For schools
Every child in the class becomes a published author
A full term of creative writing with children's author Karen Hughes, run on Zoom (or in person if your school is local), ending in a real paperback book with your students' names in it.
Karen has been running writing programs in Australian schools since 2014. She talks about her own road to becoming an author, from a country childhood to ten years of law in Canberra to writing five books for children. Then she gets the class writing.
The stories don't stop at the classroom door. Karen edits them, lays them out and has them printed, so at the end of the term every student holds a paperback with their own work inside it. That book goes home to parents and grandparents, which is usually the moment a reluctant writer decides they're a writer after all.
Programs run on Zoom, so where your school is doesn't come into it.
Karen is an intelligent and inspiring speaker. Her sessions are always fun, informative and from the heart.
Simone Goldrick, Teacher
Three ways to run it
Six one-hour workshops across a term, plus story editing, book design, layout and printing. Every child ends up a published author. Can also run as one intensive week.
From $3500
One to three hours on a theme you pick. Animal Magic, Lost in the Jungle, Once There Were Dragons, Steampunk, Zombies, Haunted House, Secret Island, or something of your own. Tailored to the age and size of the group.
From $450
Up to four separate one-hour workshops for different groups. Or a two-hour morning session and a two-hour afternoon session
From $800
Final cost depends on the size of the group and the number of sessions. Tell us what you're after and we'll send you a figure.
Karen was wonderful, the students found her engaging and informative. Her talk about the inspiration behind becoming an author was insightful ... The workshops were fun and the students really enjoyed their time with Karen. It really inspired the students to think about their own creative writing and how they could improve their character development.
Jeanette Dumbrell, McAuley Catholic College, Tumut
Who's teaching
Dr Karen Hughes is the author of the Kalika Magic series for readers aged 9 and up, five fantasy books on the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge. She has a PhD in English and spent almost ten years as a lawyer in Canberra before leaving to write full time.
She has four children of her own, and she believes every child deserves a chance to shine.
The practical bits
- Minimum ten participants.
- Sessions run on Zoom. Your school's location makes no difference to the cost.
- The full term program is eight weekly one-hour sessions, or one intensive week if that suits your timetable better.
- Printing, editing, design and layout of the class anthology are included in the term program.
- We'll work around your timetable. Tell us what's possible and we'll fit it.
Let's talk about your class
Tell us the year group, roughly how many students, and what term you're thinking about. We'll come back with a plan and a price.
Enquire about a school program See what our young writers have published