Robin Stevens's Blog, page 14

Watch my Reading is Magic Festival event now!

Last month I teamed up with some of my favourite mystery writers for a panel event for the Reading is Magic festival – and if you missed it, you can watch it now for free on their website!

It’s a short event so it won’t take up too much of your time – we had a lot of fun creating it! And if you haven’t read Sharna Jackson, Katherine Woodfine and Serena Patel’s books yet, you really should!

Writing Prompt Mondays: Prompt 23

It’s October – and that means a new prompt, Detectives! Well done on your responses to September’s Resolutions prompt. I particularly liked Hannah’s story of a resolution from a lost grandparent, Millie’s story about throwing away a second chance, StarryMoon’s story about a shock revelation, Ana’s story about not going home and Hazel jr.’s fun Murder Most Unladylike fanfiction.

Because this month is spooky season, I decided that your prompt needs to be a little bit creepy. So for October’s prompt I’d like you to write about monsters!

Your monster can be the stuff of nightmares, like Mr Hyde, or it can be misunderstood, like Frankenstein’s Monster. It can have terrifying fangs and twelve tentacle-y legs, or it can just look like an ordinary person. It can even be an ordinary person, if you’d like – after all, people are often the scariest monsters. You can write your own version of a famous monster, or create your own. Your monster can be terrifying or sweet – but if you are going scary, make sure you’re not too gory or violent. Detective Society members of all ages will read your story!

Monsters will be your prompt for the whole month of October – and I’ll be back in November to give you your next assignment. Good luck, Detectives!

The rules …

It can be as long or as short as you like, and take you as much or as little time as you want.It can be any genre (type) of story you want. If you have an idea for something that I haven’t mentioned (writing a poem! Being inspired by a song you love! Writing non-fiction!), don’t wait for my permission – just go for it! This is your creativity working!You are not allowed to worry about grammar or spelling.You are not allowed to worry if it isn’t perfect, or criticise yourself as you’re writing.You are encouraged to make a plan before you begin, to make it easier for you to get to the end of the story. This can be two words or a whole page! But if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.Get to the end of the story without stopping to go back and fix bits you don’t like. Once you’ve finished, read it through again. If you still don’t like those bits, you can edit them now!If you want (and only if you want!) you’re allowed to post the first 500 words of your story in the comments below. I have to moderate the comments so it may take a while for them to show up – please be patient. I don’t want to see you apologising for your story or minimising what you’ve done when you post – writing a story is a triumph and you should be proud!Please do not use your full name when you comment – first names are fine, or you can make up a username that you like! Also remember to stay safe online and not get into private discussions with anyone you don’t know in real life without telling an adult first.If you like someone else’s story, you are allowed to comment to say so! If you’d like to give them ideas that might make their story even stronger, that’s OK, but please be kind and remember how deeply we all care about our writing. A good format for feedback might be something like: ‘I loved ****! Have you thought of ****? I think it might make your story even better!’ I will delete any comment if I feel it’s critical without being constructive.I can’t promise to give feedback on any individual stories – I’m not marking them!This isn’t a competition, and there will be no winners and no prizes, though I may choose a story or two to highlight in future posts.

Virtual event: Murder Most Unladylike at the Dublin International Literature Festival

As I mentioned in last month’s video, I’m not currently booking in live events, and I won’t be able to do so until the coronavirus is fully under control. I’m doing this for both your safety and my own – so although you’re welcome to ask when my next in-person events will be, I’m unable to tell you!

I do have quite a few virtual events coming up, though – and my next one is with Dublin ILF on the 25th October at 3pm! I’ll be talking to Grainne Clear about Murder Most Unladylike, Death Sets Sail and the Ministry of Unladylike Activity. I’m really looking forward to it, and I hope I’ll see lots of you there – you can book tickets via the website. They’re free, but you’re invited to make a contribution if you’re able.

September update video 2020

You might have noticed that this site was a little slow over the past few days, Detectives – it’s just been moved to a shiny new server, and so from now on everything should be much quicker!

Because of that I’m a little late putting up my September update and book recommendations video – but here it is, and I hope you enjoy it! Remember that you can subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notified whenever I post a new video. I’ve got a lot of exciting stuff coming later this year, and you won’t want to miss it!

My Behind the Book video is available now!

I’m very pleased to say that my Behind the Book video, featuring a Q&A, a workspace tour and a reading from the last two chapters of Death Sets Sail, is available to watch NOW on the Puffin YouTube channel. There’s a link below – I hope you enjoy it!

Behind the Book – watch the video from Friday!

I’ve got a new video on the way! Behind the Book with Robin Stevens will premiere on the Puffin YouTube Channel on Friday 18th September at 6pm BST.

You’ll be able to watch it at any time after that – and I’m also going to be posting it here on my website the next day. It’s got a tour of my workspace, a Q&A with fans and me reading the final two chapters of Death Sets Sail – so if you haven’t finished the book yet, you’ve got a few days to read it before you watch the video!

