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.
- Beyond the headlines: Left populism and socialism todayCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Salome IetterThis course will provide an overview of the politics of ‘Left populism’ in their historical perspective and contemporary manifestations as well as in their relation to socialist politics.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Russian beginners taster
Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Altannavch MurrayCome and discover Russian in this lively taster.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Lieder: music and poetryCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFrom the late-eighteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the German Lied developed and blossomed as a musical genre for amateurs, professionals, homes and concert halls. We trace its history through some of its most important composers.
This course has a scheduled break week on 29 Oct 2025. - Colonial America 1492-1776Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Dafydd TownleyOn this interactive lecture introductory course we will explore the political, social, and cultural development of colonial America in the period 1492-1776.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Exploring British cinemaCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyDefining itself around themes such as realism, class and national identity, and differentiating itself from Hollywood and other national cinemas, British cinema has found critical and popular acclaim both domestically and internationally. This course explores key themes and developments in British cinema, past and present, through a range of films, filmmakers and critical concepts and responses.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - Consolidation and Challenge: Britain and Ireland 1886 to 1906Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: David IngledewThe course examines the main developments in British political history between 1886-1906 from the formation of Lord Russell’s Whig Government to the demise of Balfour’s Conservative Government in 1905.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Travel writing Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Susan GrossmanMake travelling pay. Learn how to get a commission, finance a trip and put your adventures into words, led by practical exercises and expert industry guidance. - Develop your writing and language skills (level 1-level 2) Course start date: Thu 8 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Have you been learning English for a long time but your writing just doesn’t seem to be improving? Are you quite a fluent speaker but find formal speaking difficult? Do you feel ‘stuck’. This course will release you! You will focus on how to improve the structure of your writing both the whole text, paragraphs and sentences. You will work on understanding the grammar of the language, and the skills you learn to develop your writing will help you improve your more formal speaking whether this is for job interviews, meetings at work or giving presentations. This course is ideal if you have been living in the UK for several years, feel quite comfortable in speaking English as a second language, but lack confidence in your literacy skills.
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
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £65.00 - Economics for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Naresh SonparEconomics is about what drives human behaviour in making decisions faced with limited resources. Join this online course to learn a toolkit of skills, approaches and ways of thinking that you can apply to a wide range of problems.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Singing workshop (contemporary)Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryContinue your study of singing technique and learn songs in popular music styles of folk, jazz, pop, rock, musical theatre. Live sessions online. Develop your musicianship, and add new songs to your repertoire. New students with experience of singing and some formal training are welcome.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - Welsh 3 upper: module 1Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Clare WhiteheadJoin this lively course to consolidate and develop your upper-intermediate Welsh.
Suitable if you have actively studied Welsh for 4 years or equivalent experience.
Please note that this course has a mid-term break.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - City Lit a cappella Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Della RhodesThis small ensemble of experienced harmony singers learn, record and perform original arrangements of jazz and popular songs. Develop your listening, timing, intonation, musical memory, and team work. New members with good music reading and aural skills are welcome.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £132.00 - First Steps in Reading and WritingCourse start date: Thu 8 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Do you need help with reading and writing English? Can you write the letters of the alphabet or do you need to practise? Do you need to improve your spelling? Can you use numbers and count up to 100 or do you need help? On this course you will learn how to write individual letters, spell whole words, write simple sentences, read whole words, read simple sentences and understand notices. You will become confident in your speaking. And you will also practise the maths you need for everyday life so you can shop, use money and measure things correctly.
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
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00 - Developing your screenwriting Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Billy CookContinue your screenwriting journey in this practical intermediate course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Singing 1 (contemporary)Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryStart singing and explore your voice in this confidence-building course. These live group sessions online will teach you about healthy use of your singing voice and musicianship through a selection of songs in pop, rock and jazz styles. Attention is given to vocal technique and breathing technique.
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