Chester Literature Festival returns to Storyhouse this autumn, and along with headline appearances from stellar literary names the busy two-week celebration of the written word also includes the chance for participants to get some top tips from professional wordsmiths and illustrators.

Storyhouse is hosting a series of special writers’ workshops and panel events where you can learn from fascinating and talented storytellers, helping to consider key questions around creating a range of different genres of literature and developing and honing your own skills in the process.

You may be a seasoned writer, an enthusiastic beginner or you may simply have an idea for a story which is bursting to get out, but you need help to tell it. Whatever creative hat you wear, there’s something happening that you won’t want to miss.

Click on each image to find out more and book tickets!

The workshops start on the opening day of the festival, Saturday, November 6, with a fascinating look at Science Fiction as Activism.

Ama Josephine Budge – writer, artist, curator and ‘pleasure activist’ – will lead the afternoon workshop aimed at adults and which will explore how to read, write and think about how to use sci-fi to bring about real change.

There will be a chance to create some microfiction (short stories of 300 words and less) and to create a speculative universe for your characters.

In Illustrating for the Culture on Sunday, November 7, London-based illustrator, art director and founder of illustration studio Nubiart, Jael Umerah-Makelemi, looks at the issue of representation in books and how to best bring written characters to life.

With illustration just as important as words in representing different and diverse communities, Jael will host the workshop and creative drawing session which considers what good representation looks like.

The 3.30pm session takes place in The Kitchen and is free but booking is required.

Ever fancied writing, designing and producing your own zine? Now is your chance to find out how in a one-off DIY Zine Making Workshop on Saturday, November 13.

Zoe Thompson, founder of sweet-thang zine – an independent arts and literary zine celebrating work by Black women and non-binary creatives – will lead the two-hour event which is a must for anyone who wants to learn how to start and create their own unique publication.

Meanwhile four fantastic panellists come together on Sunday, November 14 for Beyond the Margins – Writing the Story That Needs to be Told.

The 90-minute session will explore the stories writers are meant to write, and not ones they feel they should write because they either sound good or know they will be popular.

Whether you are a writer, a budding writer, or just interested in good stories, the afternoon event will give lots of valuable insight into the creative process – and how to stay true to yourself.

And on Tuesday, November 18, creative storytellers aged 14 to 25 are being invited to immerse themselves in the world of comics and visual storytelling.

Comics Youth: Write and Illustrate a Story, being held in the Garret Bar, will be led by writer Emily McChrystal and illustrator Ella Fradgley of Comics Youth, an inspirational and empowering Liverpool-based creative community organisation which is led by young people, for young people.

The Comics Youth event has been created by Storyhouse’s own Young Readers group.

Find out more about the 2021 Chester Literature Festival here, including workshop times, prices and how to book.