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The Home of Creative Writing

Arvon is a charity that runs creative writing courses, events and retreats both in-person and online. Our courses are tutored by leading authors and include a powerful mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Grants and concessions are available to help with course fees.

ARVON COURSES & RETREATS

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Totleigh Barton Writing Retreat with Yoga

Stretch your creative muscles

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Masterclass: The Facts of Fiction

The devil is in the detail

How I Write: Natasha Carthew

Q&A and Reading

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Sequence your poems to make them sing

Aug 12-Sep 10

Online 5-Week Evening Course: Fiction

Who's talking?

Masterclass: Ecopoetry

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Masterclass: Writing for Performance

Improvisation; joyful tools for scriptwriting

“Every time I’ve taught at Arvon - going back over fifteen years now - I’ve seen how much difference just a handful of days can make in the life of writers. There’s a perfect mix of tutorials, writing time, socializing, and discussion - all those elements come together to create an atmosphere in which writing projects move in that longed-for but often unattainable direction: forward.”

— Kamila Shamsie

ARVON AT HOME

Our online programme of courses, events and writing support

Virtual versions of our famous Writing Weeks, plus Masterclasses, free How I Write events, Online Writing Weekends, Writing Days and more . . . all accessible from the comfort of your sofa.

SUPPORT ARVON NORTH

Arvon North is an ambitious capital project to adapt Lumb Bank into a beacon of creativity for the North

Help us transform Lumb Bank into an engine-house for creative writing development in the North of England, connecting the rich literary collateral of the region with a community of writers locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

CLOCKHOUSE WRITERS' RETREAT

Give your writing the time and space it deserves with Arvon’s dedicated Writers Retreat at The Clockhouse

The Clockhouse is specifically designed for writers on retreat. It has four apartments for writers, each with bedroom, study-lounge and bathroom. All food is provided for you, so you can spend your time as you please.

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Do you believe that everyone should have the opportunity to unlock their creative potential?

Arvon is a charity that believes everyone deserves the freedom to imagine, write and explore ideas regardless of their age or financial background.

OUR SCHOOLS & GROUPS WORK

We offer residential weeks for schools, young people and adult groups.

Our weeks for schools and groups follow the same pattern as our adult course programme – led by two professional writers, with tutorials, group workshops, and time and space to write.

ARVON BLOGS

Northern Writers’ Awards 2024

26 Jun 2024 / Arvon Friends

New Writing North celebrated its 25th anniversary with an awards ceremony honouring writers in fiction and poetry. As part of the…

Quay Words and Arvon Live: Fiction Writing Day

05 Jun 2024 / News

Do you have a novel writing project that needs attention? Perhaps you need some technical help, are looking for tips to…

My Arvon Week: Jessica Eve Watkins

15 Apr 2024 / My Arvon Week

A preview of Jessica Eve Watkin’s experience on a week-long writing retreat at Arvon’s writing house, The Hurst. “ ‘The…

SI Leeds Literary Prize 2024

07 Mar 2024 / General

A writing prize that helps discover exciting new talent from underrepresented groups will be accepting entries again next month. The SI…

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Who are we? 

We are the University of Cambridge Centre for Creative Writing, based within the Institute of Continuing Education.

We believe in the power of writing and reading to change lives and bring people together both locally and around the world.

Collaboration and partnership are at the heart of what we do. If you'd like to join us in building this exciting new phase in the development of the centre, please get in touch by filling out the form below.

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We welcome students from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an experienced writer, there will be something for you.

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The Summer workshops are filling up: book now to join! Choose from 5 one-day workshops | Saturdays in August in Oxford

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WRITING FEEDBACK & MANUSCRIPT ASSESSMENTS

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I won't share your email with anyone else. You'll get emails from me only: the latest news on courses and workshops, priority booking for courses and workshops (new workshops fill up especially fast), the opportunity to join writing groups or put up a listing for your own, free writing skills, and new blog posts if you ticked that.

Creative writing courses

Short and part-time courses with Oxford University

Need an extra push to finish your novel, poem or play? Want to explore new genres? Whether you're a beginner wondering where to start, or an experienced writer looking to extend your craft, we have a course for you.

Short courses

Our  short courses in creative writing  include in person and online live-time weekly classes, day and weekend schools and flexible online courses.

Courses cover all genres: fiction, poetry, memoir, creative nonfiction, drama, writing for young adults and critical reading. There are courses for beginners and options for those with experience. Class sizes are kept small to maximise interaction between you, your classmates and your tutor.

Credit earned from some of our short courses is transferable towards our  Certificate of Higher Education  – a part-time undergraduate course in which you study a main subject discipline, but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

• View all short courses in creative writing
• Ways to study: how our short courses work

Summer schools

Join us for one of our Oxford  creative writing summer courses , and spend a week or longer immersed in your craft. Accredited and non-accredited options are available; courses take place at Rewley House and at Oxford's historic colleges.

• Creative writing summer courses

Part-time Oxford University qualifications

From undergraduate level to advanced postgraduate study.

• The  Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing  is a two-year part-time course that helps you to strengthen your ability in four major areas of literary activity — prose, poetry, drama and analytical reading — while letting you specialise in the genre of your choice. Choose from two study options: regular in-person meetings in Oxford or mostly online, with a summer school in Oxford.
• The  Certificate of Higher Education  is a flexible, part-time programme which lets you study a main subject discipline (such as creative writing) while also undertaking study in other academic subjects. Ideal for lifelong learners, you can study what you want, when you want, how you want. The credits you obtain from taking short online courses, weekly classes and attendance at the Oxford University Summer School for Adults all count towards your final award.
• Delve deeper into creative writing with our MSt in Creative Writing – a two-year, part-time master's programme offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialization, and critical and creative breadth, delivered in a clustered learning format of five residences, two guided retreats and one placement over two years.

Student spotlights

Charles bush.

Charles Bush published his debut young-adult novel thanks to the skills and experience gained from completing the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.

Tahmina Maula

Tahmina worked as a senior manager in education before taking a career break to undertake the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing.

Daisy Johnson

While studying the MSt in Creative Writing Daisy worked on a collection of short stories which would later become her debut book.

Upcoming courses

Advanced creative writing (online).

• Mon 09 Sep 2024 – 22 Nov 2024

Advanced Writing Lives (Online)

Fiction by victorian women: george eliot, elizabeth gaskell (online), writing lives (online), critical reading (online).

• Wed 11 Sep 2024 – 22 Nov 2024

Part-time award programmes

Part-time creative writing award-bearing courses for those looking to gain an Oxford qualification.

Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing (from 2025)

Mst in creative writing, undergraduate certificate of higher education (from 2025).

• Our Patron of Writing
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• Introduction 12 Week Course

Writing Poetry

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A welcoming online home for all creative writers

Short creative writing courses, hosted live online.

Introduction to Creative Writing

Life Writing & Memoir

Writing for Children & YA

Nature Writing Workshop

“ I'm now officially addicted to Writing Room courses! I can't tell you how much they've helped me with my motivation and confidence. I've met so many wonderful fellow writers - and I'm feeling so supported. I'm now looking excitedly at what I can possibly do next! ”

Writing Room is all about helping you make space for creative writing in your week. Join us live online for small-group writing courses, friendly discussions and quiet work sessions from Monday to Friday in term times. Check in as often or as little as suits your schedule. Enjoy finding support and inspiration to become the writer you want to be. Read more...

View our timetable at a glance!

BRAND NEW COURSE: Publishing Perspectives Talk Series - read more...

STOP PRESS! HANNAH LOWE & LIZ BERRY LAUNCH OUR NEW LUNCHTIME WRITING WORKSHOPS!

Weekly drop-ins for students, hosted live online

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Events, talks, masterclasses & bursaries

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I WAS TRULY AMAZED

“ An amazing resource for anyone who loves writing at any level. I was truly amazed to discover so much going on. ”

POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT

“ What was particularly useful was the positive encouragement from people who could dissect writing in a meaningful way. ”

COMMUNITY THAT BUILDS

“ It's a community that builds as you move from one course to another. You'd be hard put to find that on a Creative Writing MA at 100x the price. ”

DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS

“ I love the incredible generosity of the teachers and the high level of the input from them. I also love the diversity of the students, such a different and interesting profile compared to when I have done other courses. ”

Anon from student survey

NO SNOBBERY!

“ Great, informative, reasonably priced courses. Friendly. No snobbery! It's a very open community, open to all levels of experience, yet it seems to attract writers who are keen to be professionally minded. ”

Writing Room is a registered Community Interest Company: a non-profit arts organisation committed to serving the interests of our diverse community of creative writers.

Email us at, [email protected], or get in touch using the form, about our courses.

© Writing Room CIC Photography © Ruth Guthrie unless stated

Find your story on our friendly creative writing workshops, where writers teach writers.

Online Short Story Bootcamp: Fix, Polish, Submit! A 9-week course with Ruby Cowling, starting October 9th 2024.

Online Writers’ Workshops | Mondays with Zoe Gilbert Monthly critical workshops starting November 18th 2024

Online Writers’ Workshops | Thursdays with Lily Dunn Monthly critical workshops starting November 21st 2024

Online Enchantment in Fiction A 12-week course with Zoe Gilbert, starting September 24th 2024

Online Live Online – Writing Our Way Back: Masterclass in Therapeutic Writing A live Zoom therapeutic writing session with psychoanalyst Katie Watson on 28th September 2024, 3-5.30pm BST

Online Creative Nonfiction: Compelling Memoir An 8-week course with Lily Dunn starting on the 10th of September 2024.

Online Live Online – The Art of the Swerve A live Zoom workshop with Tania Herman on 16th September 2024, 7-8:30pm GMT.

We want to help you find your story and your voice, in a creative, inspiring and supportive environment..

London Lit Lab offers a home-from-home experience for writers, whether you are just starting out or developing your work.

Enrol on one of our online courses and you will develop a toolbox of literary skills, meet likeminded people, gain in confidence and ignite a passion that will keep you writing.

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©2024. all rights reserved.

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Welcome to Pebble Beach Writing.

We offer workshops and mentoring for creative writers of all levels and experience. Among our participants are new writers trying out their first ideas on the page and published authors who want support and feedback as they develop their work.

Pebble Beach tutor, Susanna Jones,  has over thirty years' teaching experience and was the main fiction tutor on the Creative Writing MA at Royal Holloway University of London for fourteen years. She has also taught at the University of Exeter and has tutored courses for the Arvon Foundation.

Courses are held in Brighton and Hove or online. Groups are small – usually 5–8 participants – allowing everyone time for individual feedback and space to develop.

Classes for summer term 2024:

Writing a Novel (new), Saturday mornings, Brighton 

Writing from Life (new), Saturday afternoons, Brighton

Writing a Novel (continuing), Monday evenings, Hove

Fiction Workshop (continuing), Tuesday evenings, Hove 

Online tuition is also possible for individuals or small groups of writers with similar aims. See below or get in touch to find out more.

Join our mailing list below for the latest news and announcements. 

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'Susanna is, without a doubt, the best creative writing teacher and workshop leader I’ve ever come across. Whether you are just starting out on your writing journey, or have a couple of novels under your belt and want to hone your skill, Susanna is the right person for you. She was the lead fiction tutor on my Creative Writing MA and, more recently, has guided me through editing my first novel. I’m not sure I could have done it without her - and I certainly wouldn’t have done it this well. I have complete trust in her judgement and believe she has made me not only a stronger writer but a much better editor. She is generous with her time and with her extensive experience and will give your work the kind of respect, care and attention that most writers can only dream of from a third party. In short, whatever stage you’re at as a writer, Susanna will help you progress, improve and reach your writing goal.'      Louisa S.

One-to-one Mentoring/Small Group Tuition

One-off or a series of sessions for writers of all levels.

Beginners' tuition package of 5 sessions, including prompts and ideas to get you started.

Editorial and developmental feedback on your novel.

Small group Zoom sessions may be possible for two or more writers with similar requirements. 

Pebble Beach Writing is run by Susanna Jones,  the author of several novels, including The Earthquake Bird, Water Lily, The Missing Person's Guide to Love and When Nights Were Cold.   She is currently writing for film. 

Susanna has been teaching for more than thirty years. From 2005 to 2018 she was the main fiction tutor on the MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway University of London. Many of her former students have gone on to publish novels and win awards. She has taught and mentored writers of all levels, from beginners to PhD students.

TESTIMONIALS

'Susanna is an amazing mentor.  I was lucky enough to be taught by her when I undertook an MA in Creative Writing before going on to teach the subject myself.  Her insightful advice and editing skills are second to none.  When I started a novel and hit some thorny difficulties, I was so pleased to discover that Susanna was running an Advanced Fiction Writing course.  She was invaluable in terms of helping me pick out the strands which were working and the ones which needed further thought.  She has an exceptional eye for detail and her feedback is positive and constructive.  She offered accessible solutions based on her many years of experience and opened up new avenues I hadn’t considered, which was so helpful.  There is no way I could have produced work at this level and this quickly, without her support.   

