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First Story

England's leading creative writing charity for young people

  • Bookshop
  • News
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Summer residential
    • Folio Mentorships
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Who we work with
    • Becoming a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Free writing resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
    • Becoming a First Story partner school
  • Locations
    • North of England
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
  • About
    • About us
    • Our impact
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Make a donation

Becoming a First Story writer

First Story writers are talented professionals with a publication record of at least one book and/or an established reputation as a performance poet or playwright. Our writers typically have at least three years of teaching experience, including working with young people, as well as experience of bringing a project to publication.


Our writers are ambassadors for First Story within their assigned school, and for creative writing within their region. Above all, we want to work with professionals who share our belief in the power of creative writing, and who can apply their enthusiasm and craft to develop young people’s confidence, creativity and writing ability.

Read Booker-shortlisted author Rachel Seiffert’s account of what it’s like to work with young people as a First Story Writer-in-Residence >

Role essentials

  • Facilitate weekly after-school (90-minute) creative writing workshops, over 16 weeks, supporting a consistent group of up to 20 students (aged 11-18).
  • Edit a printed anthology of your group’s writing.
  • Attend your group’s anthology launch event.

Additional opportunities are offered to our writers during the year, such as leading workshops at our events, or facilitating our week-long summer residential course at Arvon.

How to apply

If you’re an established professional writer with teaching skills and experience, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

Please email us your CV, detailing relevant experience and qualifications, along with a covering letter outlining why you want to work with First Story.

Please note that references will be required and you must be DBS certified.

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Contact us

44 Webber Street
London
SE1 8QW

020 7481 7777

info@firststory.org.uk

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