Writing Courses & Workshops Online & in London
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.
Learn from published authors
Whether you're just starting out or ready to publish your first book, the benefits of our writing courses include expert tuition from a published author and feedback on your work as you develop your writing skills. There will also be opportunities to participate in group discussions and activities with fellow students.
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 >
- Piano/keyboards 5ACourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Simon AtkinsFor pianists with around four years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence. - English for deaf people: English for work - reading and writing skills (entry 3) - part 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is suitable if you are looking for or already are in employment. The aim of the course is to help you to acquire English skills necessary for communication at work via e-mails, memos, reports etc. This course has no exams.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - English entry 3 for deaf people - part 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course will help you get become confident in your everyday communication including reading and writing. We will focus on topics that interest you and use these to help you improve the key elements of reading and writing as well as communication skills to enable you to express your thoughts and feelings including in difficult situations. You will learn to how write whole sentences and paragraphs, use adjectives effectively, organise your writing, make notes and complete drafts, spell important common words, use punctuation correctly and develop reading and writing strategies most suited to you. And you will learn some digital skills including reading and finding information from websites.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - Clay sculpture: life and portraitCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Valerie MerloFollow in the footsteps of Michelangelo and Rodin and learn how to capture the human figure, both physically and emotionally, on this fascinating practical sculpting course. You will work from a life model to develop your own clay sculpture of the human form.Full fee £599.00 Senior fee £479.00 Concession £389.00 - Tap dance: improversCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jacqueline PertPractice and improve your basic tap skills and increase your vocabulary of steps and sequences. Gain a greater understanding of rhythm, tempo and syncopation. Suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Early music ensembleCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrAn ensemble for musicians interested in learning the skills of playing consort music in different instrumental combinations (broken consort). It will be a journey exploring the variety of sound combinations in 17th century repertoire. Break week: 26 May 2025.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Developing your novelCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 6 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 £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writersCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (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 new course, which combines creative writing with a review of essential points of grammar.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £90.00 - Advanced fiction writing workshopCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
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 £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Classic jazz guitarCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin WheatleyIf you have played jazz styles and are familiar with some standard tunes, this course will develop your technical and musical skills in 'comping', soloing, and playing with others.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Classical singing workshopCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hakan VramsmoA lively workshop class for singers with a solid foundation in vocal technique and musicianship: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing. Break week 27th Oct 2025.Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £223.00 - Classical singing: advanced workshopCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hakan VramsmoExplore the rich repertoire of classical song and develop expressive and communicative skills. This workshop is for experienced classical singers (at least five years' tuition). Click the pink Start Your Interview button, and the Music Department will contact you to arrange authorisation to enrol. Break weeks 5th And 26th May.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - English communication skills - for life and work (level 1)Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to improve your communication skills and become more confident speaking, listening, reading and writing English? This course will help you develop all your English language skills so you can act confidently in the most important everyday situations inside and outside work. You will become a skilled communicator when writing, using digital resources and in face-to-face interactions. You will develop your active listening skills so you can understand and empathise better. You will work on how to express yourself when speaking in different situations. You will practise your reading so you can see the whole picture and find details, make effective decisions about what you read, and prioritise matters. By the end of this three-term programme, you will be a competent speaker, listener, reader and writer both at work and home and ready to do exams such as Functional Skills Level 2.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
- Spanish 3: jump into year 3 lowerCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Natalia Fajardo IlajaThis intensive course is suitable if you have studied Spanish for about 3 years in the past and would like to join our 'Spanish 3 lower' courses. You will review any language points necessary to join the level 3 lower in this one-week revision course and feel ready for 'Spanish 3 lower: module 1' starting in September.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - Choir at lunchtimeCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard Hartley-WilsonCome and spend your lunchtime singing a range of music, in interesting choral arrangements. It's good for the mind, body and spirit. Sing music from across all genres, have fun and leave with a spring in your step. There's no better pick-me-up at lunchtime! Break week 27th Oct 2025.
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