Multi-award-winning author, BBC Radio 4 comedy writer and journalist offers tuition and mentoring for creative writers of all ages - via webcam.

What an inspiration! With her encouraging approach and sense of humour, Ali interacts very well with aspiring writers. She reads drafts carefully, praising parts that work, identifying parts for improvement, and helping you develop ideas to make changes. I’ve attended some of her creative writing sessions and also remember her as a gifted student in the history lessons I used to teach many years ago. With her experience of writing and being published, Ali would be an excellent tutor in my opinion.

Ali is a fantastic tutor, my daughter has been to a writing workshop run by Ali aswell as an online workshop which ran during lockdown. She is fun, encouraging & amazing at getting the very best out of each participant! My daughter loves writing & says that Ali has really influenced the way she approachs each piece she writes. She absolutely loved being a part of Ali's Scribe Tribe & is truly grateful for her encouragement & praise. You won't find a better tutor anywhere, Ali is AWESOME!!

Ali is brilliant. Her great talent for writing is matched by her technical ability. She is as good an editor and tutor as she is a writer. I have found her workshops inspirational - she is clearly passionate about supporting others to hone their writing skills, is so positive in the guidance she provides and has much insight to share about the pathway to getting published.

Ali is a fantastic speaker and presenter. She communicates well with children and is able to engage all ages. She came to our school, multiple times, and held assemblies with children of all ages. She also held workshop for our aspiring authors!

I would highly recommend her to all. As a published author, confident speaker and friendly persona, she'd be a great tutor!

Ali is an extremely talented writer and storyteller. She has written highly respected children's fiction and a series of adult crime novels that somehow manage to produce levity and humour in often dark subjects without their ever sounding crass or out of place.

Her writing is of a consistently high level, even over the duration of an entire series of books, and her plots are well-thought-out and meticulously researched.

I have known Ali for more than 40 years, since we began working on the same newspaper. Her writing has always been entertaining and punctuated with wit and humour - characteristics that define her personality, too. But fiction is her forte, and I would have no hesitation recommending her to any writer seeking to hone their skills.

I have known Ali for many years as a fellow author and have worked closely with her on a number of occasions. She is not only a superb writer but an inspirational teacher. I have seen her in action with large audiences, small groups, and single individuals, and she is patient, kind, knowledgeable and fun. I cannot recommend her highly enough as a tutor.

Ali comes highly recommended! Both Portsmouth City Council's School Library Service and public library service have worked with Ali for over ten years. She has delivered dozens of 'meet the author' events and writing workshops as well as collaborating on a number of annual literature quizzes for years 5/6 and 7/8.

Working repeatedly with us to deliver library events, Ali always shows such a great affinity with young people and inspires a real sense of fun and adventure around learning. Whole-heartedly recommended due to her enthusiasm, dedication and attention to detail. All this ensures that every student is treated as an individual with something unique to offer. - Jeremy Cole, Hampshire Library Service

Ali has visited our school a number of times to give presentations and workshops to our students. These visits were extremely successful and popular with our students. She has an excellent rapport with the students, and helps them to learn in a fun way. Ali also gave up her time to present awards at one of our award evenings, which was so well received by our school and community. I am extremely happy to recommend her as a tutor.

Ali has a ton of positive, creative energy! She is knowledgeable and skilled. She knows what she's talking about, and the way she talks about it is clear, fun and motivating. We've hosted Ali at our international school in Sweden for several online writing workshops as part of our language curriculum, as well as "real life/in class" workshops as part of our annual Reading Festival! Our students loved learning from her, and crafting stories based on her prompts and feedback - I bet you will too!

Ali is amazing. She was everything we wanted for our school World Book Day assemblies (the whole school hall was buzzing) and everything we needed for our writing workshops. She is entertaining and witty, talented and professional. She is a delight to welcome into school and a treat for our pupils. I'd recommend her to anyone looking for a genuine and engaging tutor. 

I have known Ali in both a professional and personal capacity, for over 15 years and I can say with clarity and confidence, she is one of the very best writers I have ever enjoyed working with. From her training as a journalist, comes sharp, concise yet perfectly crafted penmanship, and from her experience as a published author, advertising agency copywriter and PR practitioner, comes a keenly honed observant eye, an ear for wit and a heart for warmth. Ali is an absolute joy - and I'll make it easy for you, she is the best choice you can make.

Ali is the first name mentioned when we are looking for author events and she has presented to Years 7-10 over many years. She takes the time to find out exactly what staff would like from her and always provides a bespoke presentation aimed at specific ages.Her online events during lock down were of high quality and were very well received by our students.She is always professional and engages the students at every level.Students are left with so many ideas about how to develop their creativity after her visits and she ensures that the students have an interactive, fun experience whilst learning in the workshops.

As the Swindon Youth Festival of Literature coordinator, I have booked the award-winning author Ali Sparkes many times for author events and attended several of these events over the years too. This has been for a range of age groups, from primary to older Secondary School students. Ali has a quiet confidence around all age groups encouraging their creative writing skills on many different levels with a range of writing ideas and prompts. She also has an energetic enthusiasm which keeps students engaged and tuned in.
Ali's virtual author visits during covid were amongst the best we had, which requires a particular skill to captivate students over a zoom call whilst still supporting them to produce their own creative work.
I have had first-hand experience of Ali's friendly teaching qualities too when she gave me essential advice on how to establish a virtual festival with tips on how to set up a YouTube channel through to how to accomplish the best zoom calls with authors.
All in all, being such a wordsmith herself and with the wealth of school experience she already has, I would not hesitate to recommend Ali as your personal tutor.

Ali has lifted my ability to write and communicate thanks to her fabulous media training. Everything from how to capture an audience, to how to simplify highly technical content into short, one liners that everyone can understand. Her nurturing and supportive delivery makes her brilliant for anyone of any age, and any experience.

Ali has delivered workshops for us, in person and virtually, and also been a mentor for new writers on our First Chapter Fellowship Programme for novelists. She has always exceeded expectations, taking additional care to ensure all are given encouragement and the feedback needed which will help them move forward in their writing, no matter what stage they are at. The responses from those who have benefited from Ali's expertise have been excellent, and anyone who has the opportunity to work with Ali is extremely fortunate to have her encouragement and skill to help enhance their creative writing skills. Carmel Rosato, Emirates Literature Foundation/Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Since February, the wonderful Ali Sparkes has been mentoring me as part of the First Chapter Emirates Literature Foundation Seddiqi Writers' Fellowship. Ali has provided me with valuable insights and guidance to take my novel to the level that it is of high quality to be submitted for potential publication. Through this process I have become a better writer. Ali's generosity with her time and advice - she has read my novel several times after I made rounds of changes - has given me so much confidence. I am grateful that she chose to work with me and cannot imagine my writing career having accelerated as it has without her support and presence. Ali Sparkes is also a great human being and a joy to work with. Her sense of humour and gentle yet direct feedback makes her the best mentor I could possibly wish for.

Not only is Ali a highly successful and award winning author for children and adults, but she has also had a career as a very sought after broadcaster and journalist. These skills come together in her sell out author visits on the festival circuit. All of this has given her a great way of being with people, listening and helping to draw out stories, and supporting others to hone their skills whatever age and stage they are at. Ali is a fabulous tutor and a great coach. Highly recommended.