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 >
See what it's like be part a City Lit online creative writing course.
- 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
- Art and design portfolio projects Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rod JudkinsDevelop and realise your creative language in art and design through the development of a personal project. Through workshops and small projects you will be able to build a portfolio of work in 2D and 3D related to your own personal theme or interest.
Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Music theory: grade 7Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Simon RigbyLearn more complex elements of music: figured bass, melodic and harmonic decoration, writing for instrument or voice with given accompaniment, and score analysis of harmonic and phrase structure, style, performance and directions. Break week: 26 Oct, Dec 01 until return on Jan 12.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £369.00 Concession £258.00 - Tolkien on ScreenCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
In his literary essay On Fairy Stories, J.R.R. Tolkien famously wrote that “in human art, fantasy is a thing best left to words”. Despite this claim, The Lord of the Rings is arguably one of the most profitable media franchises of the 21st century. It has inspired academy-award winning films and record-breaking TV series, and continues to generate material that resonates with new generations of fans to explore. This course will explore the history of adapting Tolkien to the cinema, considering not only what was altered or left behind in attempts to turn Tolkien’s vast mythology into the stuff of popular cinema, but what might also have been enhanced as a result.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Discover North London through walksCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinDiscover the history of North London via guided walks. Great views, green spaces , places of worship, almshouses, plaques to famous people ,some lesser known museums, lots of hidden history and a couple of famous football stadiums will all feature..
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £175.00 - 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 - Choral singing for pleasure Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard Hartley-WilsonWhether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this choral class will give you something to look forward to on a Monday. We sing many genres from musical theatre to pop plus more traditional pieces. This course is very popular, so booking early is essential. Break week 27th October 2025. - Storytelling: tell your personal storyCourse start date: Sun 18 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanTell your own personal story to others, and in so doing gain some perspective on how past events have shaped your life and how they will affect your future, while at the same time inspiring and informing others about life choices. The course will take place in a safe environment in the college.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Watercolour painting: mixed media techniques Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Watercolour has a rich tradition - this course will explore the more experimental ways of using this pleasurable medium and will present new possibilities for producing exciting new work with mixed media. Make inventive combinations of media to draw from your own found imagery, photographs and sketches.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Composition techniques Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonDevelop your skills in composing. Analyse selected techniques and apply them to your own composition project. Good music theory knowledge needed (grade 7 or equivalent).
*break week: 27 May 2025.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Piano/keyboards 4ACourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonFor pianists with around three years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Exploring the music of Richard StraussCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFrom the heady waltzes of Der Rosenkavalier to the awe-inspiring opening of Also sprach Zarathrustra, come and delve into the life and works of the brilliant – and controversial – composer and conductor, Richard Strauss.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: advancedCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Adam GurneyDevelop your lipreading skills and strategies for face-to-face communication and keep up-to-date with relevant equipment and services. This course is suitable if you have completed a lipreading class at improvers' level.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £200.00
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