     Susanna created a great rapport within a workshop environment.  Even though the sessions I took were online, the respectful and encouraging tone she set, eased us into working comfortably together.  Her sessions were well- run and well-structured and I thoroughly looked forward to each one.  Susanna brought out the best in my writing and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.'

'Susanna is, without a doubt, the best creative writing teacher and workshop leader I’ve ever come across. Whether you are just starting out on your writing journey, or have a couple of novels under your belt and want to hone your skill, Susanna is the right person for you. She was the lead fiction tutor on my Creative Writing MA and, more recently, has guided me through editing my first novel. I’m not sure I could have done it without her - and I certainly wouldn’t have done it this well. I have complete trust in her judgement and believe she has made me not only a stronger writer but a much better editor. She is generous with her time and with her extensive experience and will give your work the kind of respect, care and attention that most writers can only dream of from a third party. In short, whatever stage you’re at as a writer, Susanna will help you progress, improve and reach your writing goal.' 

'Susanna is incredibly insightful and has been a huge help in identifying areas where my manuscript needed development. She’s helped me work through options while bringing a fresh insight into the work as well as identifying potential pitfalls. She’s a great tutor and coach and all her workshops leave me feeling energised and confident for the next stage.'

'I taught the novel as literature and writing fiction in Universities for over thirty years but putting this experience into practice when writing is much harder. Susanna Jones really knows how to help. She is an accomplished writer who really understands storytelling but also how a novel is structured and built from the blank page. I found her advice and encouragement priceless. Her novel writing courses and workshops are excellent and I recommend them without reservation. I am still writing and learning and I will return.'

'Susanna's artful teaching method helps you get those words down on paper with no pain or shame. Inspiring!'

Madeleine C

'One of the things that made this course so enjoyable was Susanna's enthusiasm for us, her students, and our work. She clearly loves teaching - and is brilliant at pin-pointing what a piece of writing is trying to do, as well as suggesting how to do it. She is entirely undogmatic about how to approach writing. She really listens and gives intelligent but non-prescriptive responses. Every session was thought-provoking and stimulating and really specific about how and what works in fiction.'

'Susanna is a brilliant creative writing teacher and mentor who is now mentoring me through my second book. She has that rare capacity to pinpoint exactly what works and doesn’t work in a piece of writing, and why. Whether you need help with overall structure and direction, or a close critical reading with a scrupulous editor’s eye, she will give you the best possible support to transform your writing.'

'I find it difficult to start, to pick up that one simple thing that can propel me into the creative flow. The 60-minute sessions I did last December were enjoyable, useful, and left me with material to develop into a couple of short stories - and a poem that was published.' 

'I’d like to tell you how much your Creative Writing workshops meant to me. Your guidance encouraged me to think as well as to enjoy writing and we had fun too! Thank you so much, Susanna.'

'Susanna Jones was an outstanding lecturer on my MA course in creative writing – her books were one of the reasons that I chose the course. She provided clear and helpful teaching on how to produce the best writing, together with incisive critical feedback.  Being such a talented author herself gave her a unique insight into the most effective ways to encourage budding writers. I have no doubt that my work measurably improved as a result of her efforts.'

'Susanna was my tutor on the MA and I looked forward to her classes every week. Her feedback was always spot on and encouraged me to reflect on my writing in new ways and dig a little deeper. Susanna is one of those rare breeds of people who both excels at her craft but is also able to pass on her knowledge and years of experience in an engaging way. She is just a brilliant tutor and I can't recommend her highly enough.'

 'I felt a little ambivalent about joining an online writing course but it turned out to have been such a good move. Somehow I found it easier to focus, not harder, and the fact that I could simply continue with what I was writing the moment the class finished made for some very productive Sunday evenings. Susanna is just lovely. She has a knack for nudging you gently towards fresh perspectives, different angles. In just a few sessions I found myself thinking very differently about what I was writing, what I could be writing, and why. Not at all what I’d expected!'

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Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

16 Top Creative Writing Workshops in London

By Katrina Kwan

Different types of writing classes in London are aplenty.

And if it’s a creative writing class you’re looking for, continue reading.

Below you’ll find 16 top creative writing workshops in London.

1. Half-Day Writing Workshops with Creative Writing Workshops London

Hosted by Diane Chandler, the winner of the 2016 People’s Book Prize for Fiction , Creative Writing Workshops London is currently offering half-day writing workshops through the months of March, May, and June of 2020. These writing workshops are available for a flat fee of £40.00, and includes provided coffee and baked goods. Based out of Chiswick, London, classes primarily take place in the morning.

These classes will help you create better characters, develop page-turning plot, help to create engaging dialogue, and assist you with writing captivating description. Each workshop takes roughly three hours and accepts up to eight people per class, so be sure to reserve your place as soon as possible. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact Diane via email .

2. Space to Write Wednesdays with Creative Writes

Creative Writes is a creative writing and poetry reading workshop that was founded by Nichola Charalambou. Based out of Muswell Hill, London, Creative Writes offers Space to Write Wednesdays , a creative writing workshop hosted between the months of April to June of 2019. Each class takes place between 7:30PM to 9:30PM.

This creative writing workshop in London is designed to help you with free flow writing, as well as to help develop your work in progress. The fee for this course is £25.00 per class, with included refreshments. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Creative Writes through their website’s online contact form .

3. Write Better Short Stories with Jane Rogers

Led by award-winning novelist and short story writer Jane Rogers, Write Better Short Stories is a creative writing course offered through London’s very own Faber Academy. This course takes place between May 2 nd , 2019 to July 18 th , 2019, and costs a flat fee of £995.00. Classes take place between 7:00PM to 9:00PM every Thursday evening. Tea and coffee will be provided!

This 12-week course will help you develop your writing skills, increase your knowledge about the short story genre, provide you with individual feedback, and will even help to take three of your stories and prepare them for submission. There are only two places left, so it’s imperative that you register for the course as soon as possible to reserve your spot. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Faber Academy either through their website’s online contact form or call 0207 927 3868.

4. Folk Tales in New Fiction with London Lit Lab

The London Lit Lab is a creative writing group that offers a wide range of writing resources and workshops for both professional and aspiring authors. They are currently offering Folk Tales in New Fiction led by Zoe Gilbert, who is a published author through Bloomsbury and a PhD candidate for Creative Writing. The course itself will look at symbolism, how to develop recognizable characters, use preexisting tales as jumping off points for your own fiction, and examine what makes successful re-imaginings.

