From 2023 to 2024, I have been awarded a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England for my project centred around building a sustainable children's writing practice. This grant is really exciting – it feels like a milestone in my creative writing journey and it’s giving me lots of opportunities.
Let me take you back a bit. In 2023, I won the Hachette Children's Novel Award from New Writing North. After the awards ceremony, it became clear to me that I needed to develop my novel to get it publication-ready. Hachette Children's Group have been offering me their support through a mentoring programme spanning 2023 and 2024, including amazing editorial feedback on my manuscript.
But I knew I needed to do more. I wanted to equip myself with the skills necessary to navigate the world of children's publishing independently.
That's where the Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice scheme came in. It presented a way for me to leverage the momentum from the Hachette Children's Novel Award and continue to grow my writing practice. In my application, I outlined my aspirations to not only enhance my writing, but also to develop skills in marketing, communication, and community engagement.
I started my project in December 2023 and I’ll be wrapping things up in October 2024. With the support of the grant, I’m plotting out and starting to write a new novel, engaging with mentors, and working on my personal branding and website. I’m developing school and community workshops as potential offers. I also plan to explore emerging technologies, including AI and no-code tools, along the way.
I want to say a huge thank you to Arts Council England for their support throughout 2023 and 2024. This grant represents more than just financial assistance - it demonstrates their belief in my potential and a commitment to nurturing emerging artists.
And I’ll be sharing how I get on here on my new website!
