Stories about Stories - How to Write Self-Reflexive Fiction

Traditionally, immersion is seen as a hallmark of good writing. We talk about being lost in a good book, or the willingness to suspend our disbelief so that we can invest in the ‘reality’ of a fictional world. But what about the books that ask us to do the opposite – the ones that address us explicitly as readers, that break the fourth wall and draw attention to their own status as stories?

This workshop will look at self-referentiality as a stylistic choice. How, where and why should we use it? How can we effectively deploy framing devices and stories within stories? What can we learn from narratives where storytelling is placed front and centre?

Exploring a number of famous examples of self-referential novels, this session is suitable for all and will offer a fresh perspective on how to engage with your readers.

Please note: The Writers Workshop space has no step-free access. We are working towards full access in 2026, so if you have been excluded from this event, please let us know.

Facilitated by Gavin Extence. Gavin has been a professional novelist for fifteen years. He has written 6 books for adults and young adults and has been published in over twenty languages. He loves to write (and read) across a broad range of genres, with particular interests in literary fiction, dark humour, coming-of-age, Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

The Writers Workshop is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to sharing the joy and power of creative writing. .

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