Book A Writer / Our Writers

ABOUT

Felix Cheong is the author of 28 books across different genres, from poetry to fiction, from children’s picture books to graphic novels. He has also written two opera librettos and his works have been widely anthologised and nominated for the prestigious Frank O’Connor Award and the Singapore Literature Prize.

Conferred the Young Artist Award in 2000 by the National Arts Council, Felix has been invited to writers festivals all over the world, such as Edinburgh, Austin, Sydney and Christchurch. He holds a masters in creative writing and is currently a university adjunct lecturer.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• 2014-2016 – The Singapore Siu Dai series (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2014-2016)

• 2012 – Vanishing Point: stories. (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2012)

• 2009 – Sudden in Youth: New and Selected Poems. (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2009)

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2000 – NAC Young Artist Award recipient

TESTIMONIALS

FROM MRS. MICHELLE YEE
SENG KANG PRIMARY SCHOOL
“Building Better Plots conducted by Mr. Felix Cheong provided me with a different perspective to the way composition writing can be taught in class. It is like doing the same thing, but in a very different and interesting way. I have tried out the ideas with my pupils and found the strategies to be very effective. My pupils' writings became more logical and they knew what/how to write, as a result, their compositions improved greatly. These workshops has ignited the spark in me and I am enjoying the glow!”

FROM MR PEERAPUN CHUTATAPE
FAIRFIELD METHODIST PRIMARY SCHOOL
“This workshop is definitely beneficial to my teaching work. Felix knows the subject matter well and writes brilliant stuff off the cuff! All this should be taught in NIE!”

TALKS

UNDERSTANDING POETRY FROM THE INSIDE OUT
For: junior college/tertiary, teachers; 15-25 pax.
Availability: 1 hour; single session
Description: Literature students are often intimidated when they have to analyse poetry. They feel their practical criticism skills are inadequate in unpacking the nuances between the lines, particularly if it is an unseen poem. In this hour-long talk, poet Felix Cheong will debunk some of the myths in poetry analysis by taking students through the creative process of one poem, from why certain words were chosen, to the literary devices used. Students will then understand the poet’s thinking process behind a poem’s construction so that they do not see it as mystifying and difficult.
Learning Outcomes: Students will learn the creative process behind a poem, from the initial inspiration to the drafting process; how literary devices (such as personification, anaphora, juxtaposition etc.) are used by the poet to convey the theme of a poem.

WORKSHOPS

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING*
For: all students; 15-25 pax.
Availability: 3 hours; single or multiple sessions
Description: Helmed by award-winning writer Felix Cheong, this 3-hour workshop is designed for aspiring writers to hone their skills in narrative writing. Using a multi-modal style of teaching that includes videos, small group discussions and writing exercises, participants will pick up tips in generating story ideas, creating and structuring stories. They will also learn more about the Singapore publishing scene and how to pitch their work to publishers.
Learning Outcomes: Strategies to teach students how to build up descriptions; strategies to teach students how to use similes and metaphors; exercises to help students build their vocabulary; exercises to help students develop their power of observation.
*Eligible for Tote Board Arts Grant Subsidy 2026 - 2028

ZAP, BANG, BOOM: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COMICS WRITING
For: lower secondary, upper secondary, tertiary, teachers; 15-25 pax.
Availability: 2 hours; single session
Description: With graphic novels gaining popularity as the go-to reading material for young people, comics writing is the next frontier in creative writing. It involves a multimodal sensibility in being able to visualise writing and write to visuals. This two-hour workshop is a beginner’s guide conducted by poet and graphic novelist Felix Cheong. Having published eight graphic novels, he will take students through the ins and outs of comics writing. From script formatting to visualising scenes, from writing dialogue to creating characters, this crash course will offer valuable tips in how to get started.
Learning Outcomes: Students will learn how to create scenes and characters, how to externalise interiority of characters’ feelings and thoughts, and how to write to visuals and to show, not tell.

BUILDING BETTER PLOTS
For: teachers only; 15-25 pax.
Availability: 3 hours per session; two sessions
Description: Designed as an introduction to plot creation, this 6-hour workshop will equip teachers with a deeper understanding of story structure. With this understanding, teachers can help their students develop an awareness of interesting and effective choices they can make in their compositions under exam conditions.
Through hands-on activities, together with examples drawn from movies and short stories, award-winning writer Felix Cheong will demonstrate how teachers can guide their students to build better plots. Towards the end of this workshop, teachers will apply what they have learnt by writing their own short story.
Learning Outcomes: Learn how to help students distinguish characteristics of a badly-written narrative, and identify elements of plot such as motivation, reversals and inciting incidents; strategies to help students escalate tension in their stories; examples to help students identify 20 master plots