Workshop: Developing Your Non-Fiction

Join historian, journalist and author Paula Akpan (When We Ruled, Trapeze, 2025) and literary agent Abi Fellows (D H H Literary Agency) in a creative and inspiring non-fiction writing workshop. 

In this interactive session, we’ll look at all the components you need for a winning non-fiction proposal, including how to hone your idea, how to structure it as a book length work, and how to sell yourself as the best person to write it. There’ll be time to discuss how to approach agents, as well as things to think about along the way, such as research, interviews and marketing.

If you’re looking to write non-fiction or have a burning idea but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you.

Paula Akpan is a journalist, historian and public speaker. A sociology graduate from the University of Nottingham, her work mainly focuses on blackness, queerness, social politics and our relationship with technology. She regularly writes for a variety of publications including Vogue, Teen Vogue, The Independent, Stylist, VICE, i-D, Bustle, Time Out London and more. Paula has also interviewed the likes of Oprah, Lupita Nyong’o, Reese Witherspoon, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Syd, Ray BLK and more. Her articles can be found here. Graduating with a distinction in her Masters in Black British History, Paula has an interest in mapping out the lives and activism of Black lesbians and queer women in Britain between the 70s and 90s. Her debut, When We Ruled, published by Trapeze (2025), traces the lives and legacies of twelve African queens and warriors who contributed to the shaping of the continent.

Abi Fellows has incredibly broad experience in the industry, having started in bookselling at Blackwell’s in 2001 following her BA in English Literature at Bristol University. After a stint on the sales team of Faber and Faber and a return to education to complete an MA in modernism and postmodernism at University College London, Abi began her agenting career with Georgina Capel Associates in 2004, assisting the primary agents and handling journalism and translation rights for the team. Abi then moved into literary scouting at RR Ltd for seven years, working with overseas publishers and TV and film production companies in the UK. In 2019 she returned to agenting at The Good Literary Agency, building a list focused on amplifying and championing writers from backgrounds that had traditionally been marginalised. In 2023, Abi joined DHH Literary Agency. Abi was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards (aka the Nibbies) in 2023.

Important: Festival or day passes do not include access to this event. To attend the workshop, you must book a separate ticket using the link below.