Information About Conrad - Cheadle teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

I am a professional, award-winning novelist with over 30 years of experience in the industry. I have ten novels to my name, four novellas and over 100 short stories. I have also ghostwritten an autobiography. My first novel was optioned by Michael Winterbottom's production company Revolution Films, for which I wrote three drafts of a screenplay. I have been a story consultant for Sony Computer Entertainment America and have a writing credit for a video game developed and produced in Manchester. I have won the British Fantasy Award, the International Horror Guild Award and the Littlewood Arc prize. My work has featured on the shortlists for the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award and the Crime Writers' Association Daggers. I regularly perform my work at conventions, libraries and festivals (e.g. Latitude). I have an up-to-date CRB certificate and I am a qualified first aider. I hold a PhD from the University of Huddersfield.

Teaching Experience:

As an associa**Contact Detail Removed**cturer, I have taught creative writing to undergraduates and MA students at Manchester Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University and the University of Salford. I am a visiting consultant for the Art of Writing, a Florence-based writers' group meeting annually for workshops and individual tuition. I have visited several schools (primary and secondary), colleges, libraries and writers' groups to give talks, run workshops and provide detailed feedback. I have given talks to audiences in the hundreds, as well as one-to-one tuition sessions. I have also co-ordinated distance learning via online webinars and chat rooms. I specialise in genre (crime, fantasy, horror, SF) but I am happy to address all forms of writing, both fiction (short stories, novels) and non-fiction (memoirs, autobiography, travel writing, etc).

Teaching Approach:

I am an approachable, amiable teacher with a deep knowledge of the craft of fiction writing and a passion for sharing my expertise. I love to inspire and enthuse students and to see their potential fulfilled. During engaging and fun informal sessions I will build confidence, tap into and develop ideas, help to understand the importance of story structure and provide challenging, age- and ability-appropriate exercises to develop writing ‘muscles’. We will explore one aspect per session (character, dialogue, setting, point of view, etc) crucial to the creation of effective story. We will also assess published fiction in order to unpick the locks of professionally-written prose to see what works and what doesn’t. 


I can help writers with a variety of associative problems, such as writer’s block, lack of inspiration, dearth of ideas, stuttering progress, confidence issues, stage fright (should you wish to perform your work), ineffectual self-assessment, focus.



I also oversee a step-by-step programme to develop story ideas from concept to final draft. I am available to read drafts and offer detailed feedback. I have a good understanding of current fiction markets and a wealth of contacts from the publishing industry. I can provide information about how to prepare manuscripts, write covering letters and approach agents. I can also provide advice regarding self-publishing and ebooks.