Writers in Residence
Better writing, better marks. Want to improve your writing?
Professional writers Elizabeth Holloway, Sarah Ward and Matt Carr are available during term-time to advise, on a one-to-one basis, students and staff on any aspects of their writing. Whether it's essays, reports, dissertations or other written work, Elizabeth, Sarah and Matt offer constructive tutorials of up to an hour about any aspect of your writing that you want to discuss. Whatever your science subject or level of study, our Royal Literary Fund Fellows can help you to improve your writing, from structure and argument to flow and coherence.
Contact Elizabeth, Sarah or Matt to book an appointment. Sessions will mainly be one-to-one face-to-face but some online sessions will be available upon request.
Elizabeth Holloway – elizabeth.holloway@rlfeducation.org.uk
Writer in Residence: Tuesday/Wednesday
To book an appointment email: elizabeth.holloway@rlfeducation.org.uk
Elizabeth Holloway is the author of four collections of poetry. Her work has been widely published in magazines and anthologies and she has been the recipient of various prizes, most recently a Northern Writers Award in 2018. Elizabeth has worked as a writer-in-residence in schools, universities, a prison and BBC Radio and she was Editor of Staple Magazine 2000-2005.
Alongside her work as a poet, Elizabeth was a university lecturer in Education for over 30 years. During that time, she developed a special interest in supporting her students (and colleagues) to become more confident writers. She believes that the process of sharing writing is very powerful and that it can support our academic development more generally. Whether you’re working on a short lab report or a PhD thesis, Elizabeth will be happy to see you. She is available for in-person sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesday.
Sarah Ward – sarah.ward@rlfeducation.org.uk
Writer in Residence: Thursday
To book an appointment e-mail: sarah.ward@rlfeducation.org.uk
Sarah Ward is the author of four contemporary crime novels set in the Derbyshire Peak District where she lives, and two gothic historical thrillers published as Rhiannon Ward. She's also written Doctor Who audio dramas, and her articles and short stories have appeared in The Guardian, Sunday Express Magazine, Metro, and other print and online publications. Sarah began her career in the public sector before moving to Athens, Greece to teach English as a Foreign Language.
Sarah is passionate about helping people write clearly and has taught in schools, prisons, libraries and at festivals. She strongly believes that anyone can learn the basics of good writing and is looking forward to helping students at the University of Sheffield. Whether you’re struggling with essay planning or have problems with a specific aspect of writing, Sarah is here to help. She’s available for face-to-face and online sessions on Thursday.
Matt Carr – matthew.carr@rlfeducation.org.uk
Writer in Residence: Monday and Friday
To book an appointment e-mail: matthew.carr@rlfeducation.org.uk
Matt Carr is a writer and journalist. His nonfiction books include the widely acclaimed memoir of his Caribbean childhood, My Father’s House (Hamish Hamilton 1997); The Infernal Machine: A History of Terrorism (New Press 2007); Blood and Faith: The Purging of Muslim Spain 1492–1614 (Hurst/New Press 2009); Fortress Europe: Inside the War Against Immigration (Hurst/New Press 2012), and Savage Frontier: The Pyrenees in History (Hurst/New Press 2018).
His first novel The Devils of Cardona (Penguin Random House 2017) was a New York Times Editors’ Choice. His journalism has been published in The Guardian, the New Statesman, The Observer, the New York Times International and Literary Hub. He has spoken at numerous literary festivals, and taught creative writing to adults and teenagers.
A lifelong Hispanophile, Matt writes fiction and nonfiction often focused on themes from Spanish and Latin American culture, history, and politics. He is currently working on a book about Charles Darwin, racial science, and the conquest of Patagonia.