The course takes place on May 11 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 4:00PM and costs a flat fee of £115 for early bird registration, or £139 for regular registration. The class will take place at the Keynes Library, Birbeck School of Arts located at 43 Gordon Square, London. Class size is limited to fifteen students, so be sure to register right away . For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team via email or visit their Facebook page .

5. How to Write A Poem with Richard Scott & Maurice Riordan

How to Write a Poem is a creative writing workshop currently offered by Faber Academy, led by poets Richard Scott and Maurice Riordan. This is a three-month poetry course designed for beginners looking to develop their poetic skills. The course takes place between April 30 th , 2019 to July 16 th , 2019 and costs a flat rate of £480.00.

All classes take place between 7:00PM to 9:00PM on Tuesday evenings and will explore topics like voice, self-portraiture and objects, drafting, line breaks, genre mixing, and more. There are only seven spot left, so it’s imperative you register right away.

6. Write & Shine with Gunnersbury Park & Museum

The Gunnersbury Park & Museum offers a program known as Write & Shine, an early morning writing workshop that offers several classes in London and online. Led by Gemma Seltzer, a talented writer who’s worked with organizations like Age UK, BBC Radio 3, Tate Modern, and the Venice Biennale, Write & Shine offers 90-minute writing workshops based out of central London.

The next session is schedule to take place on April 14 th , 2019 between 10:15AM to 12:00PM. A light breakfast will be provided for those who attend. If you’re interested in this writing workshop, you can apply for a spring membership for a flat rate of £129. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Write and Shine through their website’s online contact form .

7. Fiction Skills: Plot with Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley is currently hosting Fiction Skills: Plot through Faber Academy. He is an author, editor, and ghostwriter with a ton of experience writing both fiction and nonfiction books. The course itself takes place between June 3 rd to 30 th , 2019 and actually takes place online for the convenience of his students.

The course will go over tips and strategies on how to plot, provide a creative and supportive writing group to help you nurture your writing skills, as will provide you with the opportunity of writing a 2k word piece to be critiqued and worked on over the duration of the course. There is a flat fee of £120.00 and there are currently twenty-eight places left to register!

8. One to One MasterClass with Creative Writes

Creative Writes offers one to one masterclasses to assist you in your writing career. They offer one-hour masterclasses for a flat rate of £60.00 and two-hour masterclass for £110.00. All classes are located at their Muswell Hill location, and you can book the course based on your schedule availability. In this workshop, you will be guided through how to adapt your work structure and truly organize your thoughts to help give your writing clarity and a unique voice. You will work closely with Nichola Charalambou, the founder of Creative Writes, who will guide you through the writing process. For more information, you can call 079 4109 1313.

9. Getting Started: Beginner’s Fiction with Helen Shipman

Getting started on a brand-new project can sometimes be tricky, but with a guiding hand, you may be surprised at just how quickly your words find a blank page. Helen Shipman is a writing coach with over 30 years of experience. She is currently offering Getting Started; Beginner’s Fiction , a creative writing course offered through Faber Academy. This 8-week course takes place between June 3 rd , 2019 to July 28 th , 2019 and costs £300.00. There are currently seventeen places left, so it’s important to register as soon as possible if you’re interested.

The course will go over how to develop your creativity and discipline, point of view, character development, setting establishment, dealing with time, structure, and how to organize your writing time. This is actually an online course, which means that students can participate regardless of location!

10. Creative Writing Through Art with Gina DeCagna (Studio 73)

Studio 73 present Creative Writing Through Art , lead by writer, editor, and visual artist Gina DeCagna. The workshop will take place April 23 rd , 2019 between 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Studio 73 Gallery in London. This workshop is intended for novice and expert writers alike, and will go over development of writing techniques in the genres of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and more. The workshop itself costs a flat fee of £16.58 and will be located at 73 Brixton Village, London. You can register for the course here . For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the organizers via email or call 020 7274 7773.

11. Start Your Novel in Five Days with Kathryn Heyman & Mark Haddon

If you’re an aspiring author looking for guidance on how to start your very first novel, consider checking out the Star Your Novel In Five Days workshop led by authors Kathryn Heyman and Mark Haddon. This course will take place between June 17 th to June 21 st , 2019 and costs a flat rate of £550. There are only eleven spots left, so be sure to register right away. This workshop was designed to guide you step by step to help get your novel from idea to reality. This intensive course will take place at Faber Academy located at 74-77 Great Russell Street, London. For more information, you can call 207 927 3827 or email the organizers for general inquiries.

12. Film and Creative Writing Workshop with Amir Darwish & Adam Skup (Hikayetna)

In collaboration with Hikayetna and Near Neighbours, Film and Creative Writing Workshop is a free workshop lead by Amir Darwish and Adam Skup. This course is intended to help creative individuals develop their ideas through visual, oral, and written forms of art. Refreshments will be offered. The course will take place on April 6 th , 2019 between 12:00PM to 4:00PM at Noel Rd, London. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the event organizers via email .

13. Free Your Creativity and Get Started on Your Book with Guardian Masterclasses

The Guardian is a renowned newspaper that also offers writing courses at their London location. They are currently hosting the Free Your Creativity and Gest Started On Your Book masterclass, which will take place between May 18 th , 2019 to May 19 th , 2019 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Led by Philippa Pride, who has been running the course since 2006, the workshop will go over how to set up a consistent writing schedule, how to practice your creativity, how to develop your narrative, create compelling plots, characters, and dialogue, and more. The course costs £499.00 plus a £7.80 registration fee. For more information, you can contact Guardian Masterclasses via email .

14. Introduction to Creative Writing (Goldsmiths, University of London)

Goldsmiths University of London offers several creative writing programs that can help you develop your skills and put you on the right track to starting your writing career. They are currently offering Introduction to Creative Writing May 1 st , 2019 between 6:30PM to 8:30PM (10-week duration), and November 9 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 3:00PM (5-week duration). The flat fee for the course is £295. The course is led by Dr. Catherine Humble, a writer, lecturer, and journalist with experience as a creative writing teacher. For general inquiries, you can contact the organizers at Goldsmiths via email .

15. Write Here with Emma Filtness (Cultural Connections Christ Church)

Cultural Connections Christ Church is currently hosting Write Here led by author Emma Filtness. The workshop will take place on May 18 th , 2019 between 2:00PM to 4:00PM at the Clapham Library, located at 91 Clapham High Street, London. No previous writing experience is necessary.

The workshop is designed to help writers develop their short story, poetry, life writing, and flash fiction writing techniques. It is a free event, but space is limited. If you’re interested in participating, be sure to sign up as soon as possible! For more information, you can contact the Cultural Connections Christ Church via email or call 020 7498 4625.

