Take Your First Steps Into Commercial Fiction: A Workshop with Angela Jackson

About The Workshop:

This two-hour intensive workshop examines the elements of what makes a story commercial, from tight plotting to creating compelling characters who jump off the page. Award-winning author Angela Jackson will ensure you leave with the tools and motivation to begin your own exciting creative journey.

If you love reading page turners, and are keen to explore the possibility of writing your own, this could be the workshop for you. In two hours, with the guidance of award-winning writer Angela Jackson, we will examine elements of what makes a story commercial — we’ll cover the basic principles of plot, and how to create compelling characters that jump off the page. By the end of this beginner’s intensive two-hour workshop, you will leave with the tools and motivation to begin your own exciting creative journey.

One free workshop place for low-income applicant

As part of a commitment to widening access, Angela Jackson has reserved a free ticket for the workshop for one promising new writer. The complimentary place also commemorates the life of writer Melissa Bank, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to commercial fiction and her renowned generosity towards new writers.

If you wish to apply for the complimentary place, please submit the following to edinburghwomensfictionfestival@gmail.com

The Subject line must include FREE WORKSHOP PLACE

In the body of the email, please list:

Your Name

Your Email Address

Any access needs we should take into account for your attendance at the workshop.

Then attach a word document containing your submission.

This must be a maximum 300 words of fiction that should include some character dialogue.

Applications must be submitted by Thursday 31st August.

Good luck!

About Angela:

Angela Jackson is an award-winning writer, a former psychology lecturer, and a creative writing tutor for Open University.

Her debut novel, The Emergence of Judy Taylor, won Edinburgh International Book Festival’s First Book Award, was selected as Waterstones’ Scottish Book of the Year, and reached number one in Comic Fiction on Amazon.

She completed her second novel, The Darlings, after workshopping two of its key characters in a one woman show format. She produced, directed and performed a sellout run of The Darling Monologues at Edinburgh Fringe. The reviews called her a one-woman tour de force, and described the show as: “Talking Heads meets Victoria Wood.”

She debuted her second one-woman show, SAY IF IT’S NOT OKAY, at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, and has also performed stand-up at the Fringe. She was recently commissioned to write a children’s story, The Cat who Knew Everything, for a Hollywood audio production company, and is currently working on her third novel, Learning to Thrive.

She lives in Edinburgh with her family and Nancy the cat, who does, indeed, know everything.

This Workshop is sponsored by Bookouture - a dynamic digital publisher of bestselling commercial fiction and non-fiction.