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.
109 courses available
Craft focus: scenes and setting in fictionScenes 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 £51.00- Picture book writingWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Ways into poetry: a gentle paceAre you brand new to writing poetry? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners in the craft? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a poet.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Performance poetry workshop
Explore the intersections between poetry and performance in this workshop course, ideal for those looking to develop and hone their spoken-word material.
Keeley Street
Mon 26 Oct 2026Nathan EvansFull fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £155.00 - Freelance journalism workshop
Workshop your pitches and features on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. You'll learn to carry out research and interview people, as well as hone your pitches and stories.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Ways into creative writing: a gentle pace
Are you brand new to creative writing? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners? This gentle short course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a creative writer.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Writing and rewriting fairytalesOnce 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 £51.00
- Writing the body in poetryExplore the relationship between poetry and the body, and learn to be bold and innovative in writing about your own bodily experiences, in this thought-provoking workshop.
Keeley Street
Sun 1 Nov 2026Alice FrecknallFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Introduction to journalismOn this course students will explore the basic skills a freelance journalist needs to write and sell news and features to newspapers and magazines. From developing ideas and identifying outlets to interview skills and approaching editors.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Developing your creative writing: intensive
This supportive intermediate short course will encourage you to develop your writing skills further through exercises in several kinds creative writing, including fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Suitable for learners with some experience of creative writing.
Keeley Street
Wed 4 Nov 2026Farhana KhaliqueFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - How to write a novelThis course deals with all aspects of novel writing technique and prose style. Ideal for fiction writers about to begin a novel or those with a novel at early draft stage.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £58.00
- Biography writing
What 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 £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Write a short story in a weekendTurn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Please note: this course includes a 1-hour break each day.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00
- Writing for blogsGot a passion, a journey or an obsession to share? Blogging is the perfect medium through which to share your interests with the world. This taster course teaches the essential skills required to write blogposts that will resonate.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
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