On Writing for Young People: Conference 2025

On Writing for Young People: Conference 2025

The 2025 Conference has now taken place, however if you would like to buy a post-conference ticket to watch the panel papers and Q&A only, these tickets are available until the end of Jan 2026.

Thursday 20 November & Friday 21 November; 08:30-17:00 (UK time); 100% Online

On Writing for Young People is a two-day online conference to discuss ideas & insights in the academic field of creative writing for children and Young Adults.

Leaf Journal's annual conference runs this year on Thursday 20 November & Friday 21 November. It is intended for an audience of creative writers and practitioners for young people with an academic interest in the field. They will enjoy a stimulating mix of invited keynote, panel presentations from our wider community and writing workshops. We are thrilled to announce our conference keynote speaker is Abie Longstaff, best-selling author of The Fairytale Hairdresser series and Chair of the Society of Authors' Children's Writers and Illustrators Group.

The conference hosts speakers from the UK, India, Egypt, USA and beyond. They will deliver papers on a wide range of issues from ways to engage reluctant readers, to representations of masculinity, social justice in historical fiction and more.

We will also host practical writing workshops and networking opportunities.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE.

Feedback from a previous Conference:

‘Thank you so much for your organisation of the conference. It was a delightful two days to spend in the company of people with passion for children’s literature and writing, and the baked-in inclusivity was truly eye-opening.’

The Format

The conference takes place 100% online, using Zoom. All the panel papers are pre-recorded and made available to delegates in advance of the conference via Google Drive. These should be watched asynchronously (in your own time). On the 20-21 November we will meet live, online, to hear the keynote, to take part in the workshops and to host Q&A sessions with the panellists. These Q&As will be recorded and added to Google Drive. The keynote and workshops will not be recorded and are only available to delegates who attend live. All material on the Drive will remain available until 1 February 2026 to allow delegates to catch up on anything they missed.

Ticket Costs:

Bath Spa MA Writing for Young People students on the 2025 'Forms, Ages and Stages' module, your conference ticket is included in your degree programme; there is no need for you to purchase a ticket.

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Speakers (panelists, workshop leaders, panel chairs): Free

Waged: £32

Unwaged (inc. students and part-time working): £22

Attendees in the Global South: £5

Post-conference access to the Drive recordings only (panel papers and Q&A sessions). These tickets will be on sale 22 Nov-31 Jan 2026. Access to the recordings ceases on 1 Feb 2026: £8

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Any questions about the conference should be directed to LeafJournal@bathspa.ac.uk.

Any and all revenue from the conference will be re-invested in 'Leaf Journal' to ensure its long-term feasibility, and to widen access to scholarly publishing.