Creative writing: getting started

What is the course about?

In this beginners’ course, you'll experiment with different forms of creative writing and try out your skills in a friendly and supportive environment. You'll be encouraged to unlock your imagination and think like a writer. You'll learn new ways of looking at creative writing, and you’ll start to give and receive constructive critical feedback.

Students say: Inventive, fun, helpful, engaging; A supportive and friendly environment; Good mix of lecture, group discussion & individual work; The day flew past - it was enjoyable, thought-provoking, and has given me a lot of confidence to keep going.

What will we cover?

Writing exercises will help you to discover stories and poems in your imagination and in your life – and to write them. There will be group discussion of the work that you and your fellow-students have written, and suggestions for your way forward.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Write from your imagination, in ways that will make your reader want more
- Write honestly and entertainingly about your life
- Respond with sensitivity and insight to the work of other students
- Demonstrate an understanding of what you may expect from creative writing classes.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is a beginners' course for those who have not tried creative writing classes before. You'll need basic written English skills to benefit from it.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn through writing exercises, discussion and interactive tutor presentations.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Please bring your own writing materials.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You may wish to join one of the Ways into Creative Writing courses on offer every term at City Lit, or join another taster course on a particular topic - for example, Screenwriting or Writing for Children.

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Bluesky.