Have you always been a reader? Have you ever fancied having a go at writing creatively but haven’t yet devoted time to it? Perhaps you are an experienced writer looking for a new form to explore or need some good old-fashioned inspiration.

Our Autumn Speaking to the Shelves creative writing programme begins with Michelle Scally Clarke: writing for wellbeing, on Saturday 21st September, 1.30pm-3.30pm with the option to stay from 3.30pm-4.30pm for feedback. Tickets are £13. This workshop is suitable for anyone aged 16 and over.

Michelle Scally Clarke is an Author, Poet-Playwright, Actor-Songwriter and Creative Writing Facilitator with twenty-five years in the business. She has worked alongside greats such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jean Binta Breeze, Benjamin Zephaniah, Lemm Sissay, Brian Patten and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Published by Route, Bloodaxe, and Peepal Tree Press, she has two books and albums, I am and She is, and is published in many anthologies.

Michelle made her name in theatre, in productions such as Word Temple and Carnival Messiah, working within communities, grassroots and professional, designing and delivering workshops, promoting wellbeing through writing, Page to stage, creative writing and TIE, touring Suitcaseand First Cut in schools around Yorkshire. Last year Michelle was commissioned by the NHS to write, perform and film her play about genomes, Whose Genes.

Michelle’s current work varies from working with N.H.S, Leeds Beckett Story Press, Leeds Playhouse, Space 2, Ilkley Literature Festival and Artlink West Yorkshire. Michelle has just completed a commission with First Story, working with Belle Vue girls’ school. An anthology of their work was launched in July.
See separate booking links for further workshops:

Saturday 19th October at 10.00am and 1.30pm with Char March: writing for the ear
Saturday 16th November at 10.00am and 1.30pm with Richard Smyth: nature writing.

Becky Cherriman curates a series of creative writing workshops, which run on the third Saturday of the month at The Leeds Library. Each workshop deals with a particular aspect or genre of writing. Guided by established writers, you will draw inspiration from the library’s collections to write and then receive feedback on your work in this stimulating environment. Workshops will draw on Dewey Decimal themes such as History; Social Problems and Social Services; Customs, Etiquette and Folklore; Life Sciences; History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures;

Becky Cherriman is a Yorkshire writer, workshop leader and performer. She works part-time as Creative Writing Community Development Officer for The University of Leeds. Published by Seren, Mslexia, New Walk, Envoi, Mother’s Milk, Bloodaxe, Well Versed, Moving Worlds and The North, she was resident poet for Morley Literature Festival in 2013 and lead artist for Altofts Festival In A Day 2016. ‘Echolocation’, her first poetry pamphlet, and first collection ‘Empires of Clay’ were published in 2016 by Mother’s Milk and Cinnamon Press respectively. Her agnostic poem Jesus Lives was highly commended in the Forward Prizes 2017.