Delve into the art of creating captivating and authentic tales that will keep tween and teen readers hooked for hours on end with author Charlie Archbold.

Writing for middle grade and early young adult readers can seem a challenging task, one that requires a deep understanding of young readers' preferences and interests. In this workshop, you will learn about the characteristics of the middle grade and young YA audiences and how to tailor your voice and your writing to resonate from page one.

Through writing activities and discussions, you will discover how to develop authentic characters through character arcs and backstories, build believable relationships between characters and their world, and improve your craft with tips on dialogue, description, and cohesion.

Charlie will share her experience writing for this readership and provide valuable insights into publishers and agents' expectations. This workshop is the perfect opportunity for emerging and aspiring writers to learn the tricks of the trade and take their writing to the next level.

Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of middle grade audiences and how it applies to their manuscript
• Learn how to write authentic characters for middle grade texts
• Build believable relationships between characters and their world
• Gain insight in to publishers' expectations
• Understand the challenges and joys of writing for middle grade.

About Charlie Archbold

Charlie is a freelance writer and teacher. She has worked in Australia, the UK, and Indonesia. Charlie was born in London and grew up in the UK before settling in Australia. Mallee Boys was her debut YA novel. It won the Adelaide Festival Unpublished Manuscript Award and was a 2018 Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour book. Her middle grade novel The Sugarcane Kids and the Red Bottomed Boat won the 2022 Readings Children’s Prize and was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It is a 2023 CBCA Notable book. The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage is the next instalment. Her 2021 YA novel Indigo Owl is a speculative fiction adventure, and her first picture book, Raised by Moths will be released in 2023. Her blogs, short stories and poems are about resilience, curiosity, and the beauty of our world. Charlie is also the recipient of an Arts South Australia grant and is writing her first adult novel.

Venue: Morgan Thomas Room, State Library, North Terrace, Adelaide SA

Members $88 / Non-members $140

—Not a Writers SA member? Members receive more than 30% off the full price of this workshop, you’ll also get a free 20 minute consult, expert advice about your career and your work, and join a community of like-minded creatives. Join now for as little as $60! 

—We strongly recommend all staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You cannot attend if you are unwell or you or a close family member test positive to Covid-19 in the five days prior to this event. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!

—If you are a member of another state based writers centre or a member of SCBWI SA, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the program commencement date to get a code for the member price.