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 body in fictionCourse start date: Sat 11 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor PennyExplore how to write bodies that bring your fiction to life in this 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Writing for blogs: a tasterAlready 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Academic writing: first stepsCourse start date: Sat 11 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anne WilsonLearn the basics of the academic approach to writing, including how to change your own style so that it fits this essential register for university students and researchers.
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 - Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
- Picture book writingCourse start date: Mon 13 Feb 2023 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Lou KuenzlerWould 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; a starter course to 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 £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - A short history of the Indian subcontinentCourse start date: Tue 14 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe India subcontinent is unique in its heritage and history. It has lasted through invasion, political change and assimilation. It is home to the one of the world’s oldest civilisations, the Indus Valley.
The subcontinent’s contribution to language (Sanskrit) and great philosophies (Vedic, Buddhism Jainism and Sikhism) is well known. From its land, has been the emergence of Sanskrit, the concept of the soul and liberation and the invention of the number ‘zero’ - a cornerstone in all mathematics.
Our course will cover the period from Pre-Aryans (c5000BC) to the start of the Mughal empire.
The course will be interactive with a chance for discussion on Indian history & politics and its impact on Indian culture and tradition.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £45.00 - Crusade and Reconquest in Medieval SpainCourse start date: Tue 14 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael SchraerThrough interactive lectures and discussions Investigate the ideologies, events and motivations as Christian kingdoms conquered the territories of Muslim Al-Andalus, culminating in the fall of Granada in 1492 and the end of Islamic Spain. Tutor: Michael Schraer.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £45.00 - The Silk Road the first mega-highwayCourse start date: Tue 14 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
The Silk Road was the central nexus of commercial, cultural, and political exchange in Eurasia and China for many centuries, and still has a profound influence on the world today.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £50.00 - How to get publishedCourse start date: Tue 14 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseySo you've finished your novel. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - A taste of creative writingCourse start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Vicky GrutGive 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 - 'Furious Giants Looming over Europe': World War 1 In continental poetryCourse start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Peter BrennanHow did poets in continental Europe respond to the unprecedented events of World War I? Representing four countries, this innovatory online course examines the powerful, distinctive work of Guillaume Apollinaire, Anna Akhmatova, Giuseppe Ungaretti, and Georg Trakl.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing sonnetsCourse start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah WardleShall 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - The Exorcist at 50Course start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyA landmark film, The Exorcist brought a new level of terror to the big screen; nothing like it had been seen before in mainstream cinema - and nor has it since. This course offers a detailed analysis of the film and its key themes, its production, critical and popular reception, and its influence on the development of the demonic possession film, and horror cinema and popular culture in general.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing the familyCourse start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nick BarlayA thought-provoking workshop designed to tackle the challenges of writing about family life and offer guidance on shaping personal stories into coherent, engaging narratives.
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 - Autobiography into fiction: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 18 Feb 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Nick BarlayLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives. This course has 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
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