16. How to Write Compelling Memoir with London Lit Lab

The London Lit Lab is currently offering How to Write Compelling Memoir led by novelist and creative nonfiction writer Lily Dunn. This class will take place on October 5 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 4:00PM at the Keynes Library, Birkbeck, University of London, at 43 Gordon Square, London. Early bird registration starts at £115, and regular registration starts at a rate of £139.

This workshop will help budding memoirists in their pursuit of recounting personal experiences, discuss confidentiality and ethical issues, as well as explore the use of creativity in memoir. Space is limited to fifteen members, so be sure to register if you’re interested! For more information, you can contact the organizers via email .

Do you know of any other creative writing workshops in London, England? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!

K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.

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Read Jude Rogers’ Guardian Piece on her Tŷ Newydd Experience

Arts critic,  Jude Rogers , recently attended a Poetry and Songwriting course here at Tŷ Newydd. Find out what she learnt, and listen to her first ever song!

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Courses and Retreats

Browse our 2024 course programme today.

Nant Writers' Retreat Cottage

Welcome to Nant; a historical Grade II* listed cottage specifically renovated for writing retreats.

Welcome to Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre

Tŷ Newydd is the National Writing Centre of Wales. Established in 1990, thousands of aspiring and budding writers have since passed through our iconic teal front door.

With over 30 years experience, we specialise in residential creative writing courses and retreats. Every week we welcome a new group of individuals from Wales, the rest of the UK and beyond to our home. They spend time together under the tutelage of professional writers, taking part in workshops and one-to-one tutorials, enjoying readings and basking in the inspirational setting of Tŷ Newydd. For those wanting space and time away to write in isolation, or with a like minded friend, our dedicated retreat cottage offers the perfect surrounding. Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre is run by Literature Wales, the national company for the development of literature.

Explore our Courses

We have a range of courses and retreats available at Tŷ Newydd. Why not have a browse and discover what’s on offer.

Fully Booked

Cynan Jones

Cynan Jones is an acclaimed fiction writer from the west coast of Wales. His work has appeared in over twenty countries, and in journals and magazines including  Granta , Freeman’s  and  The New Yorker . He has also written a screenplay for the hit crime drama Hinterland , a collection of tales for children, and a number of stories for BBC Radio. He has been longlisted and shortlisted for numerous awards, and won, among other prizes, the Wales Book of the Year Fiction Prize, a Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award, and the BBC National Short Story Award.

Clare Mackintosh

With over 2 million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go (Little Brown, 2015), which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. Both Clare’s second and third novels, I See You (Little Brown, 2017) and Let Me Lie (Little Brown, 2018), were number one Sunday Times bestsellers. Her first three thrillers were selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club, and together have been translated into forty languages. After the End (Little Brown, 2019) was published in 2019 and became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and in 2021 Hostage (Little Brown, 2022) flew straight into the top ten. Her new crime series, featuring Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan, has been critically acclaimed, with both The Last Party (Little Brown, 2023) and A Game of Lies (Little Brown, 2023) hitting the Sunday Times top ten. Together, her books have spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists. Clare lives in north Wales with her family.  

Dean Atta is an award-winning Black British author and poet whose works have received praise from Bernardine Evaristo and Malorie Blackman. His novel in verse, The Black Flamingo (Hachette, 2020), about a Black gay teen finding his voice through poetry and drag performance, won the Stonewall Book Award and was shortlisted for numerous further prestigious awards. His poetry collection, There is (still) love here (Nine Arches Press, 2022), explores acceptance, queer joy and the power of unapologetically being yourself and fully embracing who you are.  

Pragya Agarwal

Dr Pragya Agarwal is the writer of four non-fiction books including the widely acclaimed (M)otherhood and Hysterical. Pragya is a visiting professor of social inequities at Loughborough University and a visiting fellow at University of Oxford. Her writing has been published widely in The Guardian Scientific American, New Scientist, Prospect, Florida Review and Literary Hub. She also teaches creative writing courses for Irish Writers Centre and Arvon.  

Welcome to WriteClub

WriteClub offers creative writing workshops, courses and writing sprints where everyone is welcome - no matter what your writing experience to date.

Sessions are run online and face-to-face in the lovely city of Bristol in the South West of England and are all delivered by experienced writer, teacher and coach, Alison Powell. She will support you to find your voice, develop your craft and share your words with the world.

You'll find a welcoming space here where you can take small steps (and giant leaps!) towards your writing goals. You (and your words) can become part of the global community of fabulous humans that make up WriteClub.

What they're saying about WriteClub

J M Joseph,

author of Fire Boy trilogy

Alison Powell of WriteClub is a writer’s dream, a reader who sees your story before you do, an editor with an ear for the rhythm of prose. Her notes helped me carve out the opening for Fire Boy, the novel that helped me find an agent and publisher. Her classes are a godsend for any writer looking for help and inspiration.

Rebecca Rogers

author of The Purgatory Poisonings

With Al’s help and the wonderful support of the WriteClub community, I eventually finished the book!

longlisted for Bridport Prize 2021

With the support and encouragement of WriteClub, I’ve written much more than I thought I was capable of.

Fiona Fletcher Reid

author of Work It Out

Al is always encouraging, seems so genuinely invested in everyone taking part which was lovely. She created a warm, welcoming space which made showing up to take part very easy.

Creative Writing Workshops For Adults

Creative Writing for Adults

We run both beginner and intermediate creative writing workshops for adults at times and days to suit all (please see our Facebook page @readnowwritenow or email [email protected] for details on current courses).

Our workshops take place on Zoom or in local venues, please get in touch or see our social media for more details of our current workshops.

Beginners' course.

Fabulous course, content and tutor. I've learned so much and am putting into practice xx

Highly recommend, I have also just completed this course. Really informative, great content and delivered in a relaxed enjoyable way

Just completed this course most enjoyable and lots of information to help your writing X

Intermediate Course

This is a great course to give budding authors the extra help to add layers of inspirational ideas to your up coming books. Charlie is very good at encouraging new Authors to really write books with all the tools /knowledge required to make them unique and hopefully memorable to their readers too. Thanks for a Super informative and inspirational course!

The Tutor is very enthusiastic and passionate about his subject. He actively encourages students to contribute ideas and opinions. He makes the sessions fun. My writing skills have improved massively as well as my confidence to become a published writer

This was an excellent course. As well as introducing me to important topics for consideration when writing, I feel I have made some friends and been able to share ideas. Highly recommended

Write Time Write Place Halton book launch

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For writers.

