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.
- Craft focus: character in fiction
Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghIn fiction, character and plot are inseparable elements of craft. Without characters there can be no action or plot. In this short course you will learn how to create characters that can drive a narrative forward and deepen its themes.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax and style for creative writers - getting started Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
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 £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Spanish beginners: module 2Course start date: Tue 29 Jul 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Cristina CasadoContinue learning to speak Spanish on this lively, communicative course for near beginners. Taught in Spanish with the emphasis on developing your listening and speaking skills.
Based on Units 5-6 Nos vemos Hoy 1 Compacto; publisher: Campus Difusión, (please see the coursebook section below for the ISBN).
Please do not buy the book until after the first session, as if you transfer to another level you might use a different book.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Latin 5 Course start date: Sat 11 Oct 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Judith RiceIn this advanced course, you will read and translate unadapted texts by Latin authors to deepen your appreciation of their work and your knowledge of Roman culture, history and society.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Dickens' London Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Molly Rumbelow'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Ways into screenwriting: getting started Course start date: Sun 20 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alan NixonWant to write scripts but don't know how to start? Discover the basics of screenwriting - character, conflict and more - on this online taster course that will help you shape your ideas and get your story going.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing and rewriting fairytales Course start date: Sun 11 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadOnce upon a time there was a City Lit workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Return to Spanish (lower intermediate) Course start date: Thu 23 Oct 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberto GallegoThis intensive Spanish course is suitable if you already speak a romance language like Italian, French, Portuguese or Romanian, or if you want to learn at a much faster pace. Suitable for beginners. Based on 'Aula Internacional Plus 1' (Nueva Edición, Difusión Publishers).
Please do not buy the book until after the first session, as if you transfer to a regular beginners course you will use a different book.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - Spanish beginners: module 1 Course start date: Mon 14 Jul 2025 (and 18 other dates)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Keylor Murillo MoyaLearn to speak Spanish on this lively, communicative course for complete beginners. Taught in Spanish with the emphasis on developing your listening and speaking skills.
Based on Units 1-3 of Nos Vemos Hoy 1 Compacto; publisher: Campus Difusión (please see the relevant section for the ISBN)
Please do not buy the book until after the first class as if you transfer to another level, you may use a different book.
Please note that this course will have some sessions in person, and some online. Please go down to the "How will I be taught?" section for details.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Painting 1 Course start date: Mon 6 Oct 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony HullPainting 1 offers an introduction to the basic principles and skills associated with painting. Focus on differing approaches to observational and imaginative work, whilst learning how to organise a palette, mix colours and create different textures.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - French beginners: module 1 Course start date: Sat 4 Oct 2025 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Pascale VuittenezLearn French on this lively interactive course for beginners. The course will be taught in French, with an emphasis on developing your speaking and listening skills.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Using your voice for audio books and talking newspapersCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David ThorpeWould you like to narrate audio books? Are you interested in community work such as talking newspapers for the blind? Explore vocal skills and techniques required in these areas and identify what style works for you. This course will be delivered in the college.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Drawing: colour pastel techniques Course start date: Tue 1 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ro SylvesterExplore the versatility and rich colours of this beautiful drawing and painting medium. Through practical exercises, discover its potential to create a variety of surface effects and its suitability for sketching and outdoor colour work.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Acting: beginners Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cara JenningsExplore the fundamentals of acting on this practical course, designed for people with little or no experience of acting. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Ruling Russia: Tsars, Revolutions, Civil War , and the Triumph of Lenin (1860-1924)Course start date: Tue 13 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Zoe QuinnThis course explores the transformative period of Russian history from 1860 to 1924, encompassing the autocratic rule of the Tsars, the revolutionary upheavals of 1905 and 1917, the chaos of the civil war, and the consolidation of the Bolshevik regime. Students will examine key events, figures, and ideologies that shaped modern Russia, delving into the complexities of political, social, and economic changes during this era.
Please note: this course includes much of the material covered in previous Russian Revolution courses at the City Lit. Moreover this course is taught at an introductory level. Tutor: Zoe Quinn.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list