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.
- Autobiography into fiction: getting started
Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026 (and 4 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nick BarlayLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Craft focus: how to edit your novel Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerOnce your story is on the page, the editing process begins. Where do you start and what skills do you need? This course guides learners through the editing of a story or manuscript, exploring approaches to making line edits, improving narrative structure and more.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - How to write romantasy Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tori BovalinoLearn the fundamentals of writing in the romantasy genre, drawing from romance and fantasy fiction to craft spectacular, spicy worlds.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing a short film Course start date: Sun 24 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sharmila ChauhanWould you like to write a script for a short film? This short course offers an insight into the fundamentals of screenwriting through tutor input, writing exercises, group work and discussion.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - The art of writing the personal essay Course start date: Sun 24 May 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lawrence BradbyFollow in the footsteps of Dorothy Parker, George Orwell and Zadie Smith with this taster course on the personal essay, a continuously thriving genre of autobiographical writing.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - How to get an agent Course start date: Tue 26 May 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseyThis intensive workshop offers students insider, need-to-know information on securing a literary agent.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing reviews Course start date: Thu 28 May 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Laura SilvermanLearn to write compelling and insightful reviews for films, books and stage performances. Develop your critical skills and ability to write in a succinct style.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing blackout poetryCourse start date: Sat 30 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WestcottSometimes a poem is shaped by stripping words away. This fun day workshop explores the emerging form of black out poetry. Learn how to find hidden poems in texts such as newspaper articles, advertisements and letters.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Create your first poetry collection Course start date: Sat 30 May 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Megan BeechYou've written and workshopped your poetry, and now you're ready to create your first collection. But where do you begin with that process? This workshop offers instruction and advice on putting together your first poetry collection.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - How to develop a sustainable writing practice Course start date: Sun 31 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadCreate a routine that will help your long-term ambitions as a writer.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Life writing: getting started Course start date: Mon 1 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alice RobbThis inspiring workshop encourages students to explore a range of techniques and approaches for writing about your own life.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing a memoir (continuation) Course start date: Wed 3 Jun 2026 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Julie GartonSome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This continuation course guides students in developing a memoir project that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing creative non-fiction: intensive Course start date: Wed 3 Jun 2026 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Erica BuistThis shorter version of our introductory creative non-writing course explores the core elements of creative non-fiction across genres such as travel writing, the personal essay and life writing.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing romance Course start date: Thu 4 Jun 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor PennyIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Biography writing Course start date: Thu 4 Jun 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew KenrickWhat makes a great biography? Learn to experiment with your own life writing as you uncover the techniques and methods of this exciting genre with a professional biographer.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00
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