As an organisation we strive to offer an ever-expanding range of diverse, creative opportunities for writers at all stages, to grow their practice personally or professionally.

From structured learning at our NCW Academy , including long-form courses and one-off workshops , to in-depth mentoring schemes and literary awards, our aim is both to identify and nurture new writing through a mix of free materials and paid-for experiences.

Whether you’re looking for publishing industry advice, critical feedback on your writing or simply hoping to meet others who write for pleasure and wellbeing, our programme is continually evolving to help deepen learning and increase access to new subjects, resources and networks.

TLC Free Reads

The Free Reads scheme is for low-income, early-career writers in England. Each year we partner with The Literary Consultancy and Arts Council England to offer up to 10 applicants a free opportunity to have their work assessed and reported back on by a professional.

Escalator is a talent development programme for unpublished fiction writers living in the East of England. The programme, which has a particular focus on under-represented voices, includes eight months of mentoring, training, guidance and networking for participants.

Early Career Awards

The Early Career Awards are a new form of literary prize, combining the power of awards with the unique, year-round educational programme of the National Centre for Writing. Tailored support for winners includes residency opportunities, mentoring and industry support to help them build a sustainable career.

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ILX brings literature professionals together to learn, exchange expertise and experience, devise collaborations, and build international networks. The programme is a partnership with British Council, supported by Arts Council England.

Residencies

Our year-round residency programme encompasses in-person and virtual residencies for writers and translators. We offer focused time to write and develop projects, as well as commissions and opportunities to get to know the wider literary scene in Norwich.

East Anglian Book Awards

We’ve been delighted to deliver the East Anglian Book Awards with a range of partners for over ten years. From our home in Norwich, England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, these awards showcase the strength of publishing, writing and reading across the whole of the East of England.

Listen to The Writing Life podcast

The Writing Life podcast is the podcast for anyone who writes. Every fortnight, we speak to writers and educators to help you improve your writing, from theme, structure and routine to language, character and writing specific genres.

The podcast has featured Margaret Atwood, Jackie Kay, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Val McDermid, Sarah Perry, Elif Shafak and many more!

Resources, tips and advice

Whether you’re new to writing or looking to develop your skills, we work with writers and industry experts to commission digital resources packed with useful advice, practical tips and short writing exercises.

Access them for free now.

NCW Academy

Our creative writing courses, workshops and mentoring are delivered by award-winning tutors, authors and industry experts.

Whether you’re just starting out or an experienced writer taking the next step in your career, we have a programme to provide structure and support for you to achieve your writing goals.

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Stay connected and creative – get the latest news, events, courses, fundraising opportunities and stories direct to your inbox. You can, of course, unsubscribe at any time if you change your mind.

Escalator helped me hugely, in that I began to think of myself as someone who could have something as audacious and swanky as a ‘writing career’. A writing life. A writing community. A writing future. It provided me with the sort of validation, support and community that is very hard to find elsewhere. I feel extremely lucky to have found it.

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100% of your donation will support our work with emerging writers and translators, providing them with new commissions, residencies, mentoring and more.

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Creative Writing Workshops

Our creative writing workshops are for everybody, from the loudest voices in the class to the quietest. Our simple yet revolutionary model encourages participation from even the most reluctant writers.

Furthermore, our model has proven to work especially well with neurodivergent children, those with secondary educational needs, hesitant or anxious children, and other children who may struggle in the traditional classroom setting.

Our workshops are designed to balance collaborate and individual work, we have volunteers to support, guide, and scribe for the young people who need it, and our experienced staff can adapt our delivery to ensure everyone can participate and have fun.

Everyone has a creative spark in them, and everyone has a story worth telling, and so every contribution is celebrated, and every child leaves a published writer.

Here's some things you should know before you book your workshop!

In our story-making workshop, students will be guided through an exploration of the basic elements of a story, deciding what they want to write about as they go and transforming a blank page into a completely new and original story. 

Workshops take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with set slots for in-person and Zoom workshops.

Click the links below to view our availability and book a slot.

• Book a Zoom workshop
• Book a workshop in our Connswater writing space

Please ensure that if you’re booking a Zoom workshop that you have a) a stable internet access, b) the ability to project the Zoom meeting on a classroom screen, and c) that the speakers and microphone functional.

The young people will also need pencils and paper for the second part for the workshop.

If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing [email protected]

What kind of workshops are available? There are two models to choose from, all available either online or in-person:

• Creative-writing workshop:  your students will explore the essential elements of a story, creating original characters, setting and realistic dialogue as the basis for an original piece of writing.
• Time-travel workshop:  using the theme of time travel, your students will use their imaginations, personal histories and historical facts to creatively connect with life 100 years ago and 100 years from now. This workshop is suited best to Years 8, 9 and 10.

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Fighting Words NI is a registered charity in Northern Ireland NIC105751 .  Registered office: Connswater Shopping Centre, Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT5 5LP .

My monthly workshops are designed as a ‘writing gym’. They’ll help you flex your writing muscles, pick up some creative writing skills, and enjoy the company of fellow writing enthusiasts. There’s a different theme each time and all you need is a pen and paper. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a regular writer looking for inspiration, I promise you’ll get words down on the page and have fun in the process.

If you’re local to Falmouth, join us for the monthly Saturday morning sessions in Mylor Bridge. If you’re further afield, or can’t get to Mylor, you can join the monthly Zoom session on Wednesday evenings. Dates for 2024 are here . 

Contact me if you’d like to know more before deciding whether to attend. The cost for these two hour sessions is just £8.00 and new faces are always welcome.

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Workshops and courses

" Creative writing workshops for children "

Whether your child is a confident writer or struggles to get their ideas down on the page, The Story Room has something for everyone. Our relaxed workshop approach nurtures and inspires young writers, enabling them to think creatively and to develop their writing skills. Our tutors and workshop leaders are writers who passionately believe in the benefits of writing for all. We understand the difficulties that a writer faces in communicating their creative thoughts effectively and this enables us to work with children of all writing levels.

We love what we do and are forever on the hunt for new story-writing ideas for our writers!

Our broad range of activities are for children aged 5-16 years old. We run holiday workshops, term-time writing clubs, bespoke writing workshops, children’s birthday parties, author workshops and book clubs.

The Story Room is currently in Winchmore Hill N21 and online.

Poetic Voices Live

We are proud to have been asked to contribute to Poetic Voices Live.

Click here to listen to poetry written by our young writers in their Story Room workshops.

