Festival registration is now full. Please complete the form below to join the waiting list.

Please join us — and up to 300 other young writers from across England — at the University of Cambridge on Wednesday 27th March 2024 for the Young Writers Festival, headlined by award-winning writer Dean Atta.

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First Story partner schools are invited to register for up to 40 student places. Attendees can include current and former Young Writers Programme participants, Young Ambassadors, and other students who would benefit from attending. Tickets cost £8 per student with free accompanying staff places.

Our headline writer is Dean Atta, a former First Story writer in residence and award-winning author of YA novels-in-verse The Black Flamingo and Only on the Weekends. Named as ‘one of poetry’s greatest modern voices’ (Gay Times). The Black Flamingo was a top-selling debut of 2020 and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, CILIP Carnegie Medal, The Jhalak Prize and The YA Book Prize

Full programme details are to be confirmed, but approximate running time is from 10am – 4.30pm. School staff will need to accompany young writers on the day and arrange transport to and from University of Cambridge. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. The Young Writers Festival is always popular, and we are keen to ensure as many schools as possible are able to attend.