University of Suffolk students to benefit from support from novelist

Children’s author and novelist Francesca Armour-Chélu having been appointed the new Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Suffolk, where she will help support students with their writing. Here, Francesca explains more

Students at the University of Suffolk will be able to benefit from advice and support from novelist and children’s author, Francesca Armour-Chélu, who has been appointed the new Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow. Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellows are professional writers who operate independently of the University and offer support to either undergraduate or postgraduate students to improve their writing.

The fellows offer free, one-to-one support in 50-minute tutorials, helping students identify issues they may have in their writing and provide support.

This can include advice on structure, punctuation or grammar, paraphrasing or referencing abilities, time-management and planning strategies, as well as proofreading or editing skills.

Francesca Armour-Chélu is a novelist and author of short stories and children’s books, and took up the role at the start of the academic year, working on Mondays and Tuesdays on campus or online where needed.

Francesca said: “For those students returning to education after a break, or who are feeling overwhelmed by what’s meant by ‘academic writing’ or just want to talk through early ideas for an essay, a consultation with a professional writer can be so helpful.

“I have years of experience of writing, from first drafts to final edits, and I’m keen to help more students get the grades they deserve; many students who have benefitted from consultations with RLF fellows see a huge improvement in their grades.”

Francesca’s first children’s book, Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero (Walker Books, 2016) is a dystopian story set in a flooded world. The book was longlisted for a number of awards, including the Branford Boase Award, the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award, and the New Angle Prize. The book was also shortlisted for the Mal Peet Children’s Award alongside its sequel, Fenn Halflin and the Seaborn (Walker Books, 2017). Her most recent children’s book is The Butterfly Circus (Walker Books, 2019).

Francesca also won the Mslexia International Short Story competition with The Starving Ghost, a tale about an encounter between a homeless woman and wealthy businessman in Japan, and her novel, Lemon Ink Over Flame, which is set in an isolated Suffolk village, was shortlisted for the Tibor Jones Pageturner Prize in 2013 for debut novelists.

Francesca was born and raised in Suffolk, and after reading English and Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, she returned to the county to work in libraries and museums, developing the Ipswich Museums Education programme. She nowruns creative writing sessions in schools, libraries and literature festivals, and for the last three years has collaborated with the INK Festival in Halesworth to create workshops encouraging young writers to develop their talent.

Dr Amanda Hodgkinson Director for the Suffolk Centre for Culture and Heritage at the University of Suffolk, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Francesca as our new Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow.

“Francesca will be a tremendous asset to our students, who will be able to draw on her wealth of experience to develop their writing skills and gain confidence in their work.”

Francesca follows on from the University’s first Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow, playwright and children’s author Christopher Hill.

University of Suffolk students can book an appointment with Francesca by emailing Francesca.armour-chelu@rfleducation.org.uk. To find out more about studying at Suffolk, visit University of Suffolk.