Get involved with free Upload Festival workshops this weekend
Attention aspiring writers and comedians! Upload Festival is back – with more free online workshops than ever before.
Upload is the front door to the BBC for creators of all kinds across England and Scotland. We showcase your work every week of the year, and this weekend it’s our annual flagship Upload Festival where we will feature uploaders’ content on our nationwide shows on BBC iPlayer and on Sounds at bbc.co.uk/uploadfestival. We are also giving you the chance to join free online workshops where you can get expert advice from established writers, comedians and agents.
The workshops are taking place this weekend (Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2022). All you need to do is sign up – it’s as simple as that!
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis – so grab your spot ASAP!
Here are the workshops to choose from:
Saturday 18 June, 10:00-11:00
Fancy hearing or seeing your work on Upload? Our team of BBC Upload presenters from England and Scotland are here to help with insight, tips and advice on easy ways to turn your writing into audio or video, how to get your content ready to upload and how to give yourself the best shot of getting it on air. Sign up
Getting Started as a Writer with Clare Reddaway
Saturday 18 June, 11:30-12:30
Want to be a writer but don’t know where to start? Writer Clare Reddaway will have tips on how to make those first steps towards creating short stories. She’ll also set writing challenges in order to help improve your prose. Have a notepad and pen handy for this interactive workshop! Clare runs ‘A Word In Your Ear’ which specialises in creating new writing. Her plays have been performed all over the country and she runs a regular live short fiction events across the South West. Sign up
Get Seen as a Stand-Up with Mark Olver, Priya Hall & Runi Talwar
Saturday 18 June, 13:00-14:00
(A.K.A. Getting into comedy when you’re not a straight white male!) Mark has more than 20 years’ experience in stand-up, as well as writing on shows such as The Last Leg and hosting the warm-up for programmes like 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Priya Hall and Runi Talwar are two stand-ups making great waves on the live scene and in TV. Sign up
Improve Your Writing and Further Your Career with David Savill
Saturday 18 June, 14:30-15:30
Attention all budding writers! David Savill will have tips on how to improve your creative writing as well as how to get your first work out there. Bring a pen and paper as there will be a few challenges. David published his first novel in 2016 and also teaches creative writing at the University of Salford. Sign up
Creating Brilliant Digital Content with Holly Hall
Saturday 18 June, 16:00-17:00
Want to start creating content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok etc but don’t know where to start? The BBC New Comedy Award’s Digital Comedian of the Year 2021 Holly Hall is here with plenty of tips on how to begin that process. Holly has appeared on the Last Leg, performs regularly on the improv comedy circuit and is taking her first solo character comedy show to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. Sign up
Writing For Children with Jon Blake
Sunday 19 June, 11:30-12:30
Dreaming of writing for children? Author Jon Blake will give you a clear idea of what’s involved and get you started on writing for this audience. Based in Cardiff, Jon is the creator of more than sixty titles – including ‘Thimble Monkey Superstar’. He is a BBC award winner and teaches creative writing. Sign up
Getting Started in Stand-Up with Mark Olver, Nathan Caton and Molly McGuinness
Sunday 19 June, 13:00-14:00
Expert advice for budding comedians in all areas of stand-up comedy. How to get that first gig, tips for becoming a great compere, how to approach promoters and even advice on running your own event. Mark Olver has over 20 years’ experience as a stand-up, Nathan Caton has performed on shows such as Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week and Molly McGuiness was a BBC New Comedy Award 2021 finalist. Sign up
BBC Writersroom: Who they are and how they can help you
Sunday 19 June, 14:30-15:30
Development Executive Simon Nelson from BBC Writersroom will share insight and tips on opportunities and support for new writers in the BBC. Sign up
Getting Yourself A Comedy Agent
Sunday 19 June, 16:00-17:00
Landing yourself an agent is a big milestone as a working stand-up comedian, but how do you get to that point? Chris Lander, an agent from Blue Book Artist Management will be joined by comedians Anna Thomas, Vittorio Angelone, Diona Doherty and Finlay Christie to discuss their journeys from starting out in stand-up to being represented by an agency. Sign up
Watch and listen to the Upload Festival this weekend and follow Live Updates
Dates: 18/19 June 2022
Source: BBC Writersroom