Latest from the Blog

Thank you to everyone who brought their children to our  NEW WORKSHOPS this half-term. And what a wonderful time we all had. On Tuesday we were explorers travelling to strange lands to uncover long-hidden treasures, some of them cursed, some of them heavily guarded and all difficult to reach. The children then set about making wonderful Egyptian necklaces, trying them  …

Thank you to Alice for sending us this lovely review Five Go To Smugglers Top by Enid Blyton Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy all go to a friends house. When they get there they found it very big and strange. Suddenly, one night their friend vanished into the tunnels of the house along with Uncle Quentin. WHO ON EARTH  …

My Amazing ADHD Brain – A Child’s Guide to Thriving with ADHD  is written by Emily Snape. In this brightly coloured and enticing book, Pip, a monster with ADHD,  explains what ADHD is and shares what ADHD means for them and how it affects their life. We learn about the things they can find tricky and things that they find  …

Dear Parents, This is the time of year that you might be thinking of mocks for your child. I work with a team of experts in this field and this week we launch our new-look Succeed website which now includes online mocks as well as the physical mocks that we have provided for  years now. Many of you have asked  …

Milo And His Magic Skateboard by Kristina Tanso Clap clap clap and off we go! Meet Milo, an adventurous bulldog who can travel anywhere in the world on his magic skateboard. All he has to do is think of the destination of his dreams and clap his paws, and Milo can visit all his favourite places in the blink of  …

Today saw the end of our workshops in Friends House and it was a very fitting end to a wonderful week. I can’t tell you how much Michelle and I have enjoyed working with the children this week. Today we learnt about bees and how important they are to our eco-system. We got lots of information from The Woodland Trust  …

Let your imagination fly!

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Creative writing workshop with David Baddiel

David Baddiel, the 2023-24 Visiting Professor of Creative Media, led a creative writing workshop with Oxford University English students on June 11th, 2024. The thirteen students featured aspiring novelists and playwrights, a forthcoming author, and first-time prose writers and poets. Who could been better suited to lead this multidisciplinary workshop than Professor Baddiel, who seemingly has done it all – penning four novels, published children’s literature, led radio shows, directed and starred in sitcoms of his own invention, and brought a kindness and intensity to each and every writer’s work?

Over the course of two and a half hours, each writer received the spotlight for ten minutes. At first, the writer read a passage of their own choosing to the group. Professor Baddiel then gave his praise and criticisms before turning over conversation on the piece to the wider group. Some pieces were praised for various reasons. Stories beckoned comparison with The New Yorker . One play’s ending made Saltburn ’s tragedy seem like a happy-forever-after fairy tale romance. But the range of pieces does not end simply with well-known works of literature. There were experimental works, such as a stream-of-consciousness flash fiction about walking through crowded streets in a city, and also a stirring meditation on race in the Scottish school system.

Perhaps the only place where Professor Baddiel’s enthusiasm for writing was more on display than in his class was after his class when he stayed behind to continue the conversation with students. He brought a genuine warmth that made everyone feel open and excited to share the things that they found interesting in writing literature. On behalf of the class, I want to extend my gratitude and thanks for taking the time to conduct an exciting workshop, where we not only learned by Professor Baddiel’s example but also had the ability to connect with each other. Us writers spend a lot of time with our craft, so it is always a gift to meet with another person who finds our work interesting.

Griffin Gudaitis is an MPhil candidate in English Studies (Medieval Period). He is the Publishing Director at Oxford Writers’ House, and his story, “Burning,” was shortlisted for the 2024 Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award .

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NVL 134 — Novel Workshop: The Narrative Journey

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Exeter School of Education Student Life

• MA Creative Arts Theatre Workshop

Posted by Annabel Mary Watson

Creative Arts Theatre Workshop on Dartmoor

On the 7 th of May MA Creative Arts students went on an organised trip to Moretonhampstead on Dartmoor to complete a Drama workshop with MED theatre. This was an all-day workshop that began with us getting a bus to the town and being allowed to explore a bit and chat to the locals.  

Following our wanderings, the workshop began with an explanation of who MED theatre are and what they do. This amazing charity is a community theatre organisation with a focus on multigenerational work that are relevant to local residents and the surrounding areas ecology and folklore.  

We discussed what is important to the organisation, and their various areas of interest such as locality, coming together and the environment 

Following this we went on a walk to see some of the surrounding areas flora and fauna where we explored one of the stories they use within their work, and how this can be adapted and used. We looked at how stories can be used to explore characters’ feelings as a way to help students work through their own feelings without experiencing that they are giving too much of themselves away. This section was particularly interactive with all of us volunteering to play various characters and get involved to bring the activity to life.  

The next activity saw us discussing how charades can be used as a learning activity with students acting out facts or words from the curriculum to help get students involved in some active learning and creativity before we returned for lunch.  

Following lunch, we discussed things we felt were important to each of us and what we would wish to incorporate were we involved with MED theatre before splitting into groups to plan ideas around activites and workshops we would run on those respective topics. There was a huge range of links people found with collaborating across the arts, an environmental focus, and more. My group chose to focus on the idea of locality and how we could apply it to different places, incorporating the local mythology and folklore of the region the workshops would run.  

After considering the folklore that was important to individual members of the group and each member’s diverse upbringing; Ireland, South Africa, and China; we decided on a workshop on Irish folklore. We were asked to consider who this workshop would run for and where, how would we recruit or find students, how we would link locality and finally any barriers we may face.  

We focused on KS2 students in Northern Irish primary schools offering it as an after-school workshop that students could opt into. This would make recruiting easier as we would use the students of the school, as well as eradicate barriers to inclusion such as transport and a space to put the workshop on.  

We focused particularly on the story of Finn MacCool and the Giants Causeway. We chose this story as it is one most if not all children in Ireland know of so they could get involved with the storytelling and allowed the opportunity for a number of other discussions around the science and geography of the formation of this landscape.  

We thought about how we could use the activities we had learnt about throughout the day as well as linking other key themes we had learnt about in our MA Creative Arts course to put on activities for the students. We linked student inclusion and fluid teaching moments with getting students to help us tell the tale . This was followed by ideas of Possibility Thinking to create an alternate version of the tale – what else could have caused this landscape? Games like Busy Bees are ideal for the younger students to get them acting out actions from the story before we could move on to thinking about what emotions the characters may have felt and how to show that. Should we want to include more geographical knowledge with the slightly older students we could play charades with key terms, such as columnar jointing and basalt, having learnt about how the hexagonal rocks formed.  

In the end this was an exceptionally helpful workshop for thinking about how we could put what we have learnt into practice. Whilst this workshop took place in a drama setting a large portion of the skills ad games we used were really transferable for considering active learning and how to get students engaged and teaching and being taught creatively.  