I really hope you enjoy it – I loved making it! I’ll also be back later this month with an update video on my own YouTube channel, so look out for that as well.

Writing Prompt Mondays: Prompt 22

Well done on your responses to last week’s prompt, Detectives! Your stories were so clever and thoughtful and romantic. I particularly liked Polly’s story about real female pirates, Ana’s story about a crush that might break up a friendship, Inaya’s Partition love story, Bel’s Murder Most Unladylike meet cute and Shims Girl’s geeky love story.

Because a lot of you have gone back to school by now, there’s less time for you to write your stories. So for the rest of this year, these prompts are going to become monthly, not weekly. You can still post your responses at any time, of course – and if you get bored you can always go back and respond to older prompts!

For the rest of September, your prompt will be resolutions. This was suggested by Detective Society member Neve – and it seems like a great choice, since this is the beginning of the school year, a time full of new challenges and big decisions.

A resolution is of course just a decision – to take up running, or learn to bake, or to be nicer to a family member or friend! You can write about characters making resolutions and breaking them, deciding to do something nice or not nice at all. You can also write about resolve in general – that’s the inner strength you use to get you through a difficult time and deal with upsetting things going on in the world.

Good luck, Detectives – both with your stories and with taking the big decisions that are part of all of our lives!

The rules …

It can be as long or as short as you like, and take you as much or as little time as you want.It can be any genre (type) of story you want. If you have an idea for something that I haven’t mentioned (writing a poem! Being inspired by a song you love! Writing non-fiction!), don’t wait for my permission – just go for it! This is your creativity working!You are not allowed to worry about grammar or spelling.You are not allowed to worry if it isn’t perfect, or criticise yourself as you’re writing.You are encouraged to make a plan before you begin, to make it easier for you to get to the end of the story. This can be two words or a whole page! But if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.Get to the end of the story without stopping to go back and fix bits you don’t like. Once you’ve finished, read it through again. If you still don’t like those bits, you can edit them now!If you want (and only if you want!) you’re allowed to post the first 500 words of your story in the comments below. I have to moderate the comments so it may take a while for them to show up – please be patient. I don’t want to see you apologising for your story or minimising what you’ve done when you post – writing a story is a triumph and you should be proud!Please do not use your full name when you comment – first names are fine, or you can make up a username that you like! Also remember to stay safe online and not get into private discussions with anyone you don’t know in real life without telling an adult first.If you like someone else’s story, you are allowed to comment to say so! If you’d like to give them ideas that might make their story even stronger, that’s OK, but please be kind and remember how deeply we all care about our writing. A good format for feedback might be something like: ‘I loved ****! Have you thought of ****? I think it might make your story even better!’ I will delete any comment if I feel it’s critical without being constructive.I can’t promise to give feedback on any individual stories – I’m not marking them!This isn’t a competition, and there will be no winners and no prizes, though I may choose a story or two to highlight in future posts.

Scottish Schools: This is your chance to get a visit from me!

I’ve got good news for Scottish fans – I may not be able to come visit you in person this autumn, but I’ll be able to be with you virtually!

I’m teaming up with the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour and Book Week Scotland for a week of absolutely FREE events for Scottish schools. (Yes, this is schools only, I’m afraid – but please do share the link with your teachers to see if your school could book me).

Visit the webpage to find out more, and to watch a short video from me about what I’m offering. I’m really looking forward to chatting to as many of you as possible – I’m so glad we can still connect online!

Ask Me Anything for my new Behind the Book Video!

Have you finished Death Sets Sail? Do you have BURNING QUESTIONS that you’re longing to have me answer? Now’s your chance!

You have until the 6th of September to send all of your questions about the MMU series, The Ministry of Unladylike Activity, Howl the puppy or anything else you might want to know to a special email address that my publisher Puffin has set up: askrobinstevens@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. I’m going to be answering my very favourites on a new ‘Behind the Book’ video, premiering on the 18th of September on the Puffin YouTube channel. I’ll also be reading the last few chapters of Death Sets Sail. So expect tears …

Please make sure you follow the instructions above carefully – don’t email my usual author email address, and don’t delay, as the 6th September deadline is very soon.

I can’t wait to answer your questions, Detectives!

Death Sets Sail at the Reading is Magic Festival!

I’ve got great news for any Detective Society members sad to be missing me at this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival – although I won’t be able to be there in person, the festival is going online this year, and I’m part of it!

The Reading is Magic Festival launched its programme last week, and I’m thrilled to be part of its brilliant line-up, doing a panel with two of my detective author friends Sharna Jackson and Serena Patel! We’re chaired by Katherine Woodfine – and you can watch our event for free on the 30th September at 1:30pm.

Visit the website now to find out more and to see who else will be appearing – it’s an amazing list of authors and illustrators, and I hope it helps brighten up your autumn!