When I was fifteen, I was told by a careers advisor that girls like me don’t become writers. For a long time, I let this put a stop to my writing dreams. Perhaps this is why I love supporting and inspiring other writers as much as I do. I’m always delighted to meet other writers and readers and offer a variety of tried and tested events for children KS2 to KS5 and adults at all stages of their writing careers. Please use the contact form or e-mail riewriting@gmail.com to discuss dates and fees.
With the publication of Princess BMX, I’m encouraging readers and writers – young and old – to defy expectations and develop an extreme sporting mindset. My latest events including a fun, interactive presentation which encourages everyone to Be More BMX!
BE MORE BMX – Core Presentation
With their resilience, determination and a culture of mutual support, there is a lot we can learn from BMXers. With reference to my own publishing journey, I discusses the similarities between the writing and BMX mindset and encourage everyone to find the extreme sporting hero within.
This is a fun, interactive presentation that can be tailored for different audiences. Schools and younger audiences can expect flying teabags, jaw dropping BMX video clips and lots of laughs. Writers, should expect any of the above plus thoughtful insights into how we can build our support networks, author brand and maintain a positive writing mindset.
Download the leaflet for more details of Princess BMX events and activities.
More About Events with Marie Basting
Children and Young People
I have extensive experience of school visits, delivering writing workshops and participating in other book related events. An adaptable and professional learning practitioner, with an MA in Creative Writing, I have been commissioned to develop a wide range of schools outreach and enrichment work for organisations including Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the Portico Library, Connell Sixth Form College and Marsden Library.
It was the ideal balance of learning activities and confidence building. The pupils felt that spending the morning with you had been a ‘treat’. It was a welcome change from the usual classroom setting and helped the disadvantaged cohort develop their literacy skills. To the pupils, it felt like special treatment, in the most positive sense.
Jane Hesketh, Audenshaw School – Commenting on my crime writing workshop for Year 7s
In 2017, working under the direction of the Director Manchester Children’s Book Festival, I set up and managed MMUs first ever Writing and Talking Saturday Club, an enrichment programme for young writers aged 13-16.
Adults
Since graduating from Manchester Writing School, I have worked at MMU as an Associate Lecturer, teaching BA English and Creative Writing students, Foundation Year and both writers and teachers attending the Teaching Creative Writing professional development module. As ARA Networks at the SCBWI British Isles, I commission and deliver development support for writers and illustrators at all stages of their careers.
Marie is such an asset to SCBWI – cheerful, hard working, diligent, fun and super bright – she brings so much more than her amazing organisational skills. We’d truly be lost without her!
Kathryn Evans, Author and Co-RA SCBWI-British Isles
Teaching at University level, I’ve experience of supporting writers with all elements of craft and I am happy to tailor an event to your needs. I also have range of unique workshops ready to deliver.These include:
- Always show the reader what the kids are having to eat – a recap on some writing for children fundamentals. We’ll take time out to stop and ask are we writing a marketable book that meets reader and industry expectations: covering key elements of craft, book categories and child developmental stages, and demystifying the term high concept.
- It’s my fictional world and I’ll cry if I want to! – world building and setting without the tears. Well, with less tears.
- What Captain America taught me about voice – stand out characters and snazzy dialogue. Perfecting voice and dialogue with reference to the Marvel Avengers and Myers Briggs personality types – no advanced Avengers knowledge required!
- So you think you’ve finished your novel – a redrafting and editing know how covering some of the key considerations when getting your novel submission ready.
Conferences, Bookshops and Festivals
I have also chaired or participated in a range of literary events and conferences, including the Manchester Children’s Book Festival, Chorlton Book Festival and Salford University’s YA Festival. The workshops listed in the section above can be adapted for a range of settings.
Just when I thought she’d shown us everything, this year Marie took to the MCBF performance space at the Bigger Book Bash and engaged children in stories of Princess BMX, complete with party games, flying tea bags, bouncing eyeballs and unicorn hobby horses. Completely bonkers but a consummate professional, not a bad mix in my book.
Kaye Tew Director of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival
Make a Booking
An experienced learning practitioner with extensive experience of facilitation and personal development, I would love to talk to you about school visits and events or how I can support your own creative projects. As a former organisational development professional, I bring advanced project management and people skills to any assignment. In addition to the aforementioned MA Creative Writing, I have an MSc Management, Certificate in Coaching and I am an accredited action learning facilitator.
Please use the contact form or e-mail riewriting@gmail.com to discuss dates and fees.
Further Endorsements
I’ve worked with Marie in a number of ways over the years I’ve known her. She is always positive and easy to work with and her events are always well organised and lots of fun. In her role as ARA at SCBWI, we partnered on events and projects aimed at supporting the adult writing community, helping us to broaden our festival offer. When I was asked to set up the first Manchester Writing & Talking Saturday Club, I knew Marie would be the perfect person to help. I’d seen her deliver workshops with school groups before and knew she would be the perfect person to inspire our young writers. The ethos of Saturday Club is about writers at different stages of their careers sharing knowledge and helping each other to develop their craft, Marie did this brilliantly, creating workshops weekly and really relating to the young people who came and kept coming throughout the 12 weeks.
Just when I thought she’d shown us everything, this year Marie took to the MCBF performance space at the Bigger Book Bash and engaged children in stories of Princess BMX, complete with party games, flying tea bags, bouncing eyeballs and unicorn hobby horses. Completely bonkers but a consummate professional, not a bad mix in my book.
Kaye Tew Director of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival
Marie Basting 