EPHS Author-in-Residence Creative Writing Workshops

A group of EPHS Year 10 and 11 students have just completed a series of workshops with the highly acclaimed published author Rachel Seiffert, developing the skills, attitudes and behaviours that underpin success and achievement! 

Over the course of the First Story Young Writers Programme, a small, core group of 21 students have worked with the professional writer as a visible role model and inspiring mentor, on numerous writing projects, exploring a wide range of themes, writing styles and personal journeys.

They have received focused individual feedback and had time to share, discuss and progress – boosting vital communication, engagement, and resilience skills. The eight weeks have ended with an officially (soon to be) published anthology, capturing their beautiful work for everyone to read.

The feedback from the students themselves was overwhelmingly positive. When asked what they'd enjoyed, comments included:

"Freedom and encouragement to write whatever I want."

"Writing. I loved every second of it."

"Working in a creative space with an author."

When asked 'Do you take pleasure in writing/seeing yourselves as creative and now possess an increased desire to be creative?', 100% of the participating students said 'yes'.  Their comments included:

"I now enjoy expressing and telling my story through poems."

"This has influenced my love for writing, which I now want to do more of."

"I now have more motivation to write."

"I know have moved on to write on more interesting subjects."

"I have now experienced the joy of writing and want to write a book."

Contributor: Miss Altenburg, English Teacher, who set up and facilitated this amazing programme with First Story.

We were delighted to work with Miss Altenburg and host this amazing writing programme in the Upper Library, where students were able to spread out, collaborate and present their ideas and work. It was amazing to watch Rachel at work and see how she managed to so skilfully engage and draw out the creativity from all the students.  A copy of their anthology, once published, will be available in the Library and Rachel Seiffert's brilliant book The Dark Room, can be borrowed now from the Upper Library, and comes highly recommended by Mrs Nolan!