Book A Writer /Ng Ziqin

ABOUT

Ng Ziqin is the author of Every School A Good School, which was shortlisted for the Epigram Books Fiction Prize in 2022. She is currently an undergraduate law student at the National University of Singapore. One day, Ziqin hopes to achieve her lifelong dream of writing whodunits from the elegant seclusion of a European cave house.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• 2022 – Every School A Good School (Singapore: Epigram Books)

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022 – Finalist for the 2022 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

TALKS

AN AUTHOR AT 20
For: secondary; assembly programme
Availability: 1 hour; single session
Description: When I submitted my post-A levels project for the Epigram Books Fiction Prize in August 2021, I never imagined that my manuscript would be shortlisted and that I would be published before my 21st birthday. In this talk, I share candidly about what motivated me to write my first novel, my writing and editing process, how I got published, and my advice for aspiring writers.
Learning Outcomes: Learn about different programmes for students that aid them in becoming a better writer; be exposed to the various publishing options available in Singapore; learn tips and tricks for staying focused on writing, and learn about software options you can tap on to manage your productivity while writing; get a better understanding of the the publishing process and what happens after your manuscript has been accepted by a publisher

WORKSHOPS

PINAFORES AND POISON: WRITING STORIES SET IN SCHOOL
For: primary, secondary; 5 - 25 pax
Availability: 2 hours; single session
Description: It's often been said that you should write what you know. For most students, there is no setting more familiar (or mundane) than the humble school compound. From Harry Potter to The Teenage Textbook, schools have served as the backdrop for many a timeless tale. Although setting your story in a school might remind you at first of the dreaded English compo, what if we saw the school as a rich but overlooked source of story ideas instead? Whether it's a whodunit or a romantic comedy, learn how to set any genre of fiction in your very own classroom. 
Learning Outcomes: Learn how the unique features of common locations in school (e.g. classroom, school hall, koi pond, canteen) might be suited to different kinds of plot events; how to harness common school-related character tropes to build three-dimensional characters; how to pitch conflict at a suitable scale for different kinds of stories set in school, and how to inject meaningful commentary on broader social issues into a story set in school.