Writing Courses in London and Online
Learn to write stories, articles and poetry in the same college where big names in literature such as Dylan Thomas, Andrea Levy and Malorie Blackman have trained or taught.
You can now study from the comfort of your own home on our new range of interactive online courses whether you're just starting out or ready to publish your first book. The benefits of our online writing courses include expert tuition from a published author and feedback on your work as you develop your writing skills. There will also be opportunities to participate in group discussions and activities with fellow students.
Many of our courses are delivered online. For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
City Lit's writing students frequently go on to further study or publication. Read their success stories
Students are warmly encouraged to send in their work to be considered for inclusion in Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing.
We're delighted to announce City Lit’s Malorie Blackman Scholarships for 'Unheard Voices', providing three annual awards worth up to £1000 each, to fund one year’s study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit. Learn more >
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Creative writing for social media
Course Date: Fri 29 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineIn this new course we will playfully scroll through short-form creative writing approaches, and bring together words, images, found sounds, mixed-media, cut-up and other processual techniques to publish our writing on social media. This course is open to both new and experienced writers.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Writing for children: a taster
Course Date: Sat 30 Jan 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineDevelop your ideas for children's stories in this practical and interactive short course. Topics will include plot, characterisation and viewpoint, and how to approach the children's publishing industry today.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Flash fiction
Course Date: Sat 30 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineFlash fiction is the art of telling small stories that make a big impact. Learn how to harness the power of economy in this practical short course. Suitable for those with some experience of creative writing.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £99.00Senior fee: £99.00Concession: £40.00 -
Writing funny fiction
Course Date: Thu 4 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineHumour is an incredible vehicle for connection, promoting empathy and raising questions that may otherwise be hard to handle. Writers as diverse as Saki, PG Wodehouse, Shakespeare, and Lorrie Moore understand this. But what does it really mean to write funny fiction and what are the techniques writers use? Learn how to harness the power of humour in your fiction in this fun, supportive workshop.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
A taste of poetry
Course Date: Fri 5 Feb 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineThis short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for two evenings of thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Write a short story in a weekend
Course Date: Sat 6 Feb 2021 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: OnlineTurn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end in two days. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Please note - this course includes a 2-hour break from 12:30-14:30 each day.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £99.00Senior fee: £99.00Concession: £40.00 -
World-building for fantasy and speculative fiction writers
Course Date: Sat 6 Feb 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineHave you ever wondered how Tolkien or C.S. Lewis did it? On this short course you'll learn how to build worlds that lend your fantasy or speculative fiction credibilty, richness and the kind of depth that leaves readers wanting more. Ideal for enthusiastic writers with an idea to explore, or a writing project in progress.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Writing non-fiction for children: a taster
Course Date: Sat 6 Feb 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineOn this interactive taster course, you will explore children’s non-fiction writing; an exciting and wide-ranging field, encompassing biography, narrative non-fiction and the classic fact book.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Writing about food: a taster
Course Date: Sat 13 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineLove food and want to write about it? There’s never been a better time with so much happening in the world of food - from street food markets and pop-up restaurants to 24-hour fine dining and gourmet takeaways. Explore the opportunities in print and online, including blogs.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Writing for blogs: a taster
Course Date: Sat 13 Feb 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineAlready started a blog and want to know how to craft more engaging blog posts? This fun but informative workshop teaches the essential skills required to craft blogposts that will resonate with your audience.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £69.00 -
Writing sonnets
Course Date: Sat 13 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineShall I compare thee to a summer's day? Or would that be a bit cliché? Explore new avenues with this old form in our inspiring workshop, designed to help students push their sonnet writing beyond the traditional lines set by Shakespeare and Petrarch.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Academic writing: a taster
Course Date: Sat 13 Feb 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineWhat is academic writing? What makes a different from journalism, or commentary or prose? On this course you will be introduced to the basics of academic writing. You'll find out how to begin writing in the right style for university students, researchers, and academics, and how to change your own writing style so that it fits this essential register.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Writing a romantic comedy
Course Date: Sat 13 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineRomantic comedies have been warming the hearts of cinema-goers for years. In this fun short course you'll learn the conventions of the genre and how to write a script that combines love and laughter to great effect. Suitable for those with some experience of creative writing.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Craft focus: dialogue in fiction
Course Date: Sun 14 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineShow rather than tell through quality dialogue. This short course will explore ways to develop that all-important ‘ear for dialogue’ through writing exercises and analysis of proven techniques. Please note: this course will have a 2-hr break from 12:30-14:30.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
Picture book writing
Course Date: Mon 15 Feb 2021 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: OnlineWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories. Develop both your ideas and your technique.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £129.00Concession: £52.00
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