Author passes on top tips to Ashville College pupils
Ruth Eastham, whose fifth book is to be published later this year, spent the day at Ashville College leading writing workshops for Year 7 and 8 students, as part of the school’s annual Book Week.
During the lunch break, Ms Eastham signed copies of her previous four books – which she describes as “edgy fiction where the past meets the present” - for a host of young fans.
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Hide AdThe Lancashire-born former teacher, best-known for her novel The Memory Cage, gave the Year 8 pupils a masterclass in “micro” or “flash” fiction, where a complete story is told in between 250 and 400 words.
For her session with the Year 7s, the writer got her young protégées to think of a “memory” as the starting point for fiction and non-fiction writing.
And, with a memory in mind - be it a place, a person or an object - she got the budding authors to write the opening paragraphs of their own novel.
Ashville College’s Librarian Laura Herring said: “Ruth’s workshops were really inspirational and the Year 7s and 8s thoroughly enjoyed working with her.
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Hide Ad“Being a former teacher, Ruth knew exactly how to get the best from the students, and her enthusiasm for books, reading and writing was contagious.”
She added: “Book Week is a popular and important feature on our calendar, and one that pupils of all ages thoroughly enjoy and always benefit from.”