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.
- Micropoetry: small poems, big ideas
Course start date: Fri 8 Aug 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Suzannah V. EvansExplore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count. - Craft focus: scenes and setting in fiction Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Thomas McMullanScenes in fiction are like those in film: we experience action as it unfolds. Action has to take place somewhere, which is why setting is also key. In this practical intensive course, you'll learn how to create scenes and establish setting that engages and convinces readers.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Try it out: bookbinding Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate RochesterDip your fingers into bookbinding. Learn a little about the materials and craft of bookbinding while making an attractive book to take home. A chance to discuss further study in bookbinding at City Lit.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Writing haiku poetry Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pearl MayLearn how to write haikus that resonate, move and entertain on this fun day workshop.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Textiles: polychromatic printing Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dawn DupreeExperiment with polychromatic print onto fabric and paper, exploring the creative potential of Procion dyes and silk screen printing. Processes include mark making, hand painting, resists, stencils and layering. Develop personal designs, textile samples and artwork.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Contemporary dance intensiveCourse start date: Sat 16 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francis AngolThis is a three-evening intensive in contemporary dance fusion. Learn how to express your physicality in a dynamic fashion and gain basic knowledge of the main principles of contemporary dance, with influences from other techniques. General level - suitable for both beginners and improvers. - Jump start your play Course start date: Sat 16 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinHave you got a script idea but not yet put pen to paper, or a script you started but never finished? This intensive short course will help you inject new energy into your idea – and get started writing. Only suitable for those with playwriting experience. - Japanese: jump into year 2 Course start date: Tue 2 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Kiyomi UntenThis short course is a chance to review the topics covered in year one (beginners course module 1/2/3) and give you a head start as you enter your second year of studying Japanese. - English entry 3 for deaf people - part 1Course start date: Mon 8 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 - German intensive: revision year 1 + 2 Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Annette KossowThis is a revision course of years one and two. Revise and consolidate your speaking and listening skills, as well as your grammar. Suitable if you have studied German for at least two years. Based on the tutor's own materials.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - Level 3 Certificate in counselling skillsCourse start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Edna OgundareThe Application Process for this course is now closed.
Do you want to develop counselling skills for paid or voluntary work? This course includes occasional weekend sessions which you will be required to join and one compulsory residential trip away.
In order to apply for this course, please ensure that:
• you have (or will have) completed an in person introductory counselling course of 30 hours, with an attendance record of at least 80% (within the last three years)
OR
• you have completed an in person introductory counselling course of 30 hours with an attendance record of at least 70%
AND
• you have completed an in person ‘Counselling introduction: advanced’ course (or equivalent) with an attendance record of at least 80% (within the last three years)
• you are able to speak and write fluently in English (level 2/GCSE).
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
Full fee £2,549.00 Senior fee £2,549.00 Concession £2,549.00 - Basketry: weaving in willow Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christiane GunziExplore basic willow basketry structures and weaves. This course will guide beginners through a simple project to make a small, round, functional basket. - Italian: jump into year 2 lower Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veronica De FeliceThis intensive course is suitable if you have studied Italian for about a year in the past but are not sure whether you are ready to join our second-year course, Italian 2 lower. You will revise the grammar and vocabulary of year one in one week and will be ready for Italian 2 lower: module 1 later this September. - Italian: jump into year 2 upper Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Evi CampetellaThis intensive course is suitable if you have studied Italian for about two years in the past and would like some more practice before the start of our third-year course, Italian 2 upper. You will revise the main points of the second year in this one-week revision course and feel ready for Italian 2 upper: module 1 later this September. - London at war - guided walks Course start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonLondon has been shaped by war, conflict and unrest. It's buildings, monuments and even street names reflect our embattled past. These walks examine London's wartime legacy from mediaeval fortifications to the War on Terror.
First lecture delivered via zoom followed by 8 guided walks; no class/break week 7/10/25.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00
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