Writing Courses & Workshops
At City Lit, we offer a supportive and inspiring environment where you can enhance your writing and gain confidence. Our courses are designed to help you find your voice, sharpen your writing skills, and take your work to the next level. Whether you're writing short stories, poetry, or working on a novel, you'll receive expert guidance and feedback from experienced tutors.
Learn from Published Authors
Be inspired to write, and learn how to get published at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied. Read our success stories to see what's possible for you as a writer.
Unheard Voices Scholarship
City Lit’s Malorie Blackman Scholarships for 'Unheard Voices' provide three annual awards to fund one year’s study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit. Learn more >
See what it's like be part a City Lit online creative writing course.
- Writing flash fiction: getting started
Course start date: Sun 26 Jul 2026 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lucy PopescuA sideways glance: succinct, powerful. This short workshop, on the essential components of flash fiction and micro fiction, will teach you to tell a complete story in very few words.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Micropoetry: small poems, big ideas Course start date: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Timothy FoxExplore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing haiku poetry Course start date: Sat 1 Aug 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghLearn how to write haikus that resonate, move and entertain on this fun day workshop.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - What the poem wants: drafting and editing workshop Course start date: Mon 3 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christina DunhillWrite fast and edit fast in this poem-blitzing workshop. Learn to step back, look at your poem and think about the different directions it might take. Practise ruthlessness as well as care in the poem’s service.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Jump start your play Course start date: Sat 8 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Developing your novel Course start date: Mon 14 Sep 2026 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerHave you started work on your novel? This course is suitable for experienced creative writers who want to make progress with a novel draft. Learn more about the art of novel writing and move your project forward in a supportive workshop environment.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writers Course start date: Mon 14 Sep 2026 (and 3 other dates)
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 course, which combines creative writing with opportunities to learn/revise essential points of grammar and useful literary concepts. Suitable for beginning writers looking to build confidence, and those with more experience who would like to practise these essential skills.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00 - Creative writing for funCourse start date: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Indulge your creativity in this relaxed and playful course through a variety of creative writing exercises and games.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £155.00 - Advanced creative non-fiction: turning experience into art Course start date: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Harper WaltonWeave the rich strands of your personal experience into an intricate story that will entertain and educate readers. Ideal if you've attended 'Writing creative non-fiction' or already have a specific project planned out.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Advanced playwriting Course start date: Wed 16 Sep 2026 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Brian MullinDive deeper into the key elements of writing for the theatre, gain fresh critical insight into your own writing, and produce a new draft of your work. This course is designed for experienced playwrights who have work in-progress.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Advanced playwriting workshop Course start date: Fri 18 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Brian MullinDive deeper into the key elements of writing for the theatre, gain fresh critical insight into your own writing, and produce a new draft of your work. This workshop is for experienced playwrights with ongoing projects.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £389.00 Concession £253.00 - Advanced fiction writing workshop Course start date: Mon 21 Sep 2026 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonFor experienced writers, this supportive but rigorous workshop offers the perfect opportunity to develop your novel or short story. Receive in-depth feedback and benefit from detailed group discussions on the art of fiction.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Masterclass: poetry (a one-term intensive workshop) Course start date: Tue 22 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ellen CranitchThis intensive poetry masterclass is open by selective application to a maximum of ten students. You will receive inspiring tutor instruction and rigorous constructive feedback on your poems as you prepare them for publication and performance.Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £429.00 Concession £429.00 - Masterclass: fiction (a one-term intensive workshop) Course start date: Mon 19 Apr 2027 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ayanna Lloyd BanwoThis intensive fiction workshop is open by selective application to a maximum of ten fiction writers working at the advanced and professional levels. You will receive rigorous constructive feedback on your novel or short story as you develop it with a view to publication, and participate in detailed tutor-led discussions on advanced elements of fictional craft.
Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £429.00 Concession £429.00 - Advanced poetry workshop Course start date: Tue 22 Sep 2026 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ellen CranitchDevelop your poetry, taking it in new directions and maturing your poetic voice. Various approaches and techniques will be explored, and new poetry can be workshopped. For experienced poets only.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00
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