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.
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- Ways into screenwriting: a taster
Course start date: Sun 9 Jul 2023 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Alan NixonWant 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 - A taste of creative writingCourse start date: Sun 11 Jun 2023 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive online short course. Ideal if you want to write but need help getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination.(Course includes a 2-hr break: 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 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax and style for creative writers - a tasterCourse start date: Sun 23 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William BradyGreat 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 a review of essential points of grammar.
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 - Masters of Cinema: Clint Eastwood - Directing the WestCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Graham Rinaldi“The Western brought me a certain notoriety” – Clint Eastwood the last of the Western Film Directors. This course will look at Eastwood’s body of work set in the American Wild West from High Plains Drifter to Cry Macho. We will explore his themes, storytelling, influences and techniques in creating a truly American art form.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing a short filmCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sharmila ChauhanWould you like to write a script for a short film? This short course offers an insight into the fundamentals of screenwriting through tutor input, writing exercises, group work and discussion.
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 - Craft focus: dialogue in fictionCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieWhen your characters speak, what are they really saying? Develop that all-important ‘ear for dialogue’ through writing exercises and analysis of proven techniques.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Create your first poetry collectionCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ella FrearsYou've written and workshopped your poetry, and now you're ready to create your first collection. But where do you begin with that process? This workshop offers instruction and advice on putting together your first poetry collection.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - The art of writing the personal essayCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Follow in the footsteps of Dorothy Parker, George Orwell and Zadie Smith with this taster course on the personal essay, a continuously thriving genre of autobiographical writing.
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 - Study day: Degas, drawing the modernCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore Degas’s extraordinary legacy as ‘one of the founders of Impressionism’. His dynamic paintings and sketches of everyday life and activities, and his bold colour experiments will be examined throughout this informative weekend art history course.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Poetry masterclass at Keats House, HampsteadCourse start date: Sun 4 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keats House
Tutors: Helen CoxThis advanced day workshop explores approaches to poetry and workshopping techniques in the idyllic surroundings of Keats House, the former Hampstead residence of the Romantic poet, John Keats.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Craft focus: scenes in fictionCourse start date: Sun 16 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Lights, camera, action! Scenes in fiction are like those in film: we watch the action unfold, as a story moves toward its conclusion. In this short course you'll learn about this essential unit of fiction craft, and develop scenes that grab readers' attention.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Writing flash fiction: a tasterCourse start date: Sun 23 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Maria ThomasA 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 - Writing the cityCourse start date: Sun 30 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Through a combination of close observation and texts both old and new, you'll explore the depiction of inner city life in fiction, and write your own fiction inspired by the urban landscape in this short course. Course will be held off-site; some local points will be visited. Students will meet the tutor at the band stand in Lincoln's Inn Fields.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Creative nature writingCourse start date: Sun 6 Aug 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you enjoy being in nature and want to capture that on the page? Learn how to write about the natural world in this fun course, which encourages you to step outside into the urban 'wild' to seek inspiration for your poetry or prose.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
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