Overview

I'm a published novelist and award-winning short story writer. My debut novel All the Good Things was published by Viking, Penguin in 2017 to critical acclaim; in June 2018 Influx Press will publish my collection of experimental short fiction, How the Light Gets In. I'm an experienced creative writing tutor and manuscript consultant across commercial, young adult and literary fiction and life writing projects. I'm available for ghostwriting projects.

Services

Languages

Fiction

I gave a one-off guest lecture on writing and publishing for Undergraduate and Postgraduate English Literature and Creative Writing students.

I gave a guest lecture about my first novel for current Creative Writing undergraduates, who had studied it as part of their module.

I was chosen as one of five artists to collaborate with biological scientists at Leeds University and receive a £1000 bursary. My partner and I are now working to secure funding for a larger project.

I run occasional full-day creative writing workshops at The Hepworth, Wakefield. These range from courses inspired by current exhibitions to workshops on how to write and plan a novel, and putting together a short fiction collection.

I design and deliver a rolling six week creative writing course for adults at The Bowery Arts, ‘The Writing Workout.’ It develops students’ understanding of the key elements of writing craft through a s analysis, interactive creative exercises and the critical workshopping of each others’ work.

I provide in-depth editorial reports and one-to-one mentoring for writers of literary, commercial, Young Adult and historical novels, memoir and short fiction. I have worked with writers of all abilities, from those who are starting out to those who have already completed MAs in Creative Writing but want to further develop their craft.

I gave detailed critical editorial feedback to the winners of a Spread the Word/Ideas Tap short story competition.

I've been practising as a fiction writer since completing my MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London, in 2011. After winning several short story competitions, receiving an Arts Council England bursary to make a live art installation at Leeds Light Night in 2014 and receiving an offer of publication for the ensuing short story collection, How the Light Gets In, from Influx Press, I secured an offer of publication for my debut novel, All the Good Things, from Viking, Penguin UK in 2016. As a result, the publication of my story collection was pushed back to June 2018.

All the Good Things was published in hardback in June 2017 and was described as "A sparky and unsettling debut" by The Guardian. It received widespread critical acclaim and has been praised by Francis Spufford, Joanna Harris, Kit de Waal and others. Editions are also out or forthcoming in Holland, Italy, Israel, Poland and the USA.

I am now working on my second novel, teaching creative writing in a variety of settings and working as a freelance developmental editor, writing mentor and manuscript consultant.

Edgeways

Bidisha, Nick Black, Clare Sita Fisher, Tania Hershman, Toby Litt, KJ Orr, Deirdre Shanahan, Saradha Soobrayen

A collection of the best short stories from the Spread the Word Prize 2013. Inspired by the theme of 'ritual', Edgeways contains new fiction from Bidisha, Toby Litt, Tania Hershman, Clare Sita Fisher, K J Orr, Saradha Soobrayen, Nick Black and Deirdre Shanahan. The collection is edited by Courttia Newland.The stories collected in Edgeways are wide in their scope, told in a range of distinct an... read more

A collection of the best short stories from the Spread the Word Prize 2013. Inspired by the theme of 'ritual', Edgeways contains new fiction from Bidisha, Toby Litt, Tania Hershman, Clare Sita Fisher, K J Orr, Saradha Soobrayen, Nick Black and Deirdre Shanahan. The collection is edited by Courttia Newland.The stories collected in Edgeways are wide in their scope, told in a range of distinct an... read more

Unthology 8: 8

Damon King

Live on a grand scale. Make deathless art. Scream paint. Sculpt ice. Let it melt and become a dynasty. Tarry with prophets and dreamers. Find joy in danger zones. Quit the stage of history. Tread the boards instead. Take a safari. Take a boat ride to the south of France. Work in the music biz, a chicken shack or cliff-top cafe. Fall in love, then out of love. Complete the jigsaw puzzle in a ti... read more

Live on a grand scale. Make deathless art. Scream paint. Sculpt ice. Let it melt and become a dynasty. Tarry with prophets and dreamers. Find joy in danger zones. Quit the stage of history. Tread the boards instead. Take a safari. Take a boat ride to the south of France. Work in the music biz, a chicken shack or cliff-top cafe. Fall in love, then out of love. Complete the jigsaw puzzle in a ti... read more