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.
- What the poem wants: drafting and editing workshop
Course start date: Mon 4 Aug 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christina DunhillWrite fast and edit fast in this poem-blitzing workshop. Learn to step back, look at your poem and think about the different directions it might take. Practise ruthlessness as well as care in the poem’s service.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £100.00 - Magazine and features writing Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writers Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
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 course, which combines creative writing with opportunities to learn/revise essential points of grammar and useful literary concepts. Suitable for beginning writers looking to build confidence, and those with more experience who would like to practise these essential skills.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Performance poetry Course start date: Fri 19 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Toby CampionWrite poetry and perform it, finding your own style and delivery under the guidance of a spoken word artist. Explore the differences between performance and other forms of poetry.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Poetry workshop: intensive Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayWant to have your poems critiqued in a supportive environment? This intensive poetry workshop focuses on offering feedback to poets who have already written a selection of poems and are looking to push their writing further.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Getting away with murder: how to write crime fiction Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anna RichardsWant to write a murder mystery that will knock readers dead? On this course you'll learn how to plot a murder most horrid and develop your writing to create maximum suspense.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing for children: workshop Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Penny JoelsonThis workshop is for you if you are writing children’s books. During the workshop you will take turns to share work and will develop your work-in-progress with constructive feedback from tutor and classmates. You need to have completed a ‘Writing for children’ course before joining this class.
Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course) Course start date: Sun 28 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Annabel BanksThe best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Picture book writing: advanced Course start date: Mon 13 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to workshop, edit and polish your picture book texts for young children? This course is designed for advanced picture book writers wishing to hone and improve their own stories.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Writing reviews Course start date: Thu 23 Oct 2025 (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 - Freelance journalism workshop Course start date: Tue 28 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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 £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing romance Course start date: Wed 29 Oct 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anna RichardsIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This interactive course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Introduction to journalism Course start date: Mon 3 Nov 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossOn 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 £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Starting your novel: intensive Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerGot a great idea for a novel? Jump start your project in this supportive, intensive course that covers craft basics such as character and plot. For fiction writers with some experience, and for those comfortable working at a fast pace.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing comics and graphic novels Course start date: Mon 16 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Bobby JosephLearn the skills to write comics on this introductory course. Discover the history and key features of the medium and create your own project.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00
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