News Author Sean Gilbert Inspires Godolphin’s Aspiring Young Writers 01.05.2026

On Thursday, author Sean Gilbert visited the school to discuss his debut novel, I’ll be the Monster – a razor-sharp take on the dark academia genre which recalls both The Secret History and The Talented Mr Ripley. Sean spoke to students about the nature of the writing and publication process, how to get a literary agent, and the journey of taking an idea from its inception to a finished draft.

Having studied English Literature at Cambridge University, followed by a creative writing MA at the University of East Anglia, Sean has written non-fiction for Time Out, Metro, Theatre Full Stop and The Holborn, while his short fiction has appeared in Storgy, Short Fiction, and Litro. He answered questions about literary study, genre, and how to craft suspense and psychological tension through complex character arcs. The girls found the discussion to be very thought-provoking, and with the many talented writers amongst the student body, seeing how to forge a career from the written word was invaluable.