Teaching
“For an entire year, I sat with Sarah Hall on the jury of the Man Booker Prize, the most prestigious international award after the Nobel. Week after week, I was in genuine awe of her critical faculties. Sarah has an extraordinary literary sensibility, but she is also gifted with a twinned ability I’ve rarely, if ever, encountered in my life as a reader or writer: Sarah is an astounding technician of literature, whilst also being, hands down, one of the very best poets (which is to say writers) of our generation.”
— Lila Azam Zanganeh, The Enchanter: Nabokov and Happiness
“Sarah Hall is not only one of the UK’s most accomplished writers. She is also a generous teacher and a dedicated, intelligent reader. Her masterclass was the highlight of my recent writer’s retreat, introducing me to new ways of writing and giving me fresh perspective on more familiar prose. As a writer it left me inspired and energised.”
— Kathleen McCaul, author, UEA/Chase doctorate
“Sarah is the most generous teacher I know: perceptive, patient and kind. She has the rare ability to share aspects of the craft of writing that are often opaque, misunderstood or poorly explained . She enables her students to find their way and their voice. I’m enormously grateful for her early encouragement and her rigorous analysis, it’s stood me in good stead. She’s also great company!”
— Janet Ellis, The Butcher’s Hook
“Taking a creative writing course with Sarah remains one of the best decisions I have made for myself and my work. I found her enthusiasm, intelligence and support hugely inspiring, while her clear-sighted feedback gave me the confidence to keep going. She introduced me to novels that challenged what I thought fiction could do, and, five years later, I’m still looking over old notes from her workshops and learning new lessons from them.”
— Swithun Cooper, Royal Holloway
“I was lucky enough to have Sarah as my tutor on a renowned week long Arvon writing course. The encouragement and feedback from her in our 1:1 and group sessions was a turning point for me. Having my writing validated by a successful author as inspiring as Sarah gave me the confidence and belief I could do it. I have now trained to facilitate my own writing workshops for adults and children for several years in different locations in the UK. Thank you Sarah!”
— Kate Ogden, Therapeutic Writing Facilitator
“I’ve loved working with Sarah. She’s a great encourager, a sensitive listener and reader, but always prepared to speak openly and honestly. Hard to imagine anyone with a serious ambition to write who would not come away from time with Sarah knowing more and ready to do better.”
— Andrew Miller, FRSL, IMPAC and Costa Book of the Year Winner
“To improve one’s writing there is no substitute for spending time with a great writer. As editor and mentor, Sarah has not only sharpened my ear and eye; she has given me access to the tools of narrative and drama that have enabled me to approach my material in completely new ways. For any developing writer, this is a lasting gift.”
— Rebecca Watts, The Met Office Advises Caution
“Sarah Hall brings the same intensity of vision, acute ear and generosity of spirit to her teaching as she does to her writing. She is a wonderful teacher and guide.”
— Owen Sheers, FRSL, I Saw A Man, The Green Hollow, To Provide All People
Sarah Hall
Sarah Hall is one of the UK’s most talented authors. Twice nominated for Man-Booker Prize, the first and only writer to win the BBC National Short Story Award twice, she has written 10 highly acclaimed novels and short story collections.
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