Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the role of fiction in a time of climate emergency? Why are stories so important in tackling the environmental crisis?
We will unpack the mythologies that underly modern assumptions about humankind’s relationship with nature and challenge the traditional ‘hero’s journey’. We will create new characters and draft fresh story outlines, explore contemporary eco fiction models, and leave invigorated and inspired to continue writing beyond the session.
What will we cover?
- Defining the genre ‘Eco Fiction’ and how it intersects with other writing genres
- The ‘hero’s journey’ and alternative story structures
- Generating plot ideas that address environmental issues
- How to avoid ‘info-dumping’ or ‘preaching’
- Reading and discussing short extracts from contemporary eco fiction
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Plan a short story outline that incorporates environmental elements
- Create a vivid character to inhabit the world of your eco fiction
- Write part of the story and have ideas for how to move forward with it
- Respond to, assess and discuss pieces of writing with sensitivity
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for beginners in eco fiction. It is open to students who are trying writing for the first time or who have some writing experience and want to explore this particular genre.
You will be encouraged to share your ideas and your writing with the class, and have the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from your peers and the tutor.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis, in-class writing activities and supportive workshop.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Bring a pen and paper / something to write with during the session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might want to try the one-day course, Writing eco-poetry, or one of our longer courses in short story writing, writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and more. Please feel free to contact the Writing department for advice on which course to take next!
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Laura is an experienced theatre director, teacher and writer and has taught at City Lit since 2011. Laura has worked at a wide range of venues including the National Theatre, the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, Birmingham Rep, the Cambridge Arts Theatre, and Southwark Playhouse. She loves all types of plays, from new writing and devised theatre to Shakespeare and works in translation, and enjoys bringing scenes and characters to life with students in her classes. Laura studied English Literature as an undergraduate at Oxford University and went on to take an MA in Text and Performance Studies at King’s College London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She now splits her time between teaching and writing novels for young adults.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/writing-eco-fiction2938992Writing eco-fictionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_eco_fiction-1080_1.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Courses/Online courses/Courses/vm/Environment & Sustainability/Courses/vm/Inspired by nature/Courses/Writing/Genre writing courses/Courses/New courses228515881358113599173113669137301351717431228513581135991653<p>Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.</p>002938950Writing eco-fiction7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_eco_fiction-1080_1_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSatOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026WritingHW7097979Writing eco-fiction794079Laura Baggaleywriting-eco-fiction/hw709-2526<p>Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-06 00:00:00<p>What is the role of fiction in a time of climate emergency? Why are stories so important in tackling the environmental crisis?</p><p>We will unpack the mythologies that underly modern assumptions about humankind’s relationship with nature and challenge the traditional ‘hero’s journey’. We will create new characters and draft fresh story outlines, explore contemporary eco fiction models, and leave invigorated and inspired to continue writing beyond the session.</p><p>Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.</p><p>- Defining the genre ‘Eco Fiction’ and how it intersects with other writing genres</p><p>- The ‘hero’s journey’ and alternative story structures</p><p>- Generating plot ideas that address environmental issues </p><p>- How to avoid ‘info-dumping’ or ‘preaching’</p><p>- Reading and discussing short extracts from contemporary eco fiction</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- Plan a short story outline that incorporates environmental elements</p><p>- Create a vivid character to inhabit the world of your eco fiction</p><p>- Write part of the story and have ideas for how to move forward with it</p><p>- Respond to, assess and discuss pieces of writing with sensitivity </p><p>This course is for beginners in eco fiction. It is open to students who are trying writing for the first time or who have some writing experience and want to explore this particular genre.</p><p>You will be encouraged to share your ideas and your writing with the class, and have the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from your peers and the tutor.</p><p>You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis, in-class writing activities and supportive workshop.<br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br/><br/>For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.<br/><br/>City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses"><strong>expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</strong></a>.</p> <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.<p>Bring a pen and paper / something to write with during the session.</p><p>You might want to try the one-day course, Writing eco-poetry, or one of our longer courses in short story writing, writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and more. Please feel free to contact the Writing department for advice on which course to take next!<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines"><strong>Late Lines</strong></a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines"><strong>Between the Lines</strong></a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting"><strong>Facebook</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting"><strong>Twitter</strong></a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual797940HW709NONESat06/06/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyWeekendOnlineOnlineLaura BaggaleyBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJun 2026Writing7979Writing eco-fictionwriting-eco-fiction/hw709-2526<p>Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-06 00:00:00<p>What is the role of fiction in a time of climate emergency? Why are stories so important in tackling the environmental crisis?</p><p>We will unpack the mythologies that underly modern assumptions about humankind’s relationship with nature and challenge the traditional ‘hero’s journey’. We will create new characters and draft fresh story outlines, explore contemporary eco fiction models, and leave invigorated and inspired to continue writing beyond the session.</p><p>Are you a writer who's passionate about the environment? This one-day course will teach you how to weave environmental themes and positive climate solutions into your work, while writing entertaining, high-quality fiction.</p><p>- Defining the genre ‘Eco Fiction’ and how it intersects with other writing genres</p><p>- The ‘hero’s journey’ and alternative story structures</p><p>- Generating plot ideas that address environmental issues </p><p>- How to avoid ‘info-dumping’ or ‘preaching’</p><p>- Reading and discussing short extracts from contemporary eco fiction</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- Plan a short story outline that incorporates environmental elements</p><p>- Create a vivid character to inhabit the world of your eco fiction</p><p>- Write part of the story and have ideas for how to move forward with it</p><p>- Respond to, assess and discuss pieces of writing with sensitivity </p><p>This course is for beginners in eco fiction. It is open to students who are trying writing for the first time or who have some writing experience and want to explore this particular genre.</p><p>You will be encouraged to share your ideas and your writing with the class, and have the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from your peers and the tutor.</p><p>You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis, in-class writing activities and supportive workshop.<br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br/><br/>For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.<br/><br/>City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses"><strong>expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</strong></a>.</p> <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.<p>Bring a pen and paper / something to write with during the session.</p><p>You might want to try the one-day course, Writing eco-poetry, or one of our longer courses in short story writing, writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and more. Please feel free to contact the Writing department for advice on which course to take next!<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines"><strong>Late Lines</strong></a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines"><strong>Between the Lines</strong></a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting"><strong>Facebook</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting"><strong>Twitter</strong></a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesconfigurable
158813599Novels and short storieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/novels-and-short-stories/novels-and-short-stories-11/2/285/13581/13599/1588/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories
