More than 75 GCSE students from across East London schools including Eastlea Community, School21 and Stratford School Academy have taken their creative writing skills to new heights at NewVIc Sixth Form (NewVIc), following an inspiring and immersive workshop led by the award-winning fantasy and children’s author, Cliff McNish.

More than 75 GCSE students from across East London schools including Eastlea Community, School21 and Stratford School Academy have taken their creative writing skills to new heights at NewVIc Sixth Form (NewVIc), following an inspiring and immersive workshop led by the award-winning fantasy and children’s author, Cliff McNish.

Cliff has been writing for over 20 years and is renowned for his gripping storytelling and award-winning novels. His best-known works include the 2006 ghost novel Breathe, The Silver Sequence, and The Doomspell Trilogy, which has been translated into 26 languages. Cliff visited NewVIc to deliver a hands-on creative writing masterclass designed to ignite imagination, sharpen narrative technique and build confidence in young writers, some preparing for their GCSE examinations.

Throughout the sessions, students explored the key elements of compelling storytelling working on ‘how to create a ghost story’, working on characters and building tension to creating vivid settings and powerful openings. Drawing on his extensive experience as a published author, he shared practical advice on how to transform ideas into engaging narratives, offering insights into the creative process and the discipline behind successful writing.

In addition to the masterclasses at NewVIc, Cliff McNish also hosted a ‘Meet the author’ event and book signing for students at Newham College London. The interactive talk offered learners the opportunity to hear first-hand about his journey into writing, the challenges and rewards of being a published author, and the importance of perseverance and creativity in achieving personal goals. Students engaged in lively discussions, asked thoughtful questions and gained valuable insights.

Sumayyah, English teacher from Eastlea School, said;

“Our students are preparing for their GCSE Language papers. By attending the session with Cliff, it has opened their eyes to the world of writing. They’ve been given structure, ideas and approaches to use in their own writing. It’s not as hard as it seems and students have really enjoyed meeting a fantastic author like Cliff.”

Neville and Lauren, both English teachers from School21, said;

“Students enjoyed the session following an actual author to write a ghost story, learning about Cliff, his experiences of publishing and learning tips to use to become writers themselves. Students worked in pairs telling each other about their characters and stories and used the framework given by Cliff. Taking part in the workshop has benefited students and helped them become more confident in writing.”

Cliff McNish, author, commented;

“Most people can be good at something they’ve never done before. I come from a background in IT and wasn’t much of a reader when I was young. I really enjoy what I do now and haven’t looked back since. My advice to any young writer is to not give up, prove to yourself you can do it and trust your mind. Read everything, even those things you hate as you can still learn something from bad writing. The biggest gift we can give anyone is our imagination.”

School students left the sessions energised and inspired, equipped with practical tools and renewed confidence as they continue their studies. For many, the experience has sparked a deeper passion for storytelling and a belief in their own creative potential.

If you are a school in Newham or neighbouring boroughs interested in our schools outreach programme, please contact Christian Fadoju on christian.fadoju@newham.ac.uk or visit newvic.ac.uk/schools to find out more.

Acclaimed fantasy and children’s author, Cliff McNish, helps East London GCSE students master creative writing