Writing, storymaking or published books
I’m a professional storyteller, writing stories that I perform in schools, museums and at heritage sites. I regularly work with museums and heritage sites in the region, and nationally, to create stories about their collections. I also lead creative writing sessions in schools and deliver storytelling training for children and adults.
I’m predominantly a performance storyteller so you won’t find any books written by me, but there are many examples online of my work being performed: Kirkleatham Museum’s YouTube channel has recent examples of my storytelling and creative writing work with children. You’ll also find recent examples on www.bamburghbones.org and Buckfast Abbey’s Facebook page, as well as my own website.
Approach to writing
I am fascinated by the stories behind artefacts such as objects, pictures and letters and they are often my writing inspiration. If my story is told from the viewpoint of a central character, then I start by thinking of phrases they might say. It helps to bring them to life in my head, and on paper, and feels like I am putting on their clothes. As a storyteller I believe it’s important to hear how a story sounds so I spend a lot of time reading bits of my writing out loud – much to the amusement of my family!
Key Stages worked with
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Occasionally Key Stage 3
Useful links
Booking and practical information
All writers can be booked through the Education Officer with whom you have booked an object. They will help you sort out dates for a planning meeting and the practicalities of all the sessions with students. Schools taking part in Literacy Loans will need to be happy to use zoom, teams, google classrooms or another equivalent secure online platform.
The standard fee for one class to have three 40 minute sessions with our writers is £200. We may be able to help with the costs for schools with high levels of Pupil Premium funding or seeking to address specific issues with writing.
Amazing writing
Take a look at these poems and story ideas that students from Mo Mowlem Academy, in Redcar, created with Elizabeth in response to a Literacy Loans object.