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 >
-
Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writers
Course Date: Fri 25 Sep 2020
Location on this date: OnlineGreat poetry and prose begin when the writer puts the right words in the right places. Learn how and why the rules and conventions of language matter in this new course, which combines creative writing with opportunities to learn/revise essential points of grammar and useful literary concepts. Suitable for beginning writers looking to build confidence, and those with more experience who would like to practise these essential skills.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £119.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £48.00 -
Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course)
Course Date: Sun 27 Sep 2020
Location on this date: OnlineThe best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.
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 -
Reading for writers: craft texts and fiction writing guides (a fortnightly course)
Course Date: Mon 28 Sep 2020
Location on this date: OnlinePublished authors are a goldmine of advice and information. Nobody knows the journey better than them! In this course we'll read and explore three craft texts by prominent writers - Stephen King's 'On Writing,' Anne Lamott's 'Bird by Bird,' and Ursula K .Le Guin's 'Steering the Craft' - using their experience of writing as inspiration for lively discussion and creative work.
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 -
Ways into screenwriting
Course Date: Wed 30 Sep 2020 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineLearn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £209.00Senior fee: £209.00Concession: £84.00 -
Short story writing
Course Date: Fri 2 Oct 2020 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: OnlineA hands-on introduction to the art of writing short stories. You will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £209.00Senior fee: £209.00Concession: £84.00 -
Advanced autobiographical writing
Course Date: Fri 2 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineA supportive workshop for more experienced writers of autobiography (including fictionalised work or poetry). Close attention to your work, exploration of techniques and discussion of relevant issues. Suitable for students who have an ongoing project and may have attended autobiographical writing courses.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £219.00Senior fee: £219.00Concession: £88.00 -
Introduction to advanced academic writing (Year 3 undergraduates and beyond)
Course Date: Sat 3 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineOn this introductory course we will explore the building blocks and strategies for good writing. Ideal for those studying, or contemplating writing, at this level.
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 -
Ways into poetry: an introduction
Course Date: Sun 4 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineAre you just starting to write poetry? This inspiring short course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £109.00Senior fee: £109.00Concession: £44.00 -
Reading for writers: contemporary Black British fiction (a fortnightly course)
Course Date: Sun 4 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineThe landscape of black British fiction is thriving. In this course we'll explore just a small fragment to learn what lessons black British authors can teach budding writers of fiction. We'll read novels by Diana Evans, Paul Mendez, Bernardine Evaristo, Helen Oyeyemi, and Caryl Phillips, as well as short stories by Zadie Smith, Irenosen Okojie, Leone Ross and more. We'll analyse, discuss, and use these works to inspire and develop our own fiction. You will need to come to the first class having read 'Girl, Woman, Other,' by Bernardine Evaristo.
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 -
Write a short story in a week
Course Date: Mon 5 Oct 2020 (and 1 other date)
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 four days. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.
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 -
Crime writing: a taster
Course Date: Mon 5 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineCrime writing is one of the most popular genres on the fiction market, but what special considerations are there for writers when it comes to describing dastardly deeds on the page? This fun but informative workshop explores character, plot, dialogue, pacing and atmosphere in the crime writing genre.
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: Tue 6 Oct 2020 (and 2 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: £99.00Senior fee: £99.00Concession: £40.00 -
Writing and rewriting fairytales
Course Date: Tue 6 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineOnce upon a time there was a City Lit day workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.
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 Your Mental Health Story
Course Date: Thu 8 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineFrom blogging to journalism, how do you go about writing about your mental health? This interactive workshop on writing your mental health story for publication takes you through the steps, provides a structure for a first person account written by you (for a blog, newspaper, magazine article, etc.), advises on the pitfalls and how to avoid these, and gives you the opportunity to share a sample of your writing within a safe, supportive group.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £0.00Senior fee: £0.00Concession: £0.00 -
Haiku writing for Health and Well-being
Course Date: Thu 8 Oct 2020
Location on this date: OnlineWriting Haiku poems can provide a peaceful distraction from illness by focusing on creative writing. Work can produce a feeling of achievement. Haiku can help to get in touch with the natural world and show man’s place in it.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £0.00Senior fee: £0.00Concession: £0.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add to your waiting list