Toil & Trouble: Conjuring Magic in Your Fiction

Magic, the supernatural, and the occult have fascinated writers for centuries.

Join Sheffield-based published author Sally O’Reilly for new ways to explore magic and witchcraft in your writing, drawing on examples from writers such as Sarah Waters, Angela Carter and Shirley Jackson, as well as Sally's own novels (Dark Aemilia, 2014 and Hagtale, 2025).

The workshop will include excerpts from sample texts, discussion, and writing exercises, and we will be looking at where to get ideas, new ways of working with traditional folklore, and the witch as heroine. There will be the chance to share work - but no pressure!

Most suitable for people with some writing experience.

Part of The Writers Workshop's Weird Weekend. Check out the full programme in our Weird Weekend Eventbrite Collection!

Please Note

• We are sorry that The Writers Workshop has no step-free access. If this means you are excluded from this event, check out our online events, including Weird Women Workshop.
• Tickets are non-refundable but can be privately resold/transferred to another person (who must provide the original booker's name at the door).
• If the event has sold out, please join the waiting list. If there's sufficient demand, we may move to a larger venue or schedule an additional session.

The Writers Workshop is a nonprofit social enterprise. For discounted tickets and a range of other benefits, please consider becoming a member! More information here.