History, culture & writing

Explore History, Culture & Writing

Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.

Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.

Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.

Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place now.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. Creative writing: getting started
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 21 Jan 2024 (and 8 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Henry Martin
    Give creative writing a try on this fun and supportive online short course. Ideal if you want to express yourself but need help in getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  2. Ways into screenwriting: getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 7 Jul 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Clive Ford
    Want to write scripts but don't know how to start? Discover the basics of screenwriting - character, conflict and more - on this online taster course that will help you shape your ideas and get your story going. (Course has 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  3. The Coen brothers: road trips through Hollywood
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 21 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  John Wischmeyer
    The Coens’ Blood Simple (1984) was a new kind of film noir set in Texas. A career later they returned to post-Civil War Texas to re-make True Grit (2010). This map of their USA trips through Raising Arizona (1987), then mainstreams to Fargo (1996), but somehow never far from Hollywood and its genres: Barton Fink (1991), O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000), or Hail, Caesar (2016). If their America was No Country For Old Men (2007), then where art they now? (See separate but related courses on Once Upon a Time in New Hollywood, Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola, and David Lynch).
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  4. Writing flash fiction: getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 21 Jul 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Lucy Popescu
    A sideways glance: succinct, powerful. This short workshop on the essential components of flash fiction will teach you to tell a complete story in very few words. 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  5. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    70% of 100
  6. Full fee £69.00
    Rating:
    76% of 100
  7. Cutting it fine: collage in modern & contemporary art
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 3 Mar 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Chantal Condron
    Immerse yourself in an exploration of the history of collage going as far back as ancient China to international contemporary art today. This engaging study day will enhance your knowledge of the roots of this fascinating media, and illustrate how collage techniques have been pivotal to major modern and contemporary art movements, from Cubism, Dada and Surrealism to photomontage and digital art.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  8. Writing women in the 21st century
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 3 Mar 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie McKenzie
    Celebrate strong women for International Women's Day with this inclusive one-off session on how to create your own, powerful fictional women.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  9. Writing and rewriting fairytales
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 3 Mar 2024 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Victoria M. Adams
    Once upon a time there was a City Lit 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  10. Writing historical fiction
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 17 Mar 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anna Richards
    Dig into the past to craft historical fiction that speaks vividly to contemporary readers. From Hilary Mantel to C.J. Sansom, learn techniques writers use to turn historical record into compelling fiction.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
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