To support and inspire school-age writers entering Inclusive Voices, our short-story and poetry competition, Inclusive Voices judge A. M. Dassu ran a free online writing workshop on 6th July. Her practical tips and advice helped participants connect their entries to the theme of empathy.
To support and inspire school-age writers entering Inclusive Voices, our short-story and poetry competition, Inclusive Voices judge A. M. Dassu ran a free online writing workshop on 6th July. Her practical tips and advice helped participants connect their entries to the theme of empathy.
The webinar attracted over 600 students from 20+ schools, bringing us closer to our goal of reaching 2,026 participants through the National Year of Reading Activities.
Throughout the session, Dassu showed how challenging stereotypes allows writers to create authentic characters whose experiences resonate with readers. Drawing on examples from her own books, Dassu highlighted the importance of understanding the emotions of those we write about, rather than following stereotypes or making assumptions.
At the beginning of the seminar, Dassu invited students to describe what they noticed in a series of photos. The exercise encouraged students to question their assumptions and challenge harmful narratives often reinforced by news headlines.
The news is what Dassu described as the most influential factor in her decision to embark on her writing journey. Seeing headlines that clearly try to frame a single story, excluding evidence or selecting which details to include, is what she says encouraged her to write stories about those most marginalised or isolated.
Dassu realised there was a need for a different perspective in the media and set about demonstrating this in her books. In the webinar, Dassu used her own writing as an example of how children can challenge stereotypes through writing.
They then discussed how to present a different perspective on a story by writing their own, drawing on previously discussed news headlines. The students came up with lovely stories, all sharing a similar feeling of empathy. Dassu's advice, combined with the students' vibrant imagination, created an inspiring workshop where creative, empathetic writing could flourish.
You can find out more about the short story competition here. It’s open from 4th June to 13th September 2026, free to enter, and open to everyone.