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ReadFest 2024: Creative Writing Class

Creative Writing Class

Date and time

Barking Learning Centre

About this event

• Event lasts 2 hours

Please note this is a location based event at Barking Learning Centre .

NB: This session can also be booked to attend online.

Course outline:

If you are a beginner to writing and would like to learn how to write that book you always knew was inside you, or a more experienced writer who wants to reacquaint yourself with the fundamentals of writing, this is for you.

Over eleven two-hour monthly sessions, our tutor will take you through every aspect of creative writing - from structure to dialogue, description, point of view and everything in between - all the way through to writing a synopsis and the process of submission.

Please note there is a supporting Google Classroom for this course and the direct link to join can be found in confirmation email under the Additional information section.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please directly get in touch with us at [email protected]

If you are not sure if this class is for you or would like more information, please contact us to discuss. Ask the organiser or email: [email protected]

NB: To make the most of the Creative Writing Classes , please ensure that you book your place and that you are prepared to attend all the available sessions, there are 11 monthly sessions in total.

Tickets will be released in three-month blocks for the following dates:

• 12 October 2024
• 9 November 2024
• 7 December 2024
• 11 January 2025
• 8 February 2025
• 8 March 2025
• 12 April 2025
• 10 May 2025
• 7 June 2025
• 5 July 2025

Barking and Dagenham Libraries and Pen to Print are proud to host our thirteenth annual Literary Festival which takes place between Saturday 14 September and Saturday 21 September.

We are delighted to showcase our events both online and in-person. This is a wonderful festival which provides a great opportunity to meet authors, discover new genres and celebrate the joy of reading through a wide range of events.

We are pleased to say that all our in-person events remain FREE and our online events are subject to a small fee. Our programme is supported by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Arts Council England, funded by the UK Government.

For more information please visit: pentoprint.org/readfest

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Dear creative dreamers

Frog Medicine

Inspired by a lammas writing workshop with writing mentor + alchemical herbalist jan fortune.

Recently I attended a writing workshop for Lammas with the wonderful writing mentor and guide and alchemical herbalist Jan Fortune.

During the workshop Jan drew for us an oracle card from the more-than-human world… the frog.

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As with all the best instances of divination, this card pull unearthed a memory for me that I had forgotten. 

It wasn’t a long-ago memory… it was from late February, about 5 months ago… but I was 9 months pregnant at the time and the “amnesia” of pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and early parenthood are oft repeated and well documented. :)

The day of my last doctor’s appointment before I would, a few days later, go into labor, when the doctor told me I was 2 centimeters dilated and my body beginning the process of labor, I also received a gift in the mail.

This was a gift I had chosen to give myself–a piece of art that my inner child would have loved, and wanted. It was a watercolor of two rainbow frogs hopping along a path to a hazy pink castle in the distance, created by an artist I love in Portugal who creates intuitive inner child art.

I love my pastel rainbow frog watercolor so much. It hangs over my writing desk/altar.

I thought a lot about my inner child–what a good friend of mine calls “my little girl”–while I was pregnant. It was a liminal time in my life when I was carrying myself, and my little girl who was me, and my little girl who would be my daughter, all at the same time.

It was the only time in my life that I would carry my daughter, and my little girl self, and my grown-up self, all at the same time. And now it’s over.

I love frog medicine for that space and time in my life. Frogs have a playful and energetic quality, with their sudden hopping that can take them to heights 30-50 times their body length. Frogs are slippery and wet. Their skins are porous and permeable. They breathe and drink through their skins. They are as sensitive to the world around them, and as absorbing of what their environment offers–with their whole selves–as it is possible for a living thing to be. Frog beauty is intense and unexpected: their vibrant colors warning of poison, their orb-like red or orange or black eyes, their webbed feet that help them fly. 

And of course there’s the frog’s well-known dual nature: they are quite literally liminal creatures who live a life half in water and half on land– amphibian comes from the ancient Greek and means “both ways of life.” And there’s the frog’s visible transformation through its life stages–tadpole to frog–perhaps less traditionally beautiful, and cliche, than caterpillar to butterfly, but no less symbolic and miraculous. 

I’m listening to the medicine of this creature–protective and poisonous, slippery and unexpectedly strong, permeable and sensitive, dual-natured, breathing in water and on land. Their tropical lives could not be more different from mine, and they exist for themselves, not for me, but I like overturning the soil in my mind sometimes to remember that we share Earth with millions of creatures, with billions of kin.

Hey. I’m Mistress M. I’m a writer, writing guide, teacher, dancer, and creative activist based in Newark, New Jersey. 

I am a person whose ancestors were enslaved people who helped build the structures of this country where I live. I stand with the lightworkers + those seeking the liberation of all peoples from oppression. I live + create most humbly on Mohican + Lenape territory, and I lovingly acknowledge the ancestors + elders, past and present, of the land on which we live.

Do YOU know the ancestral elders of the land on which you live? Check out this tool, Native Land , to learn more. Educate thyself. ♥️

My creative works, outlook, and spiritual practice are all delightfully queer. If you, too, support the beautiful rainbow of all human experience, then I’ve got a table here with plenty of open seats, and you can totally sit with me. 🏳️‍🌈

I am a creative dominatrix who believes that everyone is creative and that everyone can find the creative rhythm that works for them, and that supports them in reaching their creative dreams. 

I am the founder and editor-in-chief of Mistress M’s Community Publishing House, a full-service, boutique book incubator where we hold the values that no matter what our hearts desire to create, there is an audience seeking it; that, by putting our work out into the world, our audience will find us; and that there IS space in the marketplace for the offerings of our hearts.

If you wanna support this small black-woman-owned creative business, :D, I have SO many offerings cooking in the chamber.

Find all my good things at my new home on the web, mistressm.podia.com .

For all my published works, from my own queer erotic romance novels penned under my author avatar Nikki Ali, to books on writing guidance from your creative domme, to my popular community anthology Heart Art, check out my Amazon author page here.

To join my creative circle, in which I host monthly writing salons where we create together + practice our craft, support me on Patreon.

For quick + dirty writing guides, and oracle card readings from your favorite creative domme, here’s my writing Etsy store, WritingMagicBoutique.

I work with writers 1:1 to create the writing rhythm that works for them, to unearth & polish the gems of their stories, and to help them reach their creative dreams. Interested in 1:1 work? Contact me at [email protected] .

For all things Mistress M, follow me on Instagram @mistressmwriter. Be sure to hit up the link in my bio to check out ALL my offerings.🙏🏾

Ready for more?