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.
- Writing the Oulipo: a taster
Course start date: Sat 10 Jun 2023Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Terry FreedmanDoes your writing need a boost of inspiration? How about counter-intuitively imposing constraints on yourself? Learn about the ideas of the French Oulipo movement and see what happens when you experiment with interesting – and challenging – limitations!
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 £69.00 - Self-publishing: a taster Course start date: Sat 17 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Helen CoxWant to keep full creative control of your writing project? Learn more about self-publishing and how to give your book (poetry, fiction or non-fiction) the best chance of achieving high sales.
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 eco-poetry: a taster Course start date: Sat 17 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah WestcottHow might poets write about the natural world today, and what is an eco-poem?
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 - Not drowning but waving: Edith Sitwell, Stevie Smith and Lorraine MarinerCourse start date: Sat 17 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laurie SmithWe explore poems written by three highly original English women poets. Their styles of writing are unique as they respond to the stresses of their lives, and to their position as women, with wit and humour. Their resilience shows them as the reverse of Smith’s famous line ‘Not waving but drowning’.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Writing the family Course start date: Sat 24 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nick BarlayTackle the challenges of writing about family life in this thought-provoking workshop about how to craft personal stories into an engaging narrative.
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: how to edit your novel Course start date: Sat 20 May 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerOnce your story is on the page, the editing process begins. Where do you start and what skills do you need? This course guides learners through the editing of a story or manuscript, exploring approaches to making line edits, improving narrative structure and more.Full fee £99.00 - Ways into playwriting: a taster Course start date: Sat 15 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Dawn KingExplore the fundamental techniques of writing for the stage in this introductory short course. Get to grips with dialogue, character, story and structure, and start work on your own play.
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 - Reading for writers: great plays - a taster Course start date: Sat 15 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinStudy great plays to write great plays. This taster will introduce students to ways in which classic plays can inspire our own contemporary work.
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 - Jump start your play
Course start date: Sat 5 Aug 2023Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinHave you got a script idea but not yet put pen to paper, or a script you started but never finished? This intensive short course will help you inject new energy into your idea – and get started writing. Only suitable for those with playwriting experience.
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
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 me to waiting list