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.
A column is a recurring spot for a writer’s opinion in a newspaper or magazine. Whether this is something you plan to pitch to a publication, or set up via your own online platform, our one-day course will show you how to best structure your thoughts in writing.
What will we cover?
- Where to get ideas for a column or opinion piece. - How to develop your ideas into a story. - The balance between opinion and facts. - Pitching your work for publication.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Differentiate between outlets and their audiences. - Write a column in your unique voice. - Structure a series of articles. - Pitch an article or blog post for publication.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No formal requirements except a good standard of literacy and a love of reading.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Analysis of short pieces in class through group discussion. - Short writing exercises. - Formal instruction from the teacher combined with group discussion.
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?
Writing materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a range of journalistic and creative non-fiction writing courses, including Introduction to Journalism and Biography Writing.
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.
Erica Buist has been writing features for the Guardian for over a decade. A memoir piece she wrote for Guardian Weekend ended up forming the basis for the first chapter of her debut book, This Party’s Dead. She has worked as a playwright for various theatre companies, an writer/ interviewer for the charity St Mungo’s, and is now working on her first novel. Erica has taught journalism at various universities including Cambridge, Goldsmiths, Lincoln, Exeter and Keele, and has led numerous courses with Guardian Masterclasses.
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-opinion3002335Writing opinionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/journalism.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Journalism/Journalism/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Journalism228512071358113587122851358113587Learn how to approach writing a column, whether for a newspaper, magazine or your own platform.002822289Writing opinion7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/journalism.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJul 2026WritingHJ1327979Writing opinion794079Erica Buistwriting-opinion/hj132-2526Learn how to approach writing a column, whether for a newspaper, magazine or your own platform.0000-Available|2026-07-04 00:00:00A column is a recurring spot for a writer’s opinion in a newspaper or magazine. Whether this is something you plan to pitch to a publication, or set up via your own online platform, our one-day course will show you how to best structure your thoughts in writing.Learn how to approach writing a column, whether for a newspaper, magazine or your own platform.- Where to get ideas for a column or opinion piece. <br/>- How to develop your ideas into a story.<br/>- The balance between opinion and facts.<br/>- Pitching your work for publication.- Differentiate between outlets and their audiences.<br/>- Write a column in your unique voice.<br/>- Structure a series of articles.<br/>- Pitch an article or blog post for publication.No formal requirements except a good standard of literacy and a love of reading.- Analysis of short pieces in class through group discussion.<br/>- Short writing exercises.<br/>- Formal instruction from the teacher combined with group discussion. <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>.Writing materials.City Lit offers a range of journalistic and creative non-fiction writing courses, including Introduction to Journalism and Biography Writing.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</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">Between the Lines</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">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.JournalismJournalismvirtual797940HJ132NONESat04/07/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetErica BuistBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00Jul 2026Writing7979Writing opinionwriting-opinion/hj132-2526Learn how to approach writing a column, whether for a newspaper, magazine or your own platform.0000-Available|2026-07-04 00:00:00A column is a recurring spot for a writer’s opinion in a newspaper or magazine. Whether this is something you plan to pitch to a publication, or set up via your own online platform, our one-day course will show you how to best structure your thoughts in writing.Learn how to approach writing a column, whether for a newspaper, magazine or your own platform.- Where to get ideas for a column or opinion piece. <br/>- How to develop your ideas into a story.<br/>- The balance between opinion and facts.<br/>- Pitching your work for publication.- Differentiate between outlets and their audiences.<br/>- Write a column in your unique voice.<br/>- Structure a series of articles.<br/>- Pitch an article or blog post for publication.No formal requirements except a good standard of literacy and a love of reading.- Analysis of short pieces in class through group discussion.<br/>- Short writing exercises.<br/>- Formal instruction from the teacher combined with group discussion. <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>.Writing materials.City Lit offers a range of journalistic and creative non-fiction writing courses, including Introduction to Journalism and Biography Writing.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</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">Between the Lines</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">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.JournalismJournalismconfigurable
