As part of the nationally recognised RLF programme, professional writers are placed within universities to work independently of academic departments, offering tailored support to undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to strengthen their writing skills.
Armour-Chélu, who took up the role at the start of the academic year, will provide free, one-to-one tutorials lasting 50 minutes, available both on campus and online. She will be working with students on Mondays and Tuesdays, helping them identify and overcome challenges in their academic writing.
Support offered through the scheme includes guidance on essay structure, grammar and punctuation, paraphrasing and referencing, as well as planning, time management, proofreading and editing techniques.
Speaking about her new role, Armour-Chélu said consultations with a professional writer could be especially valuable for students returning to education or those unsure about academic expectations.
“For those students returning to education after a break, or who feel overwhelmed by what ‘academic writing’ really means, having the chance to talk through ideas with a professional writer can be incredibly helpful,” she said.
“I’ve spent years working through every stage of the writing process, from first drafts to final edits, and I’m keen to help students gain confidence and achieve the grades they deserve. Many students who work with RLF fellows see significant improvements in their results.”
Armour-Chélu is the author of several acclaimed works, including her debut children’s novel Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero (Walker Books, 2016), a dystopian story set in a flooded world. The book was longlisted for multiple awards, including the Branford Boase Award, the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award, and the New Angle Prize, and was shortlisted for the Mal Peet Children’s Award, alongside its sequel Fenn Halflin and the Seaborn (2017).
Her most recent children’s title, The Butterfly Circus, was published in 2019. She has also enjoyed success in adult fiction, winning the Mslexia International Short Story Competition with The Starving Ghost, and receiving recognition for her novel Lemon Ink Over Flame, which was shortlisted for the Tibor Jones Pageturner Prize for debut novelists.
Born and raised in Suffolk, Armour-Chélu studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, before returning to the county to work in libraries and museums. She later helped develop the Ipswich Museums Education Programme and now leads creative writing sessions in schools, libraries and literary festivals.
For the past three years, she has also collaborated with the INK Festival in Halesworth, delivering workshops designed to encourage and develop young writers.
Dr Amanda Hodgkinson, Director of the Suffolk Centre for Culture and Heritage at the University of Suffolk, said the appointment would be a significant asset for students.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Francesca as our new Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow,” she said. “Her wealth of experience will give students invaluable support as they develop their writing skills and confidence.”
Armour-Chélu succeeds the University’s first RLF Writing Fellow, playwright and children’s author Christopher Hill.
