masterpiece with this deep(ish) dive into story genre. Discover the secrets of the core story “types” so that every tale you tell will perfectly satisfy your readers.

Creating Your Self-Publishing Business Plan

Creating Your Self-Publishing Business Plan

with Debbie Young & Troubador Publishing • 2.30-3.30pm

  • Bio

Self-publishing is easy. Self-publishing successfully? Not so easy. In this session you’ll work with self-publishing expert Debbie Young and Troubador Publishing to create a plan for your books and your career.

Plot At The Midpoint: How Not To Lose Your Head Halfway Through Your Draft

Plot At The Midpoint: How Not To Lose Your Head Halfway Through Your Draft

with Natasha Bell • 2.30-3.30pm

  • Bio

The middle of a story is where readers become truly absorbed in the twists and turns of a tale. The middle of writing a story, however, is often where we as authors start to lose the plot. In this session, we’ll explore tools to help reflect on and strengthen our novels at this midway point, examining a variety of narrative theories to ask if our original plan still stacks up.

Self-Edit Your Novel Mini-Course

Self-Edit Your Novel Mini-Course

with Debi Alper • 4.00-5.00pm

  • Bio

Buckle in for an exclusive one-hour special of our Self-Edit Your Novel course with course tutor Debi Alper. Debi’s sessions always impress, and many a writer has come away from them with transformed perspectives and upgraded manuscripts.

Resilience & The Writer

Resilience & The Writer

with Laura Pearson • 4.00-5.00pm

  • Bio

Let me tell you about my journey from despairing failed writer to Kindle number one bestseller in one year. In that time, I don’t think my writing or my submission package improved. So what made the difference? In my opinion, it was all about not giving up.

Perfect Your Query Letter

Perfect Your Query Letter

with Silé Edwards • 4.00-5.00pm

  • Bio

Who else is better placed to give you cutting-edge insight into your query letter than a practicing literary agent? In this session, Silé Edwards will live-critique a selection of pre-submitted query letters and offer actionable advice for improvement.

Next

Sunday 30 June Workshops

Take a look up at the incredible and varied line-up we’ve got in store for you this year

Previous
The Writer/Day Job Juggle

The Writer/Day Job Juggle

with Holly Seddon • 9.45-11.15am

  • Bio

An encouraging and open chat about how to find pockets of time to write while juggling work and responsibilities, ways to create creative work opportunities that support your writing, and knowing when (or if!) to make the leap to full time writing.

Write Your Truth: The Joys (and Challenges) of Narrative Non-Fiction

Write Your Truth: The Joys (and Challenges) of Narrative Non-Fiction

with Uju Asika • 9.45-11.15am

  • Bio

Join author Uju Asika for a fun and encouraging workshop on writing from personal experience, including personal essays, blogs, memoir and books. Develop your own hero’s journey and learn to write true stories that read like page-turning fiction.

Assemble Your Author Allies

Assemble Your Author Allies

with Nicky Downes • 9.45-11.15am

  • Bio

From the first page, many of us have imposter syndrome. Nicky Downes will talk about how she garnered support at each stage of her publication journey and will provide you with the tools and encouragement to find your own support network of fellow writers and readers.

Writing For Younger Audiences

Writing For Younger Audiences

with Eve Ainsworth • 11.45am-12.45pm

  • Bio

In this talk we will focus on how to produce the best books for children in a very competitive landscape. We will look to debunk a few myths, focus on trends, provide some helpful tips and help you to focus on those basic principles needed to produce a fantastic and market-ready book.

Writing Sizzling Sex Scenes

Writing Sizzling Sex Scenes

with Beth Miller • 11.45am-12.45pm

  • Bio

There’s more to sex in books than Fifty Shades. Most contemporary novels
have at least one sex scene; readers and publishers may even expect them.
This lively workshop will walk you through how to write a good sex scene to
be proud of. Expect giggling, blushing and terrible double-entendres.

Beating Imposter Syndrome & Other Writing Demons

Beating Imposter Syndrome & Other Writing Demons

with Zoe Richards • 11.45am-12.45pm

  • Bio

Our brain is wired to prove us right – when we tell ourselves we are an imposter, can’t write, are no good, we believe it. In this workshop you will learn some simple techniques to beat the imposter syndrome and other writing demons and help you feel better about your writing.

Designing Your Novel For TV & Film

Designing Your Novel For TV & Film

with Imran Mahmood • 2.15-3.15pm

  • Bio

It’s something highly coveted by authors: a TV or film deal. But how can we increase the likelihood that our book will get picked up for an adaptation? Should we be honing our screenwriting skills and adapting our own work for screen?

From Hook To Book

From Hook To Book

with Natali Simmonds • 2.15-3.15pm

  • Bio

No matter how beautifully your book is written, to get the attention of an agent and editor you need to have a commercially viable idea. Author Natali Simmonds explains how to write your book pitch first to increase your chances of selling it.

Canva Tips For Authors

Canva Tips For Authors

with Jeevani Charika • 2.15-3.15pm

  • Bio

Authors are often expected to make their own marketing graphics. Canva is a free graphic design program aimed at complete beginners. It’s powerful, but can be overwhelming. This talk aims to show you how to make scroll stopping animations and graphics to advertise your book on social media.

Facing The Fear

Facing The Fear

with Debi Alper • 3.45-4.45pm

  • Bio

Ever been beset by Doubt Demons? Those evil whispers that tell you that you can’t write and have no hope of anyone ever wanting to read your stories? Even the most successful authors have their own demons. So how do you deal with them and prevent them from paralysing you? In this interactive workshop, we’ll call out the most common fears and come up with strategies to kick them in the teeth.

Bringing The World To Life

Bringing The World To Life

with Marve Michael Anson • 3.45-4.45pm

  • Bio

Embark on a journey with us as we delve into the enchanting realms of imagination and creativity. We’ll explore how to bring new worlds to life and unravel the secrets behind crafting vibrant and immersive fictional worlds.

Criminally Good: Writing Authentic Policing & Crime Scenarios

Criminally Good: Writing Authentic Policing & Crime Scenarios

with Graham Bartlett • 3.45-4.45pm

  • Bio

Starting with a gruesome murder, Graham will take you through the first 24 hours of a homicide enquiry. He’ll talk forensics, fast-track enquiries and the hunt for a killer. Then you’ll learn how to write authentic protagonists, antagonists and their supporting cast as well as plausible police dialogue.

Next

Download the London Festival of Writing 2024 Brochure to discover more about our incredible lineup

What’s included in your ticket?

Workshops with best-selling authors

Learn from the best of the best. From craft and genre specific sessions to the business of being an author, we’ve got everything covered.

Agent One-to-One or Book Doctor sessions

A chance to get personalised advice from the pros. Get feedback on your submission package from top UK literary agents, or identify areas of improvement in your opening pages with a Book Doctor.

Food & drink

For each day you’re at the festival, you’ll get a buffet lunch, plus tea, coffee and snacks throughout. Those attending on Saturday will also get a glitzy gala dinner.

Competition entries

Everyone who attends the festival will have the opportunity to take part in our prize draw, which will see a lucky writer walking away with some fabulous services. Those attending on Saturday will also have the chance to enter Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday) – our famous, career-making, star-of-the-show competition.

Festival of Writing: Where Your Writing Journey Begins

Not sure I’d be where I am now, if I hadn’t got myself a ticket, taken a deep breath, and stood up on that stage at Friday Night Live.

Eleanor Anstruther

Festival Attendee and author of ‘A Perfect Explanation’ (2019)
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Meet the Agents

Day tickets include one Agent One-To-One session, and weekend tickets include two Agent One-to-One sessions.

These are the agents we have lined up so far, but we are adding to this list all the time. You’ll be able to choose which agent you’d like to see and book your slot towards the end of March.

This year’s London Festival of Writing is being brought to you with support from…

Dabble: Sponsors of the London Festival of Writing 2024

Dabble: Sponsors of the London Festival of Writing 2024

Dabble is the go-to platform for writers aiming to plot expertly, write swiftly, and edit ruthlessly. We keep your work organized and accessible across all devices, online or offline, with always-on autosave for peace of mind. Dabble simplifies your creative process, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your writing.

Troubador Publishing: Sponsors of the London Festival of Writing 2024

Troubador Publishing: Sponsors of the London Festival of Writing 2024

Troubador has a proud history of helping authors bring their books to life using our self-publishing services. Our expertise and range of services are unmatched in the self-publishing industry. We provide self-publishing services for authors who are dedicated to publishing quality books alongside a high level of customer service. Our team of experts is on hand to work with our authors to help them achieve their self-publishing goals.

Make Life-long Writing Friends at the Festival

It certainly lived up to expectations. You were all very welcoming and exceptionally friendly and made being in a new place all by myself very exciting and not at all uncomfortable. The professionals and people from the industry that I met were also greatly helpful and wonderfully friendly. I have made contacts and learned much that I know will be helpful for me in the here and now as well as further down the road.

Carolyn, B

Festival Attendee
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Frequently asked
questions

1

Are the gala dinner and evening drinks on site?

Yes, you don’t need to leave the festival venue to attend the Saturday evening gala dinner or drinks. There will, however, be an hour break in which you are welcome to leave the venue to get changed or freshen up.

2

What can I do with my luggage?

If you are staying at the hotel, you are encouraged to check-in early so that you can drop your luggage in your room. If this is not possible, there will be an un-manned cloakroom that can store your bags until your room is available. If you are staying at a hotel nearby overnight it is ideal to drop off your luggage where you are staying prior to the festival, but again you are welcome to use the un-manned cloakroom if that is not possible. All luggage is left at your own risk and we cannot be held liable for any missing or damaged possessions.

3

Where exactly is the Festival of Writing? 

It will be held in London at the Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel. The address is: Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London E1 8GP.

4

Is there parking on-site?

There is on-street parking available outside Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge (parking meter charges apply). The nearest car park is the Minories car park located on 1 Shorter street, which has 401 car park spaces. Please telephone 020 7481 3153 for details of current parking charges, or visit http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/ for more parking locations.

5

Can you recommend accommodation nearby? 

Please remember, it’s your responsibility to arrange accommodation if needed. We have reserved fifty rooms at the venue for festival delegates at a discounted rate on Saturday, June 29. These rooms are priced at £319 per night (+£20 surcharge for double occupancy). Get in touch for the discount code.

Keep in mind, any accommodation issues should be addressed directly with the hotel, as we are not responsible for any problems.

If you prefer a different hotel, there are numerous options nearby.

6

What public transport can I get there?  

The closest stations are Tower Hill Underground Station, Tower Gateway DLR Station and Fenchurch Street Rail. It’s about a five-ten minute walk from each of these stations to the venue.

7

I have access needs. Can these be accommodated?

There is a wheelchair-friendly lift that is designated specifically for festival attendees (general hotel guests are not permitted to use it) and we will be advising all attendees to allow those with accessibility needs to use the lift first.

Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel is highly experienced at running large, complex events. If you have particular concerns, please mention them when prompted when booking your workshops and sessions. The hotel will be made aware of these in advance and will do their best to accommodate you.

8

What kind of food is offered over the weekend?

Every day you attend the festival, you will be provided with a two-course buffet lunch, plus teas, coffees and snacks at regular intervals throughout the day. If you are a Saturday or Weekend ticket holder, you will also have a sit-down gala dinner in the evening. You’ll be able to let us know about any requirements when you come to book your sessions.

9

When should I plan to arrive at the Festival of Writing 2024?

We always recommend giving yourself plenty of time to arrive in case of any delays. For Saturday arrivals, registration is from 8.30 to 9.30am, with the opening keynote beginning at 9.45am. Registration on Sunday is from 9.00am to 9.30am.

Please follow the signs downstairs to the registration desks (there is a lift for those with accessibility needs). You’ll be greeted by Jericho Writers staff who will issue you a name badge and give you a programme.

10

Can I arrive late? (for example, my train only arrives in London at 10:00) 

Yes, of course but please arrive at sessions quietly and respectfully. 

11

If I arrive with a suitcase, where can I leave it for the day? 

You can leave it in the un-manned cloakroom near the registration desks.

12

What do I need to bring with me?

Something to take notes on, a bottle for water, and perhaps some snacks if you know you need extra sustenance during the day!

13

How can I connect with other festival attendees ahead of time?

You can join in the conversation in our Townhouse forum here to plan accommodation and travel, and to chat all things festival! We’re also going to be organising a series of Zoom ‘mixers’, where you’ll be able to meet fellow writers in your genre, and a pre-festival Zoom call where you’ll be able to ask any questions and meet other attendees.

14

I’m only coming on Sunday, can I still enter Friday Night Live? 

Unfortunately only Saturday and Weekend ticket holders can enter Friday Night Live. If you’d like to upgrade from a Sunday ticket to a Weekend ticket, please reach out to us.

15

How do I make sure I can attend the workshops and mini-courses I’d like to?

We will send you a sign-up form at the same time that you book your one-to-ones.

16

How do I book an agent one-to-one at the Festival?

One-to-ones are included in your ticket. Weekend ticket holders will receive two sessions, while day ticket holders will receive one. We will email you once the booking system is open (towards the end of March). Please note, once you have chosen your one-to-ones, your choice is final.

17

Can I only book only one one-to-one? 

It depends on your ticket type. Full weekend ticket holders are entitled to two one-to-one sessions, whereas day tickets entitle you to one.

18

Will Friday Night Live happen?

Yes – the only difference is that it’s happening on a Saturday. Entries will be open from 10:00BST on 1 May, and close to submissions 10:00BST on 1 June. We will email all ticket holders with more information when we open to entries.

19

Where can I find the terms and conditions of booking?

You can find our full terms and conditions for the Festival here.

20

Will the talks be recorded? 

They will not be – make sure you go to the workshop or mini course you most want to learn from.