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.
- Writing science fiction
Course start date: Tue 17 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadLearn how to build futuristic worlds and set them to explore thought-provoking concepts in this course on writing science fiction.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Ways into poetry: intensive Course start date: Tue 12 May 2026 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonAre you just starting to write poetry? This shorter version of our introductory Ways into poetry course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensive Course start date: Tue 3 Jun 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghNot 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 £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - How to get published Course start date: Tue 17 Feb 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseySo you've finished your manuscript. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting novels and non-fiction books to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing and rewriting fairytales Course start date: Tue 21 Oct 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor PennyOnce 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 - Autobiographical writing: intensive Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul LaffanThis shorter version of our introductory autobiographical writing course covers the basic elements of the genre, drawing on memories, diaries, photos, dreams and fantasies with a focus on the forms of autobiography, memoir and the personal essay.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Screenwriting for feature film Course start date: Tue 5 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sharmila ChauhanHave you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop. - Creative writing: a taster Course start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Give creative writing a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £10.00 - Playwriting: a taster Course start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nicole AcquahGive playwriting a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Writing creative non-fiction: a taster Course start date: Tue 2 Dec 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie GartonHave you had experiences that will move, delight or entertain readers? This taster session in creative non-fiction explores approaches to capturing your most poignant moments and crafting them into inspiring pieces of literature.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Poetry: a taster Course start date: Tue 2 Dec 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayThis short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writers Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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 £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Advanced fiction writing workshop Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonFor experienced writers, this supportive but rigorous workshop offers the perfect opportunity to develop your novel or short story. Receive in-depth feedback and benefit from detailed group discussions on the art of fiction.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Ways into creative writing Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire CollisonWant to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Writing for magazines Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Phyllis RichardsonGet inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00
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