Cardiff Met Creative Writing Workshop Encourages Youngsters To Get Creative

Rhydypenau Primary School pupils were encouraged to get creative at a workshop hosted at the University’s Cyncoed Library, ahead of the Cardiff Children’s Literature festival which kicks off in the city this weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Led by children’s author, Dan Anthony – who is also a lecturer on Cardiff Met’s Creative Writing programme – the workshop encouraged children’s creativity through reading and creative writing, featuring Dan’s new book, “The Bus Stop at the End of the World”, Gomer publishing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aimed at 9-12 year olds the book is written from the perspective of eleven-year-old Ritchie, who among his struggles in daily life, finds solace and escapism in the bus stop at the end of the road, where he is visited by all manners of creatures from witches to trolls, all arriving by public transport to his bus stop! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking at the event, Dan said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I really enjoy holding workshops with school children as it helps to encourage them to be creative and share ideas. Although writing is often a solitary activity, it can also be collaborative and workshops are the perfect example of a positive way of sharing ideas and being creative together. I like to engage children in a new story by reading an extract to them, letting them write and share ideas, allowing them to be part of the creative process.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Academic librarian at Cardiff Met and organiser of the Cyncoed Library session, Catherine Finch added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We really enjoy opening and showcasing our amazing library space to nearby schools as part of our commitment to widening access and engagement with the local community. With Dan being a lecturer here, we had a wonderful opportunity to do this and celebrate the Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. By inviting him to hold one of his well-loved workshops, it has really ignited their imaginations ahead of a fortnight jam-packed with literary-themed activities – it really will be ‘all aboard’ for all those attending his workshop this Saturday!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Academic librarian at Cardiff Met and organiser of the Cyncoed Library session, Catherine Finch added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 2017 Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival returns to Cardiff from 25 March – 